Spectrum

[Mostly minor] Correction to Unserved locations and allocation estimates

According to the Federal Communications Commission's new National Broadband Map, there are 8.3 million Unserved locations in the U.S. The FCC published “LBR Wireless” files for 41 states. As I rushed to download the data, I didn’t know what that meant as they hadn’t ever published them before, so I skipped them. I now know that to mean “Licensed by Rule” wireless.

FAA Asks for Info on Possible 5G Interference

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) informs aircraft manufacturers, radio altimeter manufacturers, operators, and pilots of the continued deployment of wireless broadband networks in the 3.7-3.98 GHz bands (C-Band). C-Band wireless broadband deployment, which began in January 2022, is continuing to occur in phases for operations in the contiguous US.

Former FCC leaders push Congress to renew auction authority

A who’s who of former Federal Communications Commission leaders sent a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate Commerce Committees urging Congress to restore the FCC’s spectrum auction authority as soon as practicable. “As former leaders of the Federal Communications Commission, we have worked together, on a bipartisan basis, to lay the foundation for America’s global wireless leadership. Although our policy priorities at times differed, we share an understanding that central to Americans’ wireless success is the FCC’s spectrum auction authority,” the letter states.

Joint Statement by US DoD and NTIA on Proposal to Identify the Use of 5G Mobile Services in the Americas

The US Department of State, on behalf of the US Government, has submitted a proposal to the May 2023 Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL), which calls for opening the 3300-3400 MHz band for 5G mobile services within the Americas Region. If accepted as a regional proposal, CITEL would submit to the November 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23). If adopted by the WRC-23, the international Radio Regulations would be updated to identify this band as possible for 5G use in the Americas by countries that choose to do so.

The Next Spectrum Battle May be Between AT&T/AST and T-Mobile/SpaceX

The same day that SpaceX scored a big win on the proper use of spectrum, it became embroiled in a new fight over appropriate spectrum use. The new fight is with AT&T over SpaceX’s plans to enable calls from T-Mobile cellphones via SpaceX satellites. That type of service is called supplemental coverage from space (SCS) and is a market AT&T also is pursuing via a deal with satellite operator AST.

FCC Moves Forward on 12 GHz Proceeding

The Federal Communications Commission took a holistic approach to expand the use of over 1 gigahertz of prime mid-band spectrum in the 12 GHz bands by ensuring stable spectrum access for current and next-generation satellite service while also empowering advanced terrestrial wireless services. The FCC adopted rules to preserve spectrum between 12.2-12.7 GHz for current and future satellite services. The FCC also proposed policies that would position the 12.7-13.25 GHz band to support flexible terrestrial wireless use, including 6G wireless services.

FCC Announces its June 2023 Open Meeting Agenda

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the agenda for its June 2023 Open Commission Meeting. In June 2023, the FCC is:

T-Mobile, Charter spar over CBRS, spectrum sharing models

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently released a report that shows Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is working. However, CBRS opponents, led by CTIA, insist that CBRS remains an unproven experiment in spectrum sharing, with constraints like low power levels that make it impossible to provide broad coverage.

5G Networks Are Performing Worse. What’s Going On?

By now, the cellular industry’s rollout of 5G networks is three or four years old. 5G networks are continuing to deliver better and faster service than 4G in general.

After years of explosive growth, 5G’s future is mired in politics

5G coverage has expanded across the US, fueling personal and commercial applications. But as 5G spreads — with roughly 62 percent of Americans able to receive high-speed coverage at home — rising demand, lack of infrastructure, and a political impasse are posing roadblocks to pushing it further. Approximately 206.4 million Americans can receive high-speed 5G coverage at home, according to data by Broadband Now, an independent broadband availability website.

The Need for Mid-Band Spectrum

5G Americas recently released its annual white paper discussing the lack of activity at the Federal Communications Commission in making more mid-band spectrum available for cellular broadband. Midband spectrum is an industry-defined term for the spectrum between 1 GHz and 7 GHz spectrum. This is the sweet spot for cellular broadband because these bands of spectrum can cover the distances needed for cell phone data with a decent amount of bandwidth. The paper laments that there are no actions currently at the FCC to consider

Air travel chaos looms as US keeps 5G altimeter refit deadline

The US will not delay a deadline for airlines to refit planes with new sensors to address possible 5G interference, despite concerns the cut-off date could cause travel disruption. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that airlines were told the July 1, 2023 deadline would remain in place. Airlines have warned that they will not be able to meet the deadline and may be forced to ground some planes. Telecoms firms have previously delayed 5G rollout to allow airlines to adapt. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation companies have previously raised concerns that C-Band spectr

T-Mobile tackles the hard part about 5G mid-band build

With T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G buildout at 275 million points of presence (POPs) and a year-end target of 300 million POPs, the question is: How easy or difficult is it to cover that last 25 million people? “It gets harder and harder. And as a rule of thumb, I would say that it’s about 3 times harder for every 10 million that you add.

The innovative spectrum sharing framework connecting Americans across the country

Americans increasingly rely on the radio spectrum for much of their daily lives. From texting friends to car navigation these airwaves play an invisible but central role. Much like other important resources, spectrum access is finite. Demand continues to grow.

An Analysis of Aggregate CBRS SAS Data from April 2021 to January 2023

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band at 3550–3700 MHz was authorized for shared commercial use in the US (established June 23, 2015) through the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Billionaire Vs. Billionaire Saga Set to End: Here’s What’s in the 12 GHz Drafts

The Federal Communications Commission is poised to reject a proposal it has been considering for several years that would have made spectrum between 12.2-12.7 GHz available for mobile use.

May 2023 Open Meeting Agenda

The Federal Communications Commission’s May open meeting will be headlined by a pair of spectrum policy changes to both pave the way for future wireless technologies and also unlock new wireless services right now. Here’s everything we have lined up for our May open meeting:

Chairwoman Rosenworcel Remarks to National Science Foundation '6G: Open and Resilient By Design'

We are gathered at this summit because someday soon someone will make the very first 6G connection. And we need to prepare now for the wireless world it will bring. Much like in the early days of 5G, the scrum for 6G is already intensifying.

Principles for Promoting Efficient Use of Spectrum and Opportunities for New Services

The Federal Communications Commission adopted the following spectrum management principles.

Interference Realities

Department of Defense may be causing the delay in FCC spectrum auction authority

Everybody in the wireless ecosystem is clamoring for Congress to reinstate the spectrum auction authority of the Federal Communications Commission. One former deputy at the FCC speculates that the delay may be related to the Department of Defense (DoD) wanting to wait for a spectrum report that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is working on. NTIA is doing an assessment of the use of the 3.1-3.45 GHz spectrum.

6G: Open and Resilient by Design

I look forward to discussing 6G and how we can work with our partners to promote open, interoperable, secure, and reliable approaches to this technology. 6G will be the next step in the evolution and revolution of mobile data. To start, 6G will be deployed at a time when mobile connectivity has become centrally important in our daily lives.

FCC States Spectrum Management Principles for Transmitters & Receivers

The Federal Communications Commission took a fresh look at spectrum management and established a set of high-level principles on how the FCC intends to manage spectrum going forward. The Policy Statement is part of the FCC’s effort to reorient its spectrum management framework to a holistic consideration of both transmitter and receiver components of wireless systems.

FCC Adopts New Rules for Satellite System Spectrum Sharing

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to support competition and cooperation in spectrum usage by satellite systems. The new rules will set forth important reforms that will govern how non-geostationary satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (NGSO FSS) systems will function in a shared spectrum environment. These new rules will provide clarity regarding spectrum sharing between systems licensed in different processing rounds, granting primary spectrum access to systems approved earlier, while enabling new entrants to participate in an established, cooperative spectrum sh