PK, Dish, Southern Linc Seek Draft 3.45 GHz Auction Changes

Stakeholders suggested changes to rules for a 3.45 GHz auction, in recent calls with eighth-floor FCC staff. Public Knowledge asked the agency to allow shared use of spectrum not sold in the auction. Rather than selling the licenses in a future auction, the commission should add them to the citizens broadband radio service database and “permit general authorized access (GAA) pursuant to the CBRS service rules,” PK said in calls with aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks, Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington. “Extend the CBRS framework on a more permanent basis into the 3.45-3.55 GHz band,” the group said: “Doing this will ensure valuable spectrum will be used without leaving GAA dependent networks stranded when licensees deploy.” Rationalize the CBRS rules with rules for 3.45 GHz, Dish Network urged: “Such an effort could provide the Commission with a win-win outcome that raises revenue for the U.S. Treasury … while preserving the investment-backed plans of the many entities that successfully participated in the CBRS auction." Offer county-sized, 10-MHz licenses, consistent with the CBRS auction, Southern Linc asked a Carr aide and staff from the Wireless Bureau, Office of Economics and Analytics and Office of Engineering and Technology. “In addition to nationwide, regional and rural service providers, the licensing framework for the CBRS band drew participation from electric utilities and other private network operators with a pressing need for spectrum to support operations that play a crucial role in the US economy,” Southern Linc said. Filings were posted Friday in docket 19-348. The FCC is unlikely to backtrack from acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s approach on the auction (see 2102240063), Cowen’s Paul Gallant told investors Friday. “Although the agency is currently split 2-2, we doubt Chairwoman Rosenworcel would have circulated it unless it was going to be adopted,” he said: “It would set C Band-like rules rather than CBRS rules that helped Comcast and Charter win 3.5 GHz spectrum last year.”