CTIA, Qualcomm Urge FCC Not to Make Decisions Now on 7/8 GHz Spectrum

The FCC should make clear that, consistent with the national spectrum strategy, the 7.125-8.4 GHz band should be targeted for 5G and 6G, CTIA said in comments on an NPRM on implementing 2015 and 2019 decisions by the World Radiocommunication Conference. Most comments were short and urged the FCC to preserve the 60-meter band for amateur use. Replies were due Tuesday in docket 23-120.

The NPRM’s questions on whether to allocate the 7190-7235 MHz band to the space research service and the 7190-7250 MHz band to the Earth exploration satellite service on a secondary basis for nonfederal use “have been overcome” by the national spectrum strategy and “a series of additional events since WRC-15’s conclusion,” CTIA said. The 7/8 GHz band is one of the bands the strategy targeted for study (see 2311130048).

“Recognizing the need to drive technological innovation, boost U.S. industrial competitiveness, and maintain U.S. leadership,” the strategy “calls for a whole-of-government effort to fast-track an in-depth study of this band for growing wireless broadband use,” CTIA said: “That significant decision drew heavily from information received from the Commission, other Federal departments and agencies, and the private sector about the current uses and future possibilities in this slice of spectrum.”

Qualcomm agreed with CTIA's arguments, citing “the nation’s changed priorities” since the conclusion of WRC-15. With WRC-23 now meeting in Dubai, Qualcomm said the FCC shouldn’t act on 7/8 GHz at this time. The Inter-American Telecommunications Commission “has advanced a proposal requesting studies in the 7.125-8.5 GHz frequency band, among other bands, for commercial licensed wireless use,” the company said: “Similar proposals have been submitted by other countries in the Asia-Pacific including India, Laos and Vietnam, and the Arab Spectrum Management Group.”

Qualcomm also cited the national spectrum strategy. The FCC should “refrain from adopting the proposed allocations in the sub-bands until the domestic studies referenced in the Strategy and any studies undertaken in the ITU as part of a Future Agenda Item have been completed and the next steps have been determined,” Qualcomm said.

Most of the nearly 3,500 comments in the docket addressed amateur radio concerns (see 2311200047). Amateurs often refer to frequency bands by the signal's wavelength rather than by the spectrum range.

The American Radio Relay League noted it petitioned the FCC in 2017 (see 1701130054) to implement domestically a WRC-15 decision providing an international allocation of 5351.5-5366.5 kHz to the amateur radio service on a secondary basis, at 100 watts effective radiated power. Amateur use of the 60-meter band is “particularly valuable for amateur purposes because it is located approximately halfway between the 7 and 3.5 MHz amateur bands and bridges those bands when propagation conditions prevent their use for local and medium distance communications,” ARRL said: “It also is unique in that it is the only band on which FCC radio amateur licensees and federal government users authorized” by the NTIA “are permitted to directly communicate. Joint exercises are routinely conducted in this band.”