12 GHz Sides Clash Over Wireless Interest

OneWeb and advocates for opening 12 GHz to 5G butted heads Wednesday whether there's wireless demand here. “Where is CTIA [support], where is Verizon [support]?" said OneWeb North American Director-Government and Regulatory Engagement Eric Graham in a Broadband Breakfast virtual panel Wednesday. He said their silence and AT&T opposition to opening the band indicate a relative lack of wireless interest. Replied RS Access CEO Noah Campbell, NCTA says its members want access, and AT&T shows interest in an auction if there's a mobile allocation. Dish Network Executive Vice President-External and Legislative Affairs Jeff Blum said it's "telling" that non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite interests didn't offer their own technical study in the docket 20-443 comment cycle (see 2107080055) refuting the RS Access-commissioned study showing satellite/terrestrial sharing of the 12.2-12.7 GHz band is feasible. Graham said the burden of proof is on 5G petitioners to make the case for sharing. Blum and Campbell focused on the need for the spectrum for 5G. Graham argued terrestrial service is a harmful interference risk to NGSO fixed satellite service (FSS) downlinks to user terminals. Graham said the 12 GHz swath is part of a 2 GHz-wide band of Ku spectrum available for satellite use, but terrestrial uses in the 10.7-11.7 GHz band makes it more difficult if not impossible for NGSO FSS constellations. Blum said the band isn't inherently needed for NGSO-provided broadband, citing Amazon's planned Kuiper constellation not using that spectrum. He and Campbell disputed the interference threat. Now that the record's closed, 5G interests will seek to engage with NGSO interests, said Blum.