The citizens broadband radio service band has shown that spectrum can be shared without interfering with government users, in particular the naval radars that use the band, Richard Bernhardt, Wireless ISP Association vice president-spectrum and industry, said Thursday. Recent changes approved by the FCC, working with DOD and NTIA (see 2406120027), will make the band much more usable, he said during a WISPA webinar on “CBRS 2.0.” The rule changes take effect Friday.
CBRS
The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is designated unlicensed spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band created by the FCC as part of an effort to allow for shared federal and non-federal use of the band.
Samsung Electronics America representatives met with FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington on the company’s request for a waiver on a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see 2309130041). Samsung “emphasized its dedication to the success of CBRS and 5G, generally, in the United States,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-93 said. “The proposed device -- which has been before the Commission for over 700 days -- would simply enable operators to deploy one radio where they would otherwise deploy two radios with substantially similar performance characteristics,” Samsung said.
It seems likely FCC commissioners will approve 3-2 a draft order and Further NPRM allowing schools and libraries to use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services. FCC Republicans are expected to issue dissents. Some advocates hope the item will be tweaked to address fixed wireless access and partnerships with nontraditional providers (see 2406270068). Commissioners will vote at their open meeting Thursday.
Samsung Electronics America representatives met with aides to FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Anna Gomez about the company’s request for a waiver on a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see 2309130041). Samsung “emphasized its dedication to the success of CBRS and 5G, generally,” in the U.S., a filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-93 said. Samsung noted the commission has had the waiver request for more than 700 days.
Google is asking for a waiver of FCC rules requiring environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference in Texas markets that Hurricane Beryl affected. The FCC last week approved a similar waiver for Federated Wireless (see 2407080030). Google sought the waiver Friday in a filing in docket 15-319.
The FCC on Monday approved a waiver of rules that require environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference for markets in Texas hit by Hurricane Beryl. Federated sought a waiver Friday. The Wireless Bureau said the waiver is similar to those granted for similar storms and applies only to areas affected by power outages.
The FCC on Wednesday authorized Federated Wireless, Google, Key Bridge, Red Technologies and Sony to change the aggregate interference model that protects federal operations in the citizens broadband radio service band. In June, the agency approved the changes (see 2406120027). "Each of these five [spectrum access system] administrators has demonstrated the ability to successfully implement the modified aggregate interference model, including system testing in a non-operational environment,” a Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology notice said. Meanwhile, Nokia filed a spectrum controller certification test report at the FCC as it seeks permission to make those changes. In addition, Nokia asked for confidential treatment of the report. The report “provides details of the self-certification testing Nokia conducted to demonstrate the capability of Nokia’s Spectrum Access System to support new methodologies for protecting federal operations in the 3.5 GHz band,” a filing this week in docket 15-319 said. Nokia asked for prompt FCC action.
In light of Hurricane Beryl, Federated Wireless asked the FCC for a waiver of rules that require environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference. The waiver is for markets in Puerto Rico. Beryl is expected to pass about 200 miles south of Puerto Rico “bringing with it intense winds and rainfall that could cause widespread power outages,” Federated said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 15-319. “If such outages occur, the Impacted Systems will lose commercial power and be unable to operate normally,” the company said: “Backhaul at the impacted sites will also likely be unreliable while carriers attempt to stabilize their operations.”
The FCC extended through the end of the year an arrangement with NTIA, DOD and the Navy allowing citizens broadband radio service users to operate in the 3550-3650 MHz band in Hawaii before environmental sensing capability sensors are locally deployed. “After that time, federal operations near Hawaii will be protected by certified ESCs,” a Wednesday order said.
Expanding the reach of the citizens broadband radio service band via reworking the aggregate interference model (see 2406120027) opens the door to further significant CBRS operational changes, wireless and spectrum experts said Tuesday. They spoke during a CBRS seminar that the New America's Open Technology Institute sponsored. Preston Marshall, chairman of the OnGo Alliance, which promotes spectrum sharing, said that while the "CBRS 2.0" operational changes announced this month were uniformly beneficial to users, future "CBRS 3.0" discussions could start edging into areas, such as power levels, where there would be winners and losers. He said industry needs to come to a coherent, cohesive position to present to regulators rather than the government having to "arbitrate a food fight."