- The CBRS 3.5 GHz band relies on a unique three-tiered sharing regime to protect incumbent federal users
- The FCC continues to refine the band to get the biggest bang for the buck
- The agency is contemplating new rules that include a class of devices that would work at a higher power level
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to modernize rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, seeking comments on a wide range of potential ways to improve the 3.5 GHz band. But one 214-word paragraph in the nearly 60-page rulemaking proposal appears to be the most controversial, pitting some large wireless carriers against big cable and small Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs).
This particular section ponders the introduction of higher power devices in the CBRS band. It’s a big deal because carriers like AT&T have argued for higher power CBRS devices since the beginning of the “innovation band,” while others, like Comcast and Charter Communications, are opposed to higher power levels.
Spectrum for the Future, a coalition that includes Comcast, Charter Communications and WISPA, released a statement immediately after the FCC published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Friday.
“We encourage the FCC to reject calls to raise power levels, which would fundamentally alter the nature of the spectrum. Strong public-private collaboration has been central to the success of CBRS, and with no more ‘greenfield’ spectrum available, it’s a model that will remain the lynchpin of any successful national spectrum strategy well into the future,” said Spectrum for the Future spokesperson Tamara Smith.
Michael Calabrese, director of Wireless Future at Open Technology Institute at New America – which is also a member of Spectrum for the Future – said General Authorized Access (GAA) users of the band depend on sharing at low power. The GAA portion of the CBRS band is for unlicensed users, while the Priority Access License (PAL) portion is for licensed users.
EchoStar subsidiary Dish Network was one of the top bidders in the PAL CBRS auction, and it welcomed the new rulemaking. Dish has pressed for higher power levels.
"We appreciate the Commission's work to initiate this proceeding, which will consider rule changes to enhance the CBRS band,” said Jeff Blum, EchoStar EVP of Government and External Affairs, in a statement.
“More efficient use of this valuable mid-band spectrum is critical for U.S. competitiveness, especially as other countries make more spectrum available for wireless services,” Blum said.
A Verizon spokesperson provided the following statement to Fierce: "Verizon is pleased that the FCC is considering reforms to the CBRS framework to ensure that the band is used as efficiently and fully as possible. Now that there's a track record of experience with the band, we believe there are several opportunities to make the spectrum more useful, including through possible changes to limits on power levels and out-of-band emissions, while continuing to protect federal users of the band."
As for AT&T, it’s pretty clear where it stands on the issue. It petitioned for higher power levels back in 2019. Last fall, AT&T EVP for Technology Chris Sambar said he’d like to rip out all of the CBRS cells in AT&T’s network primarily due to the power constraints. He made the point as part of a broader argument for more licensed mid-band spectrum for U.S. operators.
To be clear, power levels are just one of the many items the FCC is considering. The agency also seeks comment on whether there are other steps it can take to facilitate additional use of the 3.5 GHz band for low power indoor operations, including private networks, and facilitating the continued introduction of CBRS in areas outside of the contiguous United States.
All the stakeholders will get a chance to share their thoughts with the FCC. Comments are due 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register, with reply comments due 60 days after publication.
Story updated with comment from Verizon.