CBRS

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service Alliance is adding members like the Wireless ISP Association, working with ATIS, and released a certification tool developed with Radisys, the CBRS alliance said Monday. “Now with more than 120 members, the Alliance is seeing a new set of organizations beginning to engage in the OnGo ecosystem,” it said. Cisco Wireless Chief Technology Officer Matthew MacPherson joined the alliance’s board, the group said.

The 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service band potentially will give businesses a bigger role in shaping how wireless is used, said wireless adviser firm Senza Fili. The band could be the future of sharing, the report said. “Even heavily trafficked licensed cellular and unlicensed bands are not used at capacity throughout the footprint and throughout the day, especially as we move from high-density urban locations toward rural areas,” it said. “Even new technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 cannot keep up with the increase in traffic, from both human users and IoT applications, without access to new spectrum or better spectrum reuse. And this is where spectrum sharing and densification play a major role.” A Google panelist sought such sharing earlier this week (see 1901150043).

Google remains hopeful the 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service band will open for business in the first half of 2019, said Andrew Clegg, spectrum engineering lead, at the Next Century Cities conference Tuesday. Clegg predicted sharing will remain a key theme under President Donald Trump and will hit new heights with use of the 3.5 GHz band. The CBRS band will benefit rural and urban consumers, Clegg said: “It’s going to add a lot of fill-in capacity for urban systems. It’s a great complement to 5G.” In rural markets, wireless ISPs now have access to 50 MHz in the band and will be able to use up to 150 MHz, he said.

With 2019 dubbed the year of 5G and companies vying to compete in the new citizens broadband radio service and other bands, the federal shutdown comes at a bad time, industry officials said last week. Every cellphone, TV, computer or other device sold in the U.S. emits a unique RF signature and must be cleared by the FCC. With the agency mostly shuttered as of Thursday, those clearances can no longer take place.

The Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council jointly told the FCC the record shows overwhelming support for their joint request asking the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020 (see 1812040002). Reply comments were due at the FCC Friday. CTIA and NCTA were among the commenters opposing a blanket waiver.

The American Petroleum Institute supported a waiver request by the Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council on a pending 3.5 GHz requirement. WISPA and UTC asked the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020 (see 1812040002). Waiver would benefit the oil and gas industry and “given the nature of CBRS and its relation to the smaller 3650-3700 MHz band … would not encumber Priority Access,” API filed, posted Monday in docket 18-353.

The Wireless Innovation Forum’s Spectrum Sharing Committee met FCC officials to discuss progress on the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. Among the topics were testing spectrum access systems, device certification and timeline to CBRS commercialization, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 15-319. Among officials at the meeting was Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp. Companies represented included AT&T, Comsearch, Motorola Solutions, Pathfinder Wireless, Google, Charter, Huawei, Nokia, Comcast, Qualcomm, Red Technologies, Federated Wireless and Sony. The Wireless ISP Association was also at the meeting.

The House and Senate Commerce committees are likely to make the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization debate and further work on spectrum and broadband-centric legislation some of their top 2019 priorities, said telecom aides during a Thursday Practising Law Institute event. Aides also cited interest in continuing to talk about net neutrality policy next Congress. Lawmakers and communications lobbyists we recently interviewed were skeptical of progress on a net neutrality compromise given the upcoming shift to split partisan control of Congress (see 1811290042). FCC Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel meanwhile told PLI the commission shouldn't be cautious in pursuing policies to keep the U.S. competitive (see 1812060056).

A final rule establishing the FCC Office of Economics and Analytics is scheduled to take effect Friday, says that day's Federal Register. The FCC said in October the office will open by year’s end with Giulia McHenry, now chief economist in the Office of Strategic Planning, as acting chief (see 1810250027). Commissioners approved the office in January over dissents by Jessica Rosenworcel and then-member Mignon Clyburn (see 1801300026). “The Office will be charged with ensuring that economic analysis is deeply and consistently incorporated into the agency’s regular operations, and will support work across the FCC and throughout the decision-making process,” the notice said. Revised 3.5 GHz band citizens broadband radio service regulations take effect Jan. 7 under a rule for Friday's FR (timetable), excluding three parts still needing Office of Management and Budget approval. Commissioners adopted a CBRS order Oct. 23 changing the size of priority access license areas from census tracts to counties, extending license terms to 10 years and making them renewable, putting in place end-of-term performance requirements, and allowing partitioning and disaggregation of PALs (see 1810230037). Revised wireless handset hearing-aid compatibility disclosure requirements also take effect Jan. 7 under a rule for Friday's FR (timetable). An HAC order adopted Nov. 15 replaces annual service provider reporting with certification and enhanced website disclosure duties (see 1811150033).

Two groups asked the FCC to waive requirements that 3650-3700 MHz licensees complete the transition to Part 96 citizens broadband radio service rules by April 17, 2020. "In light of the delays in opening the 3550-3700 MHz band for commercial service under the CBRS rules and the uncertainty created by the subsequent and ongoing rulemaking proceeding, Licensees will require more time," petitioned the Wireless ISP Association and the Utilities Technology Council, posted Monday in docket 18-353. They requested extension through Jan. 8, 2023, when "the last 3650-3700 MHz license expires."