CBRS Advocates Concerned About Band Changes Under Carr
Advocates of keeping most of the current rules for the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) band intact have been playing defense since the start of President Donald Trump's administration and the ascension of Brendan Carr to chairman of the FCC. Carr has said little in recent weeks but went on record in the past urging an examination of higher power levels, which some view as a threat to growing use of the band.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
At a WISPA meeting in 2022, Carr said the FCC should at least start to ask about higher power levels (see 2210050052). “There are certainly some use cases, particularly in rural communities, where upping the power … might allow you from your existing tower site to reach one more home, one more business.”
Carr suggested two years ago in testimony to the House Communications Subcommittee, “We could seek comment on increasing the power levels for CBRS operations in the 3.5 GHz band.” These and other statements have some CBRS supporters concerned as Carr moves forward on what he's promised will be an aggressive agenda on spectrum.
The FCC adopted the initial CBRS rules in 2015, creating a three-tier model for sharing 3.5 GHz spectrum, which also protected naval radars. Last summer, changes kicked in that loosened restrictions on the band, which are expected to spur additional use (see 2407250039). An August NPRM from the FCC explored further rules changes (see 2406130055). Among the changes was aligning out-of-band emissions (OOBE) levels with those in the C band and raising power levels.
AT&T proposed in October that the CBRS allocation, at 3.55-3.7 GHz, be expanded and relocated to 3.1-3.3 GHz (see 2410090037). The former CBRS band would then be auctioned for licensed, full-power use. CTIA has repeatedly questioned how much CBRS is actually used (see 2412060042).
“Licensed, full-power spectrum is critical for supporting wireless investment, innovation, and connectivity across the country, and the 3 GHz band range is [a] key global band for enabling 5G,” emailed Scott Bergmann, CTIA senior vice president-regulatory affairs. “We support the FCC and administration exploring additional opportunities to unlock this spectrum.”
Carr has indicated a preference for higher power in CBRS but may take more factors into consideration now that he is chairman, said a lawyer opposed to major changes: “You have to as chairman.” Carr is likely to be a very proactive chairman, and “what that means exactly I don’t know.”
Said Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld, “We are seeing an explosion of private networking driven by the availability of CBRS under the existing rules.” The NPRM looks at raising power levels and relaxing OOBE limits, “endangering the availability of open spectrum in the band and possibly creating friction with Naval users -- which could lead to them expanding the exclusion zones,” he said.
CBRS is “an innovative regulatory approach,” which is being adopted in other nations following the U.S.’ lead, Feld said: “Why mess with it to create yet another band for high-power mobile? Why create uncertainty that will slow innovation and investment?”
Richard Bernhardt, WISPA vice president-spectrum and industry, said wireless ISPs believe there could be “moderate changes” to OOBE limits, but overly aggressive changes would have “a very negative effect on the band.”
A broad group of companies and associations last month urged Carr to avoid proposing fundamental changes to rules for the band (see 2502060050). There have been numerous other filings at the FCC since the start of the Trump administration, by cablers and others, raising concerns.
A Spectrum for the Future spokesperson emailed that more “legacy high-power, low-competition approaches to spectrum won't boost the economy, create U.S. jobs, or promote American global leadership in wireless.”
The medium-power, locally licensed framework that CBRS offers “is fueling everything from new mobile competition to rural broadband to private 5G networks in hospitals, farms, airports, and factories,” the spokesperson said: Increasing power levels “would cause substantial harm to these services and jeopardize new investment in cutting-edge private 5G and rural broadband networks that rely on CBRS.”
Priority access license holders “have been very clear that they would be able to improve the quality and reach of their networks with more power,” emailed High Tech Forum founder Richard Bennett. “The FCC should issue an NPRM making good on its promise [to] let networks fulfill their potential.”