Groups Tell NTIA Right Government Policies Key to Winning Race to 5G
Winning the race to 5G will require “substantial additional terrestrial spectrum” and a “clearly defined schedule” for making that spectrum available, CTIA commented to NTIA on the national spectrum policy. Despite a government shutdown, which includes most of NTIA, CTIA and others released comments. Most appeared to follow past arguments. The filings are unlikely to be posted online until government reopens, industry officials said.
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“A top priority should be identifying and making available low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum for exclusive, licensed terrestrial use,” with hundreds of megahertz needed for 5G, CTIA said. CTIA called for a five-year “action plan” for spectrum auctions. The administration is right to argue the U.S. must be the first to 5G, CTIA added: “With the right policies in place, the private sector, driven by American ingenuity, will invest billions of dollars in the networks, applications, and services.”
CTIA mostly hopes bands will be reallocated, but in some, cases sharing will be required. “Sharing rules should provide licensees with sufficient rights to warrant the investments needed to support advanced services,” the group said. Unlicensed spectrum is also important but should support LTE-unlicensed, licensed assisted access “and all unlicensed technologies,” the association said.
The strategy should promote Wi-Fi and include opening the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use, NCTA said. “Wi-Fi is essential to Americans’ ability to connect ... and its importance continues to grow.” The cable group said the 5.9 GHz band is “critical, underutilized mid-band spectrum in the United States, ready to be put to efficient and effective work after decades of delay.”
Spectrum sharing must be a key part of any strategy, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance said. “We urge NTIA to: i) continually examine opportunities to unlock new bands through modern sharing techniques; ii) consider the costs and benefits of sharing a spectrum band versus clearing it and licensing it when examining new opportunities for non-federal access; and iii) to significantly improve the information exchange between federal and non-federal users regarding each other’s spectrum use,” DSA said.
The Edison Electric Institute and the Utilities Technology Council jointly urged NTIA to recognize the spectrum needs of utilities. "Utility members are pursuing the development of next-generation applications that will improve the reliability, safety and security of grid operations,” they commented. “This drive to advanced automation will require access to interference-free spectrum to support the increasing communications requirements to support the proliferation of millions of smart grid devices across electric company transmission and distribution networks.”
EchoStar and Hughes said the strategy should provide adequate spectrum for commercial satellites. “As opposed to terrestrial communications, a fair amount of satellite and satellite equipment manufacturing occurs" domestically, they said. “This is complemented by a very robust launch industry with the addition of new U.S. launch providers in the past few years, including SpaceX. If spectrum policies fail to provide sufficient access to spectrum to support the commercial satellite industry, it is possible that these industries will fail.”
Boeing wants transparency. “Predictability in spectrum access could be greatly improved if NTIA provided better access to reliable and up-to-date database information regarding the specific spectrum uses of the federal government within the United States at identified geographic locations,” Boeing said. It said the summary of federal spectrum activities NTIA published in 2010, "is too general to enable private parties to determine whether new shared spectrum use may be feasible” and is outdated.
The Millimeter Wave Coalition urged better access to bands above 95 GHz. “With minor exceptions, no licensed or unlicensed use of this spectrum is allowed under FCC rules,” the group said. “Since virtually all of this spectrum has Government/Non-Government shared allocations, NTIA policies are key for access to these bands. Such access is essential for … the international competitiveness of the United States.”