CTIA clarified its stance on the citizens broadband radio service band, in a letter Monday to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson, noting the group supports CBRS in general, though it’s “premature to expand the experimental CBRS sharing mechanism.” A CTIA study last month argued the CBRS model isn’t a substitute for exclusive-use licensing (see 2211140062). “Some parties have called on the Administration and the FCC to focus future spectrum access on the experimental CBRS sharing framework used in the 3.5 GHz band,” the letter said: “To be clear, the wireless industry is not, as some CBRS proponents claim, arguing that all spectrum must be exclusive-use licensed spectrum. We support innovative uses of spectrum where it is appropriate and makes sense given technical and operational constraints.” CTIA said it “filled a void to act as the certifying body for CBRS devices to help with initial commercialization, and was prepared to act as a sharing database administrator because of an initial lack of interest and options,” the group said. “At the same time, we believe future spectrum policy in the United States should not default to complex spectrum sharing regimes, and the weight of the evidence continues to show that smart domestic spectrum policy should be built upon robust access to exclusive-use, licensed spectrum particularly given the significant deficit today.”
FCC and NTIA officials defended the citizens broadband radio service band as potentially offering a model for future sharing, during an FCBA spectrum pipeline forum Monday. Last week, CTIA questioned whether CBRS, often cited as the potential sharing model of the future, is a suitable replacement for exclusive, licensed spectrum (see 2211140062). CBRS advocates have fired back.
Federated Wireless and Charter Communications representatives highlighted the benefits of spectrum sharing and the model offered by the citizens broadband radio service band, in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. The CBRS model “facilitates the growth of mobile competition and has enabled new entrants into the market, many of whom are using the band to develop their own private networks for uses such as industrial automation, artificial intelligence, and predictive maintenance,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-258. CBRS is used “in environments ranging from warehouses, ports, factories, airports, and office buildings, in rural as well as densely populated areas, supporting supply chain efficiency."
A top DOD spectrum official defended the citizens broadband radio service band, writing in a new posting released as CTIA questioned whether CBRS is really the sharing model of the future (see 2211140062). “Dubbed by some as ‘the Innovation Band,’ CBRS offers the some of the features of traditional wireless and Wi-Fi, but with lower fixed costs, higher quality, greater efficiency, and increased security,” said Vernita Harris, DOD director-spectrum policy and programs, on LinkedIn Monday. “With CBRS, the U.S. military can continue to use critical radars systems while commercial users have leveraged CBRS in a variety of sectors, ranging from real estate to health care to utilities,” she said. Harris said CBRS shows “unprecedented coordination between federal users, regulators and industry” and benefited from “groundbreaking” automation. “More work lies ahead, but the results of CBRS so far are promising, and those involved in its success so far should be proud,” she said: “The DOD, other federal spectrum users, and industry continue to look for new use cases along with ways to improve the existing CBRS system. Trust across government and industry underpins the development of holistic spectrum solutions for EVERYONE’s benefit.”
A new study by CTIA and Recon Analytics questions whether citizens broadband radio service spectrum, often cited as the potential sharing model of the future, is a suitable replacement for exclusive, licensed spectrum. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is moving on release of a national spectrum strategy (see 2209260048). Carriers already said they hope the strategy will lay out bands that can be cleared for licensed use. Wi-Fi advocates fired back.
The FCC plans a virtual field hearing on the impact of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian during the Nov. 17 open meeting, said a news release Wednesday. The meeting will focus on “coordination between the communications and power sectors in response to these disasters” and “provide an opportunity to gather new information and lessons learned so that U.S. networks are better prepared for future storms like Tropical Storm Nicole,” said the release. Thursday’s disaster information reporting system release for Nicole showed 175,903 cable and wireline subscribers without service, and 0.9% of cellsites down in affected counties in Florida Wednesday. The report also showed two FM and 1 AM station down. The Wireless Bureau granted emergency waivers to Federated Wireless, Google and CommScope of the agency’s rules on the Citizens Broadband Radio Service to facilitate communications during the storm. “The FCC is monitoring the storm as it progresses,” said Wednesday’s release.
Ericsson said Monday it hit a data rate of 1 Gbps in a 5G stand-alone network field trial, setting a data speed record with citizens broadband radio service spectrum in an indoor environment. “Conducted at Ericsson’s North American headquarters in Plano, Texas, and coordinated by the OnGo Alliance, this trial was supported by Ericsson’s 5G Distributed Innovation Network and harnessed Radio 4408 for outdoor CBRS connectivity and the Radio Dot 4459 for indoor CBRS connectivity,” Ericsson said: “In addition to record-setting speed, the trial also resulted in seamless outdoor-to-indoor connectivity transitions, paving the way for benefits to consumers and enterprises alike.”
Companies provisionally approved as automated frequency coordination providers in the 6 GHz band could complete tests by early next year, industry experts told us. The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology conditionally authorized all 13 applicants still before the commission to begin the testing process (see 2211030066). Experts note the use of AFC is particularly important because it could have implications for sharing in other bands.
Geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites are limited in their ability to connect people around the world, but low earth orbit (LEO) satellites offer much more promise, said Ruth Pritchard-Kelly, OneWeb senior adviser-satellite regulatory affairs and sustainable space policy, Thursday at IEEE’s virtual Connecting the Unconnected Summit. Other speakers said it’s difficult to even count how many people remain without internet service in many parts of the world.
Charter Communications is dealing with higher-than-expected costs for its Rural Deployment Opportunity Fund buildout but also is having more success than expected in penetration and number of passings being developed off RDOF projects, CEO Tom Rutledge told analysts Friday as the company announced Q3 results.