The FCC’s newly reconstituted Technology Advisory Council met for the second time Thursday, dedicated to exploring 6G, as directed by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She and TAC members said 5G is still in early stages, but it’s not too early to focus on the next generation of wireless. TAC heard updates from its working groups on the work they have done so far during a virtual meeting.
The FCC unanimously approved a public notice seeking to refresh the record on improving how wireless 911 calls are routed to the appropriate first responders (see 2206060052), as expected. Commissioners at Wednesday's meeting also agreed to propose a $34,000 fine against an Idaho man for allegedly interfering with emergency communications as firefighters took on a wildfire, the largest fine of its kind, officials said.
Dynamic spectrum sharing is a slow, expensive process, and though it has a role to play in meeting growing needs for mobile spectrum, it's not the silver bullet, Peter Rysavy, president of wireless tech consultancy Rysavy Research, said Wednesday in a Georgetown University Center for Business and Public Policy presentation. Beyond more spectrum, the U.S. also needs denser networks and better antenna technology to increase capacity, he said.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appears likely to put less spectrum in play for 5G and unlicensed use during her tenure than did her predecessor Ajit Pai, but she seems determined to address the process for reallocating bands, industry officials said. Rosenworcel shifted much of her attention to changes to process, and that will likely be a theme for the next few years.
Supporters of a proposal to reallocate the 12 GHz band for 5G think the proposal will likely move forward in coming months, buoyed by responses by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr to members of Congress last week, as a follow-up to the recent House hearing. Meanwhile, Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen offered a candid assessment of the future of DBS spectrum in a presentation to analysts.
Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen and other top executives from the company met with FCC staff to push for action on 5G in the 12 GHz band. “The 12 GHz band represents 500 megahertz of spectrum that is well-suited for terrestrial, two-way 5G use cases, while still protecting satellite operations,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 19-348: “Given that the enormous benefits of allowing 5G terrestrial operations in the 12 GHz band can be realized without interfering with existing operations, the Commission should act expeditiously to unlock the power of 5G-ready spectrum in this band.” The Dish officials also asked the FCC to increase authorized power levels in the citizens broadband radio service band. Dish met with staff from the Wireless and International bureaus and Office of Engineering & Technology. The FCC has faced continuing pressure to act on the 12 GHz band from the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition (see 2203210056). Ergen thinks the 12 GHz band is "the ideal frequency" for fixed wireless, he said on a quarterly earnings call Friday (see 2205070001).
Private 5G is in the nascent stage, but adoption is starting to accelerate, speakers said during a Fierce Wireless virtual conference Monday. Speakers said the network often has to be tailored for the individual business and has to go beyond a “turn-key” solution.
Private 5G networks are in early stages, with no consistent spectrum available worldwide, experts said during an RCR Wireless webinar Thursday. Speakers warned that no one-size-fits-all solution will meet the needs of companies.
A draft notice of inquiry on receiver performance notes that looking at receivers now is important, as spectrum becomes increasingly congested. A draft Further NPRM on wireless emergency alerts proposes a mechanism for providers to file reports on the effectiveness of the alerts. The FCC released both Thursday, three weeks before the commission’s April 21 meeting (see 2203300072).
The NFL told the FCC it didn’t need to use an agency waiver to use citizens broadband radio service spectrum to operate its in-stadium, coach-to-coach communications system during a game in which it lost connection with a spectrum access system manager. In a single incident in Atlanta Nov. 18, a fiber cut to the Lumen network "took the Lumen ISP connection down at that stadium,” the league said: “The Verizon LTE system was automatically switched in and there was never any loss of communication with the SAS.” The NFL said “the level of ISP redundancy implemented in each stadium is sufficient to make it highly improbable that the CBRS system will be operated pursuant to the waiver.” The filing was posted Monday in docket 21-111.