Brewing Spectrum Tug of War in the 12 GHz Band Has Major Implications for 5G, Fixed Wireless

The next big spectrum tug of war will play out in the 12 GHz band, where a broad 500 MHz of spectrum could be available for fixed or mobile use, possibly involving 5G and Wi-Fi. The Federal Communications Commission in Jan adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) about possibly changing the rules for the 12 GHz band that could allow spectrum sharing and other changes. The NPRM is likely to generate a barrage of comments including diverse and, in some cases, mutually exclusive, recommendations.

Radio Spectrum Access (RSA) holds spectrum in the 12 GHz band, which the company uses to provide point-to-multipoint fixed wireless in rural areas. Other key license holders in the band include DISH and AT&T/DirecTV, which use it to distribute direct broadcast satellite programming, and SpaceX, which uses it for its non-geostationary satellite broadband. The FCC may consider relaxing some of its rules and restrictions in the band and may consider allowing spectrum sharing – something that Dish has recommended.

Also under consideration for the 12 GHz band: allowing it to be used indoors on an unlicensed, low-power basis, potentially supporting gigabit Wi-Fi using the same approach that the FCC voted in 2019 to allow in the 6 GHz band. Another idea for the 12 GHz band that might build on other FCC spectrum sharing initiatives: allowing unlicensed users to use the spectrum in areas where the spectrum is not in use by the licensee, an approach previously used in the 600-700 MHz band and in the CBRS band. Some stakeholders might wonder whether shared use of the spectrum could support gigabit fixed wireless in rural America in general and, in particular, for winners in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction. Some bidders won rural broadband funding under the assumption that they would use gigabit fixed wireless for their buildouts, but whether the technology can economically support those speeds has come into question. It would seem unlikely that sharing 12 GHz spectrum would be an option for RDOF winners, however, considering that the FCC would first have to vote to allow spectrum sharing and that appropriate spectrum sharing technology would then have to be developed.