Federated Wireless, a longtime proponent of the 3.55-3.7 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, urged policymakers to look instead at 4 GHz as they seek to put together a spectrum pipeline for the future. The revised budget reconciliation package, which was signed into law in July, exempts the 3.1-3.45 and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands from reallocation, but not CBRS (see 2507070045).
Bill Baker, CEO of Texas-based ISP Nextlink, and Gary Bolton, CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), said Wednesday that satellite broadband isn’t a true substitute for fiber or fixed wireless access. Speaking at an FBA webinar, both questioned the move of some states to embrace low earth orbit (LEO) proposals from SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper as part of a restructured BEAD program (see 2507290070).
The FCC should finalize rules clarifying the use of the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) band, Federated Wireless urged in a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-258. “Immediate Commission action is needed to provide certainty and reassurance to the operators and investors who are actively driving growth and innovation in this critical shared spectrum band.”
The Wireless Innovation Forum released last week “Developments Towards a More Robust and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Network,” a member-approved document that calls for improvements in sharing systems, including in the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) and for 6 GHz automated frequency coordination (AFC). The document was written by a working group that WInnForum launched a year ago (see 2408220049).
WISPA on Monday urged the FCC not to make disruptive changes to rules for the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) band, which it said offers a “scalable rural broadband solution.” CBRS advocates have said they're concerned about potential changes to power levels in the band, which they see as possible under Chairman Brendan Carr (see 2503130049). The spectrum provisions in the reconciliation package signed into law by President Donald Trump also don’t exclude CBRS from potential reallocation (see 2507070045).
NCTA opposed Airspan Networks’ request last month for a waiver allowing it to manufacture a multiband radio device that operates across the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) and C band. “The FCC has seen deep interest by wireless providers in deployment of 5G service in both the 3450 MHz and the 3700 MHz bands, and there is an ongoing, recognized and growing need for base station manufacturers to support operations in these bands cost-effectively,” Airspan said in its request.
President Donald Trump signed off Friday on the revised budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, restoring the FCC’s spectrum auction authority for the first time since it lapsed in March 2023. The measure, which ultimately mirrored the Senate’s version, mandates an 800 MHz spectrum auction pipeline but exempts the 3.1-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands from potential reallocation (see 2507030056). The National Emergency Number Association and WISPA separately aired grievances with Congress failing to act on the groups’ policy priorities via reconciliation.
The House on Thursday narrowly passed the Senate-cleared version of the HR-1 budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (see 2507010070). Passage came after a marathon all-night session, during which most Republicans who had previously resisted backing the measure ultimately voted for it amid pressure and cajoling from GOP leadership and President Donald Trump. The lower chamber approved HR-1 218-214, with only two Republicans joining all 212 Democrats in opposition.
House action on the Senate-cleared version of the HR-1 budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, appeared in doubt Wednesday afternoon amid resistance from several GOP lawmakers. Critics of Senate Commerce Committee Republicans’ HR-1 spectrum language held out hope amid the ruckus that lawmakers would make additional bands ineligible for potential reallocation. The Senate narrowly passed its HR-1 language Tuesday (see 2507010070).
Nokia filed a report this week at the FCC on its initial commercial deployment as a spectrum access system manager in the citizens broadband radio service band. Nokia asked the FCC not to make public the information it filed, which was posted Wednesday in docket 15-319 and completely redacted. The FCC approved Nokia’s application last summer (see 2407180035).