12 GHz Remains Best 'Short Term' Option for 5G Spectrum: EchoStar

EchoStar defended its proposals for deploying the lower 12 GHz band for fixed wireless against complaints from DirecTV (see 2401290038). “RKF Engineering has shown that Fixed 5G using the 12.2 GHz band can serve many tens of millions of households while fully protecting existing [satellite] customers,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-443. The band is “the only short-term opportunity on the horizon for new 5G spectrum: there is no easy resolution of the impasse that has prevented Congress from reauthorizing the Commission to conduct auctions, and the NTIA’s national spectrum strategy called for further study but did not identify bands that can be deployed immediately,” EchoStar said.