Sharing

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules to bolster the Commission's coordinated nationwide approach to the 4.9 GHz spectrum band through a nationwide band manager framework. "To ensure that the 4.9 GHz band is put to more robust use nationwide in the near term—the 4.9 GHz Band Manager, once selected, will be eligible to apply for a nationwide overlay license and authorized to enter into a sharing agreement with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed revised spectrum sharing rules for non-geostationary orbit, fixed-satellite service (NGSO FSS) systems. This proposal would seek to clarify certain methodology details from the 2023 Report and Order that previously updated the FCC’s rules governing coordination and protection requirements among NGSO FSS systems approved through different processing rounds.

On October 1, Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Anna Gomez spoke at Americas Spectrum Management Conference in Washington, DC. She spoke about several issues, including spectrum sharing and the National Spectrum Strategy, and urged conference goers to keep the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) top of mind in their discussions. She also spoke about the history of the FCC's spectrum auction authority, which has been lapsed for over a year.

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to begin a proceeding to update the Citizens Broadband Radio Service.

Seven recommendations to allow the Department of Commerce to assist the next President in implementing a bold agenda to deliver economic prosperity and strong national security, including: 

It looks like Congress will remain deadlocked over how to release spectrum for 5G.

On June 18, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Sarah Morris spoke at CBRS 2.0: The Next Generation of Spectrum Sharing with the U.S. Military in Washington, DC. In her remarks, Morris spoke about some of the successes of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). "When the CBRS ecosystem rolled out some 5 years ago, it was forward-looking and innovative—and it has continued to grow.

Verizon is among several entities that told the Federal Communications Commission to hold off on any plan to grant FirstNet – and by extension AT&T – a nationwide license to the 4.9 GHz band. In case you aren't up to speed, here's the recap: The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) supports a proposal to assign the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet, which runs on AT&T’s network. The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) opposes that plan and argues that the 4.9 GHz band should remain in the control of local authorities.

A contentious battle over spectrum between the US Commerce Department and the US Department of Defense (DoD) may have finally come to an end.

The Federal Communications Commission announced new rules governing commercial operations in 3.5GHz CBRS that will expand unencumbered services in the band to an additional 72 million people across more than a dozen states. At issue are the Dynamic Protection Area (DPA) neighborhoods along coastlines and around federal facilities throughout the country.