CBRS

The Wireless Innovation Forum’s Spectrum Sharing Committee met FCC officials to discuss progress on the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. Among the topics were testing spectrum access systems, device certification and timeline to CBRS commercialization, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 15-319. Among officials at the meeting was Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp. Companies represented included AT&T, Comsearch, Motorola Solutions, Pathfinder Wireless, Google, Charter, Huawei, Nokia, Comcast, Qualcomm, Red Technologies, Federated Wireless and Sony. The Wireless ISP Association was also at the meeting.

A final rule establishing the FCC Office of Economics and Analytics is scheduled to take effect Friday, says that day's Federal Register. The FCC said in October the office will open by year’s end with Giulia McHenry, now chief economist in the Office of Strategic Planning, as acting chief (see 1810250027). Commissioners approved the office in January over dissents by Jessica Rosenworcel and then-member Mignon Clyburn (see 1801300026). “The Office will be charged with ensuring that economic analysis is deeply and consistently incorporated into the agency’s regular operations, and will support work across the FCC and throughout the decision-making process,” the notice said. Revised 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service regulations take effect Jan. 7 under a rule for Friday's FR (timetable), excluding three parts still needing Office of Management and Budget approval. Commissioners adopted a CBRS order Oct. 23 changing the size of priority access license areas from census tracts to counties, extending license terms to 10 years and making them renewable, putting in place end-of-term performance requirements, and allowing partitioning and disaggregation of PALs (see 1810230037). Revised wireless handset hearing-aid compatibility disclosure requirements also take effect Jan. 7 under a rule for Friday's FR (timetable). An HAC order adopted Nov. 15 replaces annual service provider reporting with certification and enhanced website disclosure duties (see 1811150033).

The House and Senate Commerce committees are likely to make the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization debate and further work on spectrum and broadband-centric legislation some of their top 2019 priorities, said telecom aides during a Thursday Practising Law Institute event. Aides also cited interest in continuing to talk about net neutrality policy next Congress. Lawmakers and communications lobbyists we recently interviewed were skeptical of progress on a net neutrality compromise given the upcoming shift to split partisan control of Congress (see 1811290042). FCC Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel meanwhile told PLI the commission shouldn't be cautious in pursuing policies to keep the U.S. competitive (see 1812060056).

Two groups asked the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020. "In light of the delays in opening the 3550-3700 MHz band for commercial service under the CBRS rules and the uncertainty created by the subsequent and ongoing rulemaking proceeding, Licensees will require more time," petitioned the Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council, posted Monday in docket 18-353. They requested extension through Jan. 8, 2023, when "the last 3650-3700 MHz license expires."

Comments are due Dec. 12, replies Dec. 24, on the Wireless ISP Association and Utilities Technology Council request for more time for grandfathered wireless broadband licensees in the 3650-3700 MHz band to transition to the Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules, said an FCC Wireless Bureau public notice in Wednesday's Daily Digest.

That the fight over license size in the 3.5 GHz band is over didn't stop a skirmish at an FCBA CLE that ran through Monday evening. Verizon Assistant Vice President-Federal Regulatory Patrick Welsh said it's disingenuous for General Electric and other massive companies to imply they lack resources to compete with national wireless carriers in a 3.5 GHz auction.

The dynamic sharing framework the FCC adopted for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band may not translate elsewhere, said a Friday report to Congress. The FCC responded to instruction in the Spectrum Pipeline Act and earlier took comment on rule changes and on proposals to open 1 GHz of spectrum between 6 GHz and 56 GHz (see 1809120043). Commissioners didn’t vote on the 14-page report, by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology. Work on the 3.5 GHz band is bearing fruit, the report said. “Intended to protect incumbent uses while encouraging innovative technologies and services," it "has fostered significant investment in the 3.5 GHz band,” the FCC said. “Most comments … coalesced around the adoption of a wait-and see-approach before the Commission decides to apply these techniques elsewhere.” Groups like the WinnForum are looking at similar sharing in other bands, the FCC said. “It is too soon to know whether other bands may be suitable for licensed or unlicensed use based on the techniques used in the 3.5 GHz band.” The 3.5 GHz rule changes were approved 3-1 at the October commissioners' meeting (see 1810230037). The staff report defends the changes. They "set the stage to: (1) promote investment in the band; (2) encourage rapid and robust network deployment; and (3) protect federal and non-federal incumbent users,” the report said. On proposals to reallocate spectrum for broadband above 6 GHz, the regulator “has made spectrum available for unlicensed use of the 64-71 GHz band and licensed fixed and mobile use in the 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands,” the report said. It notes the 6 GHz NPRM also approved in October (see 1810230038). The document said fixed service operators “heavily” use that band. “More than 27,000 licenses are issued for point-to-point operations” there, it said: “This proceeding has not been finalized and may not ultimately require use of automated frequency control systems throughout the band or involve a full one gigahertz of spectrum."

Though it's unclear what will come out of the comprehensive national spectrum strategy ordered by President Donald Trump last week (see 1810250018), industry officials said government is right to do everything it can, given the escalating demands for spectrum amid coming 5G. Some are skeptical.

The Wireless ISP Association is “disappointed” with the FCC’s 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service rules (see 1810230037), said a Wednesday news release. “We commend the FCC for rejecting the idea of auctioning CBRS licenses at the very large Partial Economic Area (PEA) level,” said WISPA President Claude Aiken. “However, the new combination of county-sized licenses, package bidding, long license terms, and renewal expectancy will shut out a significant portion of our members from using licensed CBRS spectrum to bring affordable, reliable broadband services to under-served rural areas.”

The FCC approved revised rules for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, as expected (see 1810160068), over a dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, who crafted the revised rules, said changes were necessary to spark interest in the priority access licenses that will be sold as one tier of the band.