CBRS

Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche sees industry enthusiasm about the citizens broadband radio service, after the firm held a conference on the topic Tuesday. “Enthusiasm for the spectrum and its multifaceted use cases was shared by many participants representing different layers of the ecosystem,” the analyst told investors Wednesday. “We believe we are in the early innings in learning how CBRS spectrum and shared use deployment model will revolutionize wireless network deployments in the future. As one of the few mid-band spectrum [bands] now available for commercial use, CBRS has garnered the attention of service providers (i.e.: wireless and cable) but also new players like technology companies and enterprises for their own specific use cases.”

The FCC’s proposal for allowing cellular market area-level bidding in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service auction changed considerably from the original proposal by Chairman Ajit Pai, based on a side-by-side comparison. Commissioners approved a public notice 5-0 Thursday. Officials said then (see 1909260040) clarifying language was added at the request of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and questions at the request of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The issue has been important to smaller players who prefer county-level licenses. The rules would permit larger licenses if conditions are met in the 172 largest markets. “We clarify that under this proposal, prices ... would be determined on a county-by-county basis, consistent with the basic clock mechanism,” says language in a new paragraph: “Prices in a particular county would depend upon whether the aggregate demand for blocks in that county exceeds the supply, regardless of whether the demand comes from bidders bidding on a CMA level, on a county level, or both.” The draft says simply: “We seek comment on this proposal for CMA-level bidding generally and on the specific implementation procedures we propose.” The final version adds more than 100 words of questions. “We seek comment on how this proposal, including the proposed implementation procedures ... would affect auction participation by bidders that seek licenses for individual counties,” the notice now says: “We also seek comment on whether there are modifications that should be made to our proposal for CMA-level bidding that would assist auction participation by smaller entities interested in county-sized licenses.” The PN was in Monday's Daily Digest in docket 19-244.

Telecom sector supply chain security and spectrum legislation drew enthusiastic support from House Communications Subcommittee members and witnesses during a Friday hearing, as expected (see 1909260056). They gave no clear guidance during on how they want to proceed on the seven measures the panel examined. Lawmakers focused much of their attention on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4459) and the Studying How to Harness Airwave Resources Efficiently Act (HR-4462), though they also showed interest in other measures.

FCC members approved 5-0 a public notice Thursday seeking comment on an auction of priority access licenses (PALs), the licensed part of the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. As expected, Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks raised concerns (see 1909230056) but voted to approve after each got changes to the notice. The auction is to start June 25.

A proposed public notice on the 3.5 GHz auction could see questions at the commissioners’ meeting Thursday. Several parties have been at the FCC asking for changes and Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks are still reviewing their votes and have questions about how the auction will work in practice, industry and FCC officials said. The most controversial aspect is that the notice would allow bidding in some cases on relatively large cellular market area (CMA) licenses.

With 3.5 GHz band commercial use rolling out nationwide, focus on clearing the 3.45-3.55 GHz band and studying possibly clearing at least some of 3.1-3.45 GHz or a sharing model like what's being used for the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS), FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said Wednesday. At an event cheering that initial commercial deployment, O'Rielly hoped DOD follows through on the idea it floated of increasing the allowable power levels for the band. Pentagon spectrum chief Fred Moorefield said the department would be amenable to exploring that once it's "comfortable with the rollout. ... More spectrum sharing is the new normal."

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Competitive Carriers Association members were asked by the federal government to participate in discussions on supply chain security, carrier officials said Tuesday at CCA’s annual meeting. At the opening breakfast, big issues were 5G and what it will mean to competitive carriers. Huawei was at CCA and had a technical presentation on cybersecurity.

The FCC cleared spectrum access system administrators for the 3.5 GHz band, operated by Amdocs, CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google and Sony. The SAS administrators “have satisfied the Commission’s SAS laboratory testing requirements and are approved to begin their initial commercial deployments,” said a Monday order in docket 15-319, by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology. A Citizens Broadband Radio Service Alliance event Wednesday marks launch of services in the band (see 1908210052).

The FCC will start the long-awaited 3.5 GHz auction June 25, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday in a blog on the agenda for the Sept. 25 commissioners’ meeting. The FCC will also take up USF funding for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 1909040028), a proposal to update intercarrier compensation rules and a media modernization Further NPRM, among other items.

Huawei had “limited involvement” in the Wireless Innovation Forum Spectrum Sharing Committee's work developing the spectrum access system (SAS) and environmental sensing capability (ESC) technologies for sharing the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told seven senators in letters posted Thursday. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and five others wrote Pai and then-acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in June about their concerns (see 1906060015). The company is under scrutiny from lawmakers worried it could affect security of 5G technology (see 1905230066). Blackburn and others eye legislation to prevent President Donald Trump's administration from lifting Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security restrictions on Huawei (see 1907220053). The company's involvement in the WinnForum work has effectively ceased because “its membership was suspended on May 21,” Pai wrote. “I have also been informed that Huawei has not had access to any materials regarding military operations, including those of the Navy, beyond what has been made publicly available.” The WinnForum aims “to establish and maintain a secure technological platform that allows users of CBRS spectrum to identify with precision and share as appropriate access to this scarce public resource,” Pai said. “Doing so effectively and efficiently will speed deployment of services, particularly those involving 5G.”