AT&T and CERCI Continue Fight Over Future of 4.9 GHz Band
The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) and AT&T disagreed sharply on the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials’ request that the FCC launch an NPRM on rules for the 4.9 GHz band (see 2502070020), including increasing the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) limits to make the band more attractive for 5G. Reply comments were due Thursday in docket 07-100.
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“The record demonstrates broad support for adopting these changes without delay,” said AT&T, which is building and operating the FirstNet network. AT&T noted that only CERCI filed in opposition. CERCI represents Verizon, T-Mobile and other interests that have opposed FirstNet control of the band.
“Revising technical rules to support 5G systems will simply make it possible to deploy the robust 5G networks necessary for public safety innovation, subject to the Band Manager’s efforts to protect incumbent uses,” AT&T said.
CERCI "would delay the enormous public benefits that would result from 5G operations in the 4.9 GHz band," AT&T said: None of the concerns raised "warrant deferring action on the petition.” AT&T also said quick action is needed to ensure 3rd Generation Partnership Project support for the band.
CERCI said its interference concerns haven’t been resolved. “APCO provided no discussion or analysis of how its proposal would change the interference environment for existing public-safety service [users] in the 4.9 GHz band, and the commenters that support APCO’s Petition disregard how a full-power 5G network -- never before overlaid in a band with public-safety services -- will protect those existing operations.”
CERCI slammed AT&T’s additional proposal that the FCC increase the 5G power flux density limit for locations on the border of an existing public-safety licensee’s service area from -76 dBm/m2/MHz to -66 dBm. This 10 dB increase would mean 10 times higher power into existing public-safety receivers in the 4.9 GHz band than the APCO proposal. “AT&T offers no technical reasons for the increase beyond a general statement that its proposals include ‘an update to reflect propagation changes in higher frequencies,’” CERCI said: “It provides no engineering basis to make this claim.”