Samsung Electronics America refuted objections NCTA raised to the company's request for an FCC waiver for a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see [Ref:2309130041). “The practical implications … would be harmful to the CBRS ecosystem, particularly if used as precedent for future composite radios,” NCTA said in a late November filing that other cable interests joined. NCTA's technical assertions are at odds with the FCC rule “governing the measurement of emissions by composite devices" and "inconsistent with the rule itself, with the Office of Engineering and Technology’s well-settled guidance regarding the proper application of the rule, and with current and longstanding wireless industry measurement practices,” Samsung said in a response posted Friday in docket 23-93. The proposed radio won't have “a practical impact” on CBRS operations “compared to the deployment of two standalone radios, and therefore, Samsung’s radio will not disrupt any CBRS operators’ reasonable reliance interests,” Samsung said. Ericsson, Qualcomm and Verizon joined Samsung on the filing.
CTIA and other industry players sought to keep pressure on the Biden administration to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G and eventually 6G in comments on the implementation plan for the national spectrum strategy. Others stressed the importance of spectrum sharing. NTIA has not yet posted the comments, which were due Wednesday.