FCC Making Good, Bad Calls on Spectrum, O'Rielly Says

on the table to determine whether individually or collectively they can be used for dynamic, new wireless offerings,” O’Rielly told the Broadband for All seminar in Stockholm. “For each band, we must look at the incumbent uses and study whether sharing is possible without causing harmful interference to current offerings. There is the risk that such an approach leads to unnecessary work. In the short term, that may be accurate but this won’t be the last pass at this project.” Some bands may not pan out when given a closer look, O’Rielly said. “This isn’t a failure,” he said. “It is simply part of the process of ensuring effective spectrum policy and identifying the bands that may be used for wireless.” O’Rielly said he favors licensing spectrum where possible, but a mix of licensed and unlicensed is necessary. “Both licensed and unlicensed are represented in our current spectrum initiatives,” he said. O’Rielly said he regrets that other nations didn't agree on the need to study more high-frequency bands for wireless broadband during last year’s World Radiocommunication Conference. The FCC will soon approve rules making the 28, 37 and 39 GHz bands available on a licensed basis and the 64 to 71 GHz band for unlicensed (see 1606240026). Work remains, O'Rielly said. “While each and every detail may not be flushed out and further comment may be necessary on some issues, it appears that we are headed in the right direction and that these bands will soon be available for wireless use.” Experts agree the four bands won’t provide enough spectrum and the FCC needs to start looking at other high-frequency bands “now,” O’Rielly said. How successful the TV incentive auction will be remains unclear, he said. The main question now is whether the forward auction “can raise enough money to cover the cost of buying ... broadcasters,” he said. “At this point, we do not know how expensive it will be to acquire the broadcast spectrum. Today, rounds 46, 47 and 48 will take place, and this first stage of the broadcast -- or reverse -- auction is likely to conclude sometime this week.” O’Rielly also questioned how successful the U.S. will be in selling spectrum licenses in the 3.5 GHz shared band. The rules don’t help, he said. The FCC decided to license the spectrum by census tracts, “of which there are more than 74,000 across the U.S.,” he said. “Unlike in past auctions, it is unlikely that entities will be looking for nationwide footprints or even be willing or have the capability to bid on 74,000 licenses.” The FCC examination of the special access market could slow 5G deployment, he said. “While promoting wireline expansion is tough, the Commission has taken steps that are counterintuitive and likely to slow wireline backhaul expansion,” O’Rielly said. “The Commission’s recent proceeding to regulate special access will force providers to rethink deployment plans. Why would any provider continue to buildout wireline networks and provide backhaul knowing that the Commission intends to regulate their rates?”