WISPA Says FCC Should Make Clear Questions Agency Raised on CBRS Band

A pending report to Congress required by the Spectrum Pipeline Act should make clear the threat to smaller entities from a notice of proposed rulemaking last year on changes to the rules for the citizens broadband radio service band, the Wireless ISP Association said in reply comments in docket 14-177. In initial comments, NTIA and others encouraged the FCC to make more spectrum bands available for 5G (see 1809110040). The FCC sought comment on the initial rules creating the shared CBRS band and on other bands that can be reallocated for broadband (see 1808100033). The NPRM “threatens to pull the rug from under stakeholders who, in reliance on the 2015 rule changes, made significant, long-term investments in preparation for launching innovative products and services -- including those targeting rural and underserved markets -- utilizing the CBRS band,” WISPA said in comments posted Thursday The FCC can rightfully report that the results of the 2015 rules were “positive and promising,” WISPA said. “But ... the Commission must also report on the chilling effect the 2017 NPRM has had on those changes.” The Utilities Technology Council said it opposes comments in the record that “seek to downplay the complexity of expanding the use of the 6 GHz band … and the associated risks of interference to the safety, security and reliability of electric, gas and water services, as well as numerous other services that depend on the 6 GHz band for mission-critical communications.” Federated Wireless said the FCC should report that CBRS “will play a critical role in providing the mid-band spectrum access needed to ensure that the United States leads the world in the race to 5G.” Federated said there's significant support in the record on the importance of that band. “It is paramount that the Commission continue its work to expeditiously authorize CBRS initial commercial deployments and issue final certifications to Spectrum Access System Administrators and Environmental Sensing Capability Operators to enable full commercialization of the CBRS band,” Federated commented.