Carriers will lead the bidding in the July citizens broadband radio service band auction, but questions remain about the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on credit markets, said Joe Madden, chief analyst at Mobile Experts. The FCC delayed the auction for a month to July 23 (see 2003250052). Speakers Tuesday said another delay isn’t likely.
The FCC Wednesday postponed the first mid-band auction of citizens broadband radio service licenses for about a month because of COVID-19. The FCC postponed indefinitely an auction of FM construction permits. Analysts disagreed Wednesday whether the C-band auction could get pushed to next year.
Replies show little emerging consensus on an NPRM commissioners approved 5-0 at their December meeting (see 1912120063) proposing to remove existing nonfederal secondary and amateur allocations in the 3.3-3.55 GHz band and to relocate incumbent nonfederal operations. Amateur radio operators raised concerns right after the rulemaking was approved (see 2002180056). Replies were posted through Tuesday in docket 19-348.
Making more licensed mid-band spectrum available for 5G, beyond the citizens broadband radio service and C band, must remain an “urgent goal” for the U.S., said an Analysys Mason report released by CTIA Monday. An average of 382 MHz of licensed mid-band spectrum will be available in 13 other countries by the end of the year, compared to 70 MHz in the U.S., the report said.
In a key early test of the FCC’s ability to wrap up big items in a coronavirus world, commissioners are expected to vote in April to allow Wi-Fi to share the 6 GHz band (see 2003050058). The Office of Engineering and Technology hadn’t completed work on the order before FCC staff was ordered to telework last week, but most industry and FCC officials said they still expect the order to be ready for a vote at the April 23 meeting, though questions remain difficult.
Federated Wireless extended its spectrum controller platform for use in the 6 GHz band, which the FCC is expected to open for sharing with unlicensed users (see 2003050058). Federated provides similar service for the citizens broadband radio service band. The platform is “in trials … and is expected to be available for commercial use by the end of 2020,” the company said Wednesday.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai could propose an order on the 6 GHz band for the April 23 meeting, industry and FCC officials said. That would move one of his biggest pieces of unfinished business, providing spectrum for unlicensed use comparable to the mid-band allocated for licensed use in the C band. Pai was expected to propose an item in March. Staff needed more time, we were told Thursday.
The FCC approved 5-0 draft bidding procedures for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, which formally schedules a June 25 auction of CBRS licenses. Unlike the C band (see 2002280044), this second mid-band item was approved after a relatively brief discussion without similar political fireworks. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel agreed the process has taken too long. The licenses will be the first mid-band spectrum the FCC has offered for 5G.
The FCC draft proposal for the C band, set for a vote Friday, wrongly forecloses sharing with point-to-multipoint operations, wireless ISPs and tech groups told the commission in meetings last week. Most filings posted Monday in docket 18-122 deal with issues previously raised. The FCC should have at least sought comment on sharing, said Google, Microsoft, the Open Technology Institute at New America and the Wireless ISP Association. The agency could delay some issues for future consideration in the interest of broader support for key parts of the plan (see 2002210046:). The draft “mischaracterizes the weight of comments in the record by stating that ‘an overwhelming number of commenters across industries oppose the proposal’” for sharing, the tech interests said: Sixteen commenters "argued for the proposed spectrum sharing.” WISPA and the others had meetings with aides to all five commissioners, posted Monday. NAB sought tweaks, to “allow satellite customers to comment on each satellite operator’s transition plan before approving it” and the commission should require the clearinghouse to “resolve disputes beyond reimbursement. ... The Commission should seek information not only from space station operators, but from other stakeholders, to confirm that the transition has been successfully completed.” CTIA said the FCC is on the right track. “Make clear that earth station operators that elect to transition to fiber rather than maintaining satellite reception must complete their transition by the relevant accelerated relocation deadline,” CTIA asked: “This modest clarification will provide earth station operators, bidders, and the administrator of the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse with added certainty regarding the relocation process, thereby better enabling a smooth post-auction transition.” Aviation industry groups said the order should be modified to guarantee safe operation of radio altimeters in nearby spectrum. The draft “proposes simply to monitor the situation,” said the Aerospace Industries Association, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Spectrum Resources and others: “There is a lot more that the Commission can and should do now with the inputs and active involvement of both the commercial wireless and the aerospace and aviation industries.” It should “expressly provide that, as new entrants coming into the spectrum, flexible use licensees shall not cause harmful interference to adjacent band radio altimeters and they should be responsible for resolving any such interference,” they said. Charter Communications urged addressing “the potential for harmful interference at the band edge” between the C band and the citizens broadband radio service band.
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) told the FCC the sharing regime in the adjacent citizens broadband radio service band could be a model across the entire 3.1-3.55 GHz range. Other commenters said amateur radio operations should remain in the spectrum. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 at their December meeting (see 1912120063) proposing to remove existing nonfederal secondary and amateur allocations in the 3.1-3.55 GHz band and to relocate incumbent nonfederal operations. Comments posted through Monday in docket 19-348.