European regulators may not make decisions for another 10 years on the future of broadcast TV in the UHF band, speakers said Monday at conclusion of the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference. The FCC repurposed 84 MHz of UHF for wireless in a 2016-17 incentive auction. Such a swath in Europe remains hotly contested between carriers seeking low-band for 5G and broadcasters.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
Industrial Internet of Things Coalition members “described the difficulties critical industries experience in acquiring much-needed spectrum, in particular broadband spectrum, both in the auction process and in the aftermarket,” in a meeting with FCC Wireless Bureau staff, said a filing posted Monday in docket 19-38: “Their spectrum needs are defined by industrial operational requirements that do not necessarily conform to FCC population or geographic criteria designed to ensure optimal wireless coverage for consumer use.” Southern Linc, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, Edison Electric Institute, Anterix and Utilities Technology Council participated.
The FCC needs to work with NTIA and other stakeholders to develop “specific and measurable performance goals … to manage spectrum demands associated with 5G deployment,” the GAO said in a report released Monday. Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees and the House Science Committee were among those who requested the study. The report noted recent FCC actions to make more spectrum available for 5G services but said the commission “has not developed” “performance goals with related strategies and measures to assess how well its actions are mitigating the added effects 5G deployment will have on the digital divide.” The plan “notes that FCC’s actions on the 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 3.7-4.2 GHz bands could make up to 844 MHz available for 5G, but these strategies are not related to any identified performance goals or measures,” GAO said. The FCC “neither agreed nor disagreed with our recommendations,” GAO said. The regulator “described the challenges associated with developing performance goals for managing the spectrum demands associated with 5G deployment. Specifically, FCC stated that such goals could limit the options available to manage spectrum demands. Instead, FCC stated that it adopts specific and measurable performance goals -- with related strategies and measures -- during ongoing rulemakings, which allow FCC to establish engineering, economic, or other technical outcomes.” The FCC "has made substantial progress in expediting the deployment of 5G" in the U.S., a spokesperson emailed. "On the spectrum front, we've already held three auctions and will be holding two mid-band spectrum auctions later this year. On the wireless infrastructure front, we've adopted many orders to make it easier to deploy the physical building blocks of 5G networks, including this year's 5G Upgrade Order, and small cell deployments have skyrocketed. And on the fiber front, thanks to our reforms, the United States set records for fiber deployment in both 2018 and 2019."
Verizon and CTIA asked the FCC to reconsider rules allowing unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band, in petitions posted Friday in docket 18-295. The rules approved 5-0 in April (see 2004230059) don’t allow power levels “sufficient to integrate wideband 6 GHz unlicensed operations into 5G systems,” Verizon said. Increase the maximum permitted effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) in 5.925-6.425 and 6.525-6.875 sections from 36 to 42 dBm, with maximum conducted power limit of 36 dBm, Verizon said. CTIA asked to reconsider not clearing and licensing part of the band. The U.S. "faces a growing mid-band deficit, even accounting for the 350 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz bands to be auctioned this year,” CTIA said: “The Commission recognizes that there is an urgent need for additional licensed mid-band spectrum, yet inexplicably decided to give to unlicensed the full 1,200 megahertz in the 6 GHz band.” CTIA supported Verizon calls for higher power levels and for licensing part of the spectrum. The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition sought changes on “two discrete issues" where the group believes the commission erred. “Codify an average activity factor of 0.4% for low-power indoor devices,” FWCC asked: “Mandate testing prior to the release of unlicensed devices, including low-power indoor devices, in the 6 GHz band” or “delay the effective date of the rules to permit more time for testing.”
The COVID-19 pandemic shows no single solution will fully address the U.S. digital divide, and wireless will play a bigger role worldwide, FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said at the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference Friday. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel stressed the importance of flexible-use rules and said the agency needs to learn the right lessons.
European regulators are taking a more measured approach than the U.S., where the FCC aggressively moved to make high-band spectrum available for 5G, speakers said at the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference Thursday. The FCC has already held three millimeter-wave auctions, including the largest, which concluded in March with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon buying licenses (see 2003120054).
The FCC remains concerned about receiver standards, Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale said at the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference Wednesday. Stockdale suggested the FCC do more to address the issue. Speakers on a second panel said Europe may not follow the U.S. in allocating the entire 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use, which the FCC did in April (see 2004230059).
The citizens broadband radio service band appears to be off to a strong start, FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said during a ConnectX webinar Tuesday. O’Rielly expects July 23’s priority access license auction to take place as planned, though he said that’s a decision to be made by Chairman Ajit Pai. Other speakers said CBRS will get wide use.
A fiber outage caused nationwide problems on T-Mobile’s network Monday, but only about 20% of customers were affected, said President-Technology Neville Ray at a Wells Fargo virtual conference Thursday. “We’re very sorry for the occurrence,” he said: “We have to do better.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also spoke, but that wasn't streamed (see 2006160058).
There’s “emerging consensus” the next Senate-side COVID-19 aid bill will include funding to bolster E-rate and other broadband initiatives, Incompas CEO Chip Pickering said Thursday. Some GOP lawmakers voiced growing interest in including broadband funding in coming pandemic legislation since House passage last month of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. HR-6800’s broadband funding includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059). President Donald Trump’s administration recently narrowed the scope of their desires for a fourth major aid measure (see 2006050058).