Cable Companies: FCC Must Give New Entrants Fair Shot at 12 GHz

Cable broadband operators are telling the Federal Communications Commission that if it opens up the 12 GHz band for sharing between direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and terrestrial 5G, it should not be influenced by incumbent users. The band is currently used for licensed DBS, fixed satellite service, and multichannel video and data distribution (MVDDS). In January 2021 the FCC voted unanimously to propose opening up the 500 GHz midband spectrum for unlicensed 5G use, but said that could only happen if incumbent users are protected from interference. The FCC wanted input on whether to allow 5G sharing throughout the band, modification of existing MVDDS incumbents' licenses to grant flexible use licenses for terrestrial 5G and traditional DBS, or auction "overlay" licenses in the band. In reply comments, NCTA-The Internet & Television Association said it was not weighing in on whether or not the FCC should open up the 12 GHz band—suggesting there was still work to be done to conclude sharing would not interfere with current users—but that if it did, the FCC should allow new entrants an “equal opportunity to access the spectrum.”