5G Deployment Barriers 'Critical Issue' for FCC, Wireless Bureau Chief Says

The Ajit Pai FCC's top wireless priorities are making more spectrum available for flexible use in the low, mid- and high bands, policies that identify and eliminate barriers to infrastructure deployment, and policies that extend wireless to unserved and underserved areas, Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale said at an FCBA event Wednesday. He said barriers are "one of the critical issues" the agency is facing in 5G deployment, with the other chief hurdle being the freeing up of more spectrum for fifth generation.

The agency likely won't try to handle all infrastructure deployment issues at once but will deal with them "on a rolling basis ... for a long while," Deputy Chief Suzanne Tetreault said. That's due to the vast number of issues -- from historic preservation rules to state and local zoning ordinances -- that come into play, she said. Stockdale said it was hoped the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee -- staffed with a wide array of stakeholders in the 5G issue -- would reach consensus on many issues, and BDAC recommendations are expected later this year.

With regard to 3.5 GHz shared band framework implementation, Senior Deputy Chief Neşe Guendelsberger said the bureau, having conditionally approved some spectrum access systems last year (see 1612220046), is focused on bringing other SAS proposals into a lab setting for testing before they're approved. Asked about the priority access licenses process time frame, she said the bureau is reviewing comments on petitions.

Calling the broadcast incentive auction "very successful," Incentive Auction Task Force Chairwoman Jean Kiddoo said most of the 2,776 licenses that were sold had been awarded. She said repacking faces the twin problems of physics -- many stations unable to move until others do, with those waiting for yet other stations to move, due to interference issues -- and logistics. Kiddoo said T-Mobile -- the incentive auction's biggest buyer -- is deploying spectrum that didn't have broadcast interference issues. Stockdale skirted a question about bureau thoughts on further incentive auctions but said international interest in the incentive auction model is significant, since the FCC showed it was possible to create a mechanism for incentivizing broadcasters to give up spectrum.

The FCC's move to putting out draft agenda items three weeks in advance of commissioner meetings (see 1702020051) was worrisome when Pai first implemented it, due to concerns about being overwhelmed with comments and suggestions, Tetreault said, "but that hasn't been the case." Stockdale said the approach helped in tweaking items that might have contained small errors.

Asked about meetings with the bureau chief and deputy chiefs, Tetreault said a surprising number of such meetings involve outside parties raising an issue without an idea of how to solve it. Chief of Staff Dana Shaffer said the bureau set up Wtbbcrequest@FCC.gov as one more route for requesting meetings with the bureau chief.