If the FCC backs its plan for freeing up C-band spectrum for 5G terrestrial use, 60 MHz along with a 20 MHz guard band could be freed up within 18 months of an order in 46 of top 50 partial economic areas, the C-Band Alliance said in a docket 18-122 filing Tuesday on how it would implement that transition. That spectrum would be at 3700-3780 MHz. The remaining spectrum in those PEAs -- 3760-3880 MHz -- and the full 180 MHz in all other PEAs would be freed up within 36 months, it said. CBA said it anticipates initially using two different types of filters on earth stations in that first wave of spectrum clearing -- one for those top 46 PEAs operating in 3900-4200 MHz and a separate one for those at 3780-3900 MHz. By the end of 36 months, everyone would have migrated to the type of filter used in the PEAs operating in the 3900-4200 MHz range. CBA repeated that all filter costs would be covered, as would repointing receive antennas or any equipment replacements needed because repointing can't be done. It said SES and Intelsat are talking with satellite manufacturers about trying to speed up building and launching the geostationary orbit satellites that would be required, discussing issues like increased commonality between satellite components and a parallel manufacturing process. Of the estimated eight satellites that would be needed, two would be ground spares, one would be an in-orbit spare and five would replace current satellites in orbit. CBA cited work it has done since late 2017, including a needs assessment of current satellite capacity and customer needs, earth station filter design and testing.

The 5G Automotive Association said the FCC should seek comment on a “forward looking approach” in the 5.9 GHz band. Action on the band is likely soon, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly says (see 1903280043). “Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything operations in the 5.9 GHz band can make American roadway travel safer, smarter, and more efficient through the use of 5G,” 5GAA filed, posted Monday in docket 18-357. It noted Ford's recent commitment to deploy C-V2X in all new U.S. vehicle models beginning in 2022. 5GAA members BMW, Ford, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm and Samsung attended. They met an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai and staff in the Offices of Engineering and Technology and Office of Economics and Analytics.

The Defense Innovation Board's report on the 5G ecosystem (see 1904040006) seems generally on target, though it may put too much emphasis on sharing, said Tom Struble, R Street Institute technology policy manager. “We have good amounts of low- and high-band spectrum either already in the market or in the auction pipeline, but there's still a lot of work left to do on mid-band, which is why the FCC's proceedings in 3.5 GHz and the lower C band are so important to get right,” Struble emailed. “I'm slightly concerned with the emphasis the DIB report places on spectrum sharing rather than clearing, reassigning, and auctioning. Dynamic spectrum sharing is a hugely promising technology, but it has yet to be successfully deployed in a commercial environment, so putting too many eggs into the sharing basket at this point may be unwise.”

CTIA President Meredith Baker met FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to seek spectrum for 5G, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-122. CTIA discussed its reports urging more mid-band spectrum and arguing the U.S. is catching up with China on 5G (see 1904020004). Pai spoke at a CTIA 5G summit Thursday (see 1904040048). “CTIA commended the Commission in particular on its progress toward making spectrum available to support next-generation wireless use, and for its efforts to modernize infrastructure siting policies,” the group said.

A recent report from British cybersecurity officials “sharply critical” of Huawei could bolster U.S. arguments against the Chinese equipment maker, American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Claude Barfield blogged Wednesday. The UK’s National Cybersecurity Center "pointed to ‘significant’ problems with Huawei’s equipment and software, and stated that it could provide ‘only limited assurance that the long-term security risks can be managed,’” Barfield said. He said that "should buttress the Trump administration’s increasingly strong warnings and admonitions to close allies. It gives US intelligence officials a plausible explanation of why -- even though there is no smoking gun for Huawei -- intrinsic technological 5G vulnerabilities (with continuous software updates) render true security against Chinese espionage impossible to attain.” The company didn't comment.

Verizon Wednesday turned on its 5G ultra wideband network in parts of Minneapolis and Chicago, a week ahead of schedule, the carrier said. Customers can use the 5G network with the world’s first commercially available 5G-enabled smartphone, the moto z3 combined with 5G moto mod, Verizon said.

The U.S. is tied with China as the leader in 5G readiness, CTIA and Analysys Mason reported. The same firm ranked the U.S. third a year ago. CTIA urged the FCC to reallocate more mid-band spectrum for 5G. The U.S. leads on the availability of low- and high-band spectrum, the report said. “We can’t be complacent as the 5G race has really just begun,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. “We must redouble our efforts to combat the 5G ambitions and investments by China and others.” Analysys Mason predicts that by 2020, some 80 operators in more than 40 countries will provide 5G service.

T-Mobile said research it supported found most AT&T customers don’t believe claims that its 5G evolution, or 5GE, service is faster than 4G. T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint objected to the use of the term 5GE (see 1901080024), which AT&T defends (see 1901100018). “There’s nothing real about AT&T’s 5GE, except for the fact that it is really slower than T-Mobile’s very real 4G LTE network,” T-Mobile said Monday. “AT&T customers know something is up. We asked, and nearly 97 percent of the AT&T customers aware of 5GE … said it’s misleading, according to new research conducted with Civic Science. Maybe that’s because it is!” AT&T didn’t comment.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee -- Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va. -- filed their Secure 5G and Beyond Act Wednesday. The bill would require the president develop a strategy for ensuring security of 5G networks and infrastructure. It would require the White House assist U.S. allies in maximizing the security of their systems, infrastructure and software. Four other senators are original co-sponsors -- Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. President Donald Trump's recent 5G comments sowed confusion about policy (see 1902210057). A supply chain security executive order on use of telecom equipment by Chinese equipment makers Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks may be tabled (see 1903250055). The FCC is considering what it might do to counter the threat from companies that pose a security threat to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain (see 1812210032). “It’s imperative we not only understand the revolutionary value of next-gen communications, but also the security measures required to ensure the deployment of safe and secure 5G networks,” Burr said. “The greater complexity, density, and speed of 5G networks relative to traditional communications networks will make securing these networks exponentially harder and more complex," Warner said.

Intel representatives told the FCC a market-based approach for the C-band is the best course and would get mid-band spectrum in play more quickly for 5G. “Because it is voluntary, it solves the holdout problem, avoids contentious disputes with the incumbents and harnesses competitive market forces to make the many difficult technical and business tradeoffs that must be addressed in this proceeding,” Intel said. “Compared to the alternatives, it will repurpose and assign this spectrum more efficiently and, most importantly, far more quickly.” Intel met Chief Don Stockdale and officials from his Wireless Bureau, the International Bureau and the Office of Economic Analysis, said a filing posted Monday in docket 17-183. Giving up FCC authorizations and moving to a compressed band "will be painful for all involved," which is the FCC should opt for a distribution and scoring model for however the sale is conducted, said small-satellite operators ABS Global, Hispasat and Embratel Star One, in a posting Monday renewing a push for their distribution model (see 1903110059). That would divvy up some of the proceeds among all satellite operators authorized to transmit in the U.S. C band, not just C-Band Alliance members, they said. They said T-Mobile's band-clearing plan runs afoul of the Communications Act with a reverse auction phase of earth station owners bidding against satellite operators when those parties aren't competing licensees. T-Mobile didn't comment. America's Communications Association said the FCC should determine to what extent the C-band can be refarmed before acting. T-Mobile claims 200 MHz is “insufficient to meet the needs of 5G service providers” and “CTIA has intimated that at least 300 MHz is needed for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership,” ACA said. “Without this information, the figures that are being floated in this proceeding, and that are gradually increasing, are shots in the dark, and any decision as to how much spectrum should, or can, be refarmed would lack foundation,” ACA said. The group said the FCC should also look at the effect in rural markets.