TAC Recommends Advanced Antennas and Clarity on Rural 5G Spectrum
The Technological Advisory Council recommended the FCC drive more spectrum sharing in rural areas, pursue additional repurposing for low- and mid-band spectrum, and improve the agency’s practical understanding of artificial intelligence, at its final meeting of the current charter. TAC’s most contentious discussions were about a recommendation the FCC encourage the use of advanced antenna technology, and a proposal the council tackle the aesthetics of small-cell installations in 2020.
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A white paper or collection of requirements on small-cell aesthetics “could have unintended consequences,” said CTIA Chief Technology Officer Thomas Sawanobori. This should be addressed by bodies such as the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, he said. That's rather than get “an academic to do a report” on issues “that a lot of folks with practical knowledge have to address on a daily basis.”
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the council at the start of Wednesday’s meeting he looks forward to recommendations on how to guarantee spectrum for drone use, and that he expects action on C-band spectrum early in 2020 (see 1912040011). “We are going to be working on cleaning out impediments from the nonfederal side” of the band, he said. Pai also announced the FCC’s new order on RF radiation (see 1912040036). TAC recommendations don’t sit on shelves gathering dust, Pai said: “I am not a technical expert, and that’s why we rely on you.”
The TAC supported the FCC's encouraging the spread of more advanced antennas. Many members expressed doubt about the gains from advanced antennas reported by antenna working group Chair Martin Cooper, CEO of Dyna. Cooper, who invented the cellular phone, said adopting advanced antenna tech that has been around for 25 years could enhance the efficiency of existing spectrum use by five to 10 times. ta reason for the FCC to forego using millimeter wave spectrum for 5G.
If the gains are that good, wireless companies would already be using the technology, several members said. “To imply that we would not do things the right way as an industry, making best use of the spectrum that we have, is not cool,” said Karri Kuoppamaki, T-Mobile vice president-radio network technology and strategy. “I got your point, this sounds too good to be true,” Cooper said. “I cannot explain why people have not adopted it -- perhaps that is one of the issues the TAC should undertake.”
The small-cell aesthetics proposal suggested the matter is something the next TAC could explore, and wasn’t made a formal recommendation to the FCC or voted on by the group. Putting together a set of best practices for small-cell aesthetics could help forestall backlash from localities over shoddy installation and pre-emption, said Gregory Lapin, chair of ARRL’s RF safety committee. “If you think there is resistance now, that is nothing compared to the resistance building up,” said David Tennenhouse, VMWare research chief. The proposed process could slow 5G deployment, said AT&T Assistant Vice President-Standards and Industry Alliances Brian Daly. Wireless carriers are already working with the communities where they deploy small cells, and that's the way to continue, Daly said.
TAC approved recommendations on spectrum for 5G.
Rural stakeholders need more guidance and clarity from the FCC on addressing spectrum needs there, said 5G working group Chair Russ Gyurek, Cisco Systems director-IoT. The agency should also consider license sizes and terms, and promote rural deployments, TAC said. The agency should focus on consumer education to remove barriers to 5G deployment, and that education should be connected with concerns around RF radiation, the panel recommended. The order announced by Pai Wednesday sounds like it could “check that one off,” said Gyurek. The agency should also pursue additional repurposing for mid- and low-band spectrum, TAC said.
On spectrum for drones, TAC said the agency shouldn’t treat unlicensed bands as homogeneous, because in densely populated areas, the amount of interference rises. Since failing drones, falling drones or even eventually drone vehicles carrying passengers are severe safety threats, interference is an important consideration, said Boeing Regulatory Affairs Director Joseph Cramer. TAC recommended the agency work to improve its practical understanding of artificial intelligence and to understand how the industries it oversees will use the technology.