CTIA: FCC Should Take Aggressive Stance on 4 and 7/8 GHz Bands Ahead of WRC
CTIA urged the FCC to move aggressively to promote full-powered licensed use of 4 and 7/8 GHz spectrum ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027. The Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC), EchoStar and Kuiper Systems also responded to an FCC notice seeking comment on positions that the FCC’s WRC Advisory Committee approved last month (see 2504150032).
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“By taking active steps now, our nation’s priorities can shape the international spectrum harmonization process, the U.S. can promote secure partnerships in a developing wireless ecosystem, and America can be better positioned for competitive success,” CTIA said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-30. “The U.S. should not wait to exercise its leadership in the 7/8 GHz and 4 GHz bands on the global stage, as silence would strengthen the hands of international competitors by undermining our nation’s ability to advance wireless innovation and realize its attendant economic and national security benefits here at home.”
AFTRCC supported the preliminary U.S. position on agenda item 1.12, which addresses low-data-rate non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) mobile satellite service (MSS) systems. Among its top concerns, it said, is protecting the two shared nonfederal and federal aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) bands used in flight testing aircraft, the 1435-1525 and 2360-2395 MHz bands. The proposed position calls for studies but would protect AMT, AFTRCC said.
Proceed with caution on any further regulation of unauthorized operations of NGSO earth stations in MSS and fixed satellite service, since there are already explicit provisions barring such operations, said Amazon’s Kuiper. It said the U.S., Canadian and Mexican preliminary viewpoints on item 1.5 broadly agree that no additional rules should be imposed if they’re not needed. Kuiper also backed the U.S.’s preliminary support for studying technical and regulatory measures for fixed satellite service networks in the 37.5-42.5 GHz, 42.5-43.5 GHz, 47.2-50.2 GHz and 50.4-51.4 GHz bands (agenda item 1.6).
EchoStar also backed the draft U.S. positions on items 1.5 and 1.6, as well as 1.12, regarding studies for some types of MSS allocations in the 1427-1432 MHz, 1645.5-1646.5 MHz, 1880-1920 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz frequency bands. It said the U.S. position makes clear any studies should ensure protection of incumbent MSS allocations in those and adjacent bands.