New Report Outlines Possible Roadmap to Further Sharing of the 3.5 GHz Band

As we work to meet the President’s goal of making 500 megahertz of additional spectrum available for commercial wireless broadband, it has become clear that spectrum sharing will need to be part of the solution to meeting spectrum demand. Accordingly, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration is examining ways to improve the technology that would enable greater spectrum sharing between federal and nonfederal users.

In a new report, engineers from NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) propose a simple and robust method to implement spectrum sharing between commercial communications systems and federal radar operations in the 3550-3650 MHz (3.5 GHz) band. The report, Using On-Shore Detected Radar Signal Power for Interference Protection of Off-Shore Radar Receivers, outlines a potential approach to ESC monitor configuration that would send the associated SAS a simple “go/no-go” signal based on a predetermined threshold of detected radar power level. Once such a signal is sent, the SAS could adjust CBSD channel assignments to protect radar receivers. The method proposed in this report, which will require further research, allows for new commercial uses while protecting the security and integrity of military radars. It also builds on our efforts to maximize use of spectrum while ensuring that federal users can continue to carry out vital missions for the American people.