The opening of the 3.5 GHz shared band isn't expected to be delayed due to problems industry had getting waveforms from the Navy, Lee Pucker, CEO of the Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum), told us Tuesday. Other complications are possible, other industry officials said. But Pucker, who heads the group the FCC tasked with overseeing the technical work on the band, said things are moving ahead. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is expected to offer licensed spectrum and unlicensed for Wi-Fi and use by wireless ISPs.
CBRS
The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is designated unlicensed spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band created by the FCC as part of an effort to allow for shared federal and non-federal use of the band.
PCTel joined the CBRS Alliance, a group promoting use of the shared 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service band. “PCTEL and the CBRS Alliance believe that efficient use of this underutilized 3.5 GHz spectrum will expand coverage and capacity to meet growing wireless data demands,” the company said in a Thursday news release. “PCTEL scanning receivers currently support LTE network testing on the 3.5 GHz CBRS band.”
Google opposes proposed changes CTIA and T-Mobile sought to rules for the 3.5 GHz shared band, saying the FCC needs to keep its eye on stability. Verizon supported the CTIA petition over that of T-Mobile, consistent with its earlier stance (see 1706200081). Comments were due on the petitions Monday, and dozens filed in docket 12-354, as the FCC considers changes to rules for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly discussed the rules Tuesday (see 1707250049).
Charter got a temporary license from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to run tests in the 3650-3700 MHz band. Tests are to start July 1 and run through the start of 2018, said a report posted by the FCC. The application's purpose is to test “a variety of experimental equipment,” the document said: “The testing will evaluate coverage, capacity, and propagation characteristics in the 3650-3700 MHz band. The proposed operations will advance Charter’s understanding of technology and network potential in the band and will advance deployment of fixed and mobile services.” Tests also will look at coexistence of devices in that band and in the FCC’s adjacent Citizens Broadband Radio Service band, said a filing by the cable ISP. It said it's working with Federated Wireless, one of coordinators in the CBRS band. The tests will take place in the Tampa, Florida area.
The fight over the future of the 3.5 GHz band is heating up, with T-Mobile breaking with other carriers to propose its own version of rule changes. CTIA recently also proposed revised rules (see 1706190067). A coalition of companies and groups concerned about protecting unlicensed use of the band asked the FCC to not make major changes to the rules, which took years to develop. The filings come as Commissioner Mike O’Rielly takes the lead on changing the rules to better assure the band will be a success (see 1704190056).
Seventeen companies and associations urged the FCC to act to open the 3.5 GHz band and said it would slow deployment if it made major rule changes. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly is working on revisions (see 1704190056). The Thursday letter says small changes aren't a problem.
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) urged the FCC to move forward on key parts of its remaining work on the 3.5 GHz shared band, in a letter posted in docket 12-354. A year ago, the FCC approved final rules establishing a three-tiered access and sharing model between federal and nonfederal incumbents, priority access licensees (PALs) in the 3550-3650 GHz part of the band and general authorized access users (see 1504170055) in the band. Industry has demonstrated interest in the citizens band radio service spectrum (CBRS) in a number of developments since, DSA said. “These include a recent successful test deployment of a private LTE network, a rural broadband project that demonstrates the types of investments and innovation that private enterprise has made since the adoption of the rules, and technological advancements for improving the indoor cellular experience," DSA said. “These and other developments have been made primarily by the 42 companies participating in the CBRS Alliance.” Now the FCC needs to move, the letter said. DSA urged the FCC to develop rules for a PAL auction and certify the spectrum access systems and environmental sensing capability of operators who will help manage sharing “as soon as possible in order to open the 3.5 GHz band for companies poised to deploy their networks.” DSA also reacted to reports the FCC will revise rules for the band (see 1703160029). “Finally, in light of the recent news that there may be interest at the Commission in considering changes to the Part 96 framework, we also caution that injecting regulatory uncertainty at this late stage will have the effect of reducing or stranding current investment, deterring future investment, and ultimately setting back active use of the 3.5 GHz band to square one,” DSA said.
Changes to rules for the 3.5 GHz shared band appear to be on a fast track at the FCC, with Commissioner Mike O’Rielly driving the process, industry and agency officials said. O’Rielly asked the industry about potential changes to the rules, the officials said. But he's expected to push only limited changes. Wi-Fi advocates warn that more sweeping changes could mean a slowdown in the launch of the band, a multiple-year focus for the FCC.
The Wireless Bureau said it started the four-month window for incumbent licensees in the 3650–3700 MHz band to file supplemental information required to define their grandfathered wireless protection zone as the FCC launches shared use of the 3.5 GHz band. The order on the Citizens Broadband Radio Service allowed for protection of the grandfathered incumbents in the nearby band. “The deadline for filing an application to be afforded protection is August 7,” the bureau said in a Friday public notice. “Licensees who do not meet this deadline may continue to operate, but will not be afforded protection from interference caused by new CBRS operations.” The FCC approved the initial 3.5 GHz NPRM in 2012 (see 1212130044), setting up an experimental three-tiered access and sharing model made up of federal and nonfederal incumbents, priority access licenses and general authorized access users. Also Friday, the bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology established a “second wave” deadline for proposals from prospective spectrum access system administrator environmental sensing capability operators in the band. Companies that want to join others already approved have until May 31 to apply, a PN said.
Comcast and Charter Communications joining the CBRS Alliance will help create interest among major handset vendors for supporting the 3.5 GHz band, with end-user device availability being one of the issues that will dictate when the band is used commercially for mobile, said CableLabs Vice President-Core Innovations Pete Smyth in a blog post Thursday. He said commercial rollout also will be dictated by the availability of spectrum access systems (SAS), environmental sensing capacity (ESC) and commercial grade network equipment. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are looking at LTE deployment in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band, he said. With Samsung's upcoming Galaxy 8 supposedly supporting band 42 and Sony announcing support of band 42 in an upcoming handset, "all of this bodes well for 2018," CableLabs said. It said SASs and ESCs are expected to be operational by year's end, which points to full spectrum availability next year.