FCC Seeks Comment on Additional Changes to CBRS Rules

FCC commissioners unanimously approved an NPRM on further changes to rules for the citizens broadband radio service band that Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated two months ago. The Biden administration has focused on sharing models based on CBRS as part of its assessment of the future of spectrum. The agency posted the NPRM on Friday. Comment deadlines will come in a Federal Register notice.

The agency adopted initial CBRS rules in 2015, creating a three-tier model for sharing 3.5 GHz spectrum, while protecting naval radars. Last month, changes kicked in that loosened restrictions on use of the band, which are expected to spur additional use by more people (see 2407250039). The NPRM explores further changes (see 2406130055).

“Today, we recognize the critical role” of CBRS “not only as a success in making additional mid-band spectrum available for a variety of novel and important uses, but also as a model for spectrum sharing -- and seek to build on that success to solidify the service’s role as a prime innovation band,” the NPRM says. “We continue to build on our efforts to provide regulatory certainty and introduce measures that will promote innovation, investment, and continued growth.”

The NPRM cites industry reports that by the end of last year there were 370,000 active CBRS devices with more than 1,000 different operators using them.

The FCC proposes to modify its Part 96 rules “to reflect the mechanisms currently used to protect federal users in the 3.5 GHz band and seeks comment on whether” it “should consider rule changes to align 3.5 GHz protection methodologies with those in adjacent bands.” The notice asks about changing environmental sensing capability procedures “to address potential effects on competition and the marketplace” and whether to permit CBRS operations in offshore areas.

The NPRM also seeks comment on possibly expanding the portal system to protect federal operations in other areas, particularly those outside the continental U.S. “with difficult terrain or unique protection needs (e.g., Alaska and Hawaii).” A year ago, the FCC ordered spectrum access system administrators in the band to use the DOD’s Telecommunications Advanced Research and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing System (TARDyS3) scheduling portal to protect designated DOD facilities (see 2308210047).

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said in a written statement the NPRM shows “the power” of collaboration among federal agencies. “The modernizations in this item would not be possible without the expertise of the NTIA” and DOD, he said. Commissioner Anna Gomez said, “Not only are we seeing the success of a dynamic shared spectrum framework, but our collaborations are leading to targeted and iterative improvements that better protect federal operations and create more spectrum access for broadband.” Gomez is a former NTIA deputy and acting administrator.

“In just a few years CBRS has been an unprecedented success in enabling more than 1,000 factories, universities, airports, schools, rural [wireless ISPs] and other enterprise users to share local and low-power access to mid-band spectrum,” said Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America. As expected, "the vast majority of use has been by operators relying on the half of the band reserved for free and shared general authorized access,” he said. GAA users “depend on sharing at low power and on their ability to use the licensed half of the band in locations where auction winners are not yet operating.”

“The CBRS band has already boosted innovation and competition in the wireless market -- without sacrificing national security,” a Charter Communications spokesperson emailed. “Municipalities, schools, libraries, ports, airports, manufacturers, new mobile companies, and many other entities rely on CBRS spectrum today and we caution against requests to increase power levels, which put these uses and users at risk.”

“We look forward to working with the FCC to study whether technical changes might unlock new opportunities for the kind of low-power, locally licensed CBRS networks that have accelerated deployment among an extraordinary variety of users,” Spectrum for the Future said. The group also said the FCC should reject calls “to raise power levels, which would fundamentally alter the nature of the spectrum.”

Jeff Blum, EchoStar executive vice president-government and external affairs, said Friday on X, “More efficient use of this valuable mid-band spectrum is critical for U.S. competitiveness, especially as other countries make more spectrum available for wireless services.”