CSMAC Approves Final Spectrum-Sharing Reports
The Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee approved the final three working group reports on spectrum sharing in the 1755-1850 MHz band, at a meeting Wednesday at NTIA headquarters. Unable to complete its work on the reports at its July meeting, CSMAC scheduled a special meeting for August (CD July 25 p1). There was some contention at that meeting as more than half the CSMAC now endorses an industry statement critical of several of the working group reports.
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CSMAC approved reports from Working Group 3, Satellite Control Links and Electronic Warfare, WG 4, Fixed Point-to-Point and Tactical Radio Relay, and WG 5, Airborne Operations, all in the 1755-1850 MHz band. In May 2012, NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling asked CSMAC to focus all of its efforts on federal-commercial of that band as well as 1695-1710 MHz, reflecting the administration’s growing focus on sharing (CD May 31/12 p1). CSMAC earlier approved the two other working group reports.
The new reports’ approval is an important “milestone,” Strickling said. “We've learned a tremendous amount.” He said the work of CSMAC likely means sharing will progress “more smoothly and faster” in both bands than if the group hadn’t written the reports. “I think the goal for us is to build on this going forward,” he said.
"Progress is being made, there’s no question about it,” said CSMAC Co-chairman Brian Fontes, president of the National Emergency Number Association. “The measure of progress, however, is always determined by where you sit and your viewpoint of the world from that perspective. I recognize from the commercial world there is a desire for more progress."
CSMAC members earlier filed written statements on the reports (CD Aug 21 p1). Seven more CSMAC members joined an industry statement saying approval of several of the reports in “no way” endorses “the assumptions and methodologies that went into the analysis.” The statement continues, “We believe that additional effort should be initiated that would greatly mitigate the protection zones for Federal operations including, but not limited to, considering other effects such as clutter, more reasonable interference protection limits and considering a more representative LTE system model."
Seven CSMAC members already had signed the statement (http://1.usa.gov/1bPFVBm). CSMAC members Larry Alder of Google; Mark McHenry, Shared Spectrum Co.; Doug McGinnis, Exelon,; Martin Cooper, the “father” of the cellphone; Bryan Tramont, Wilkinson Barker; Dan Stancil, North Carolina State University; and David Donovan, New York State Broadcasters Association, also signed. With the additions, at least 14 of CSMAC’s 24 members have endorsed the industry statement.
One of the earlier signatories, Tom Sugrue, senior vice president of T-Mobile, said an acknowledgment of the statement and who supports it should be included as part of the reports. “The names will speak for themselves, it'll be part of the record and it will be there,” Sugrue said.
The reports are a first step, Strickling said. “We know it has to get better. We appreciate people wanting to continue to work to improve the process,” he said. “These statements will be posted on the website. They will be totally public. Everyone will be able to see them."
Issues remain, said CSMAC member Charles Rush of CMR Consulting. “There’s less than a realistic representation of the LTE system model that has been used,” he said. “That has to be corrected.” CSMAC also needs more input from experts in radio propagation, Rush said. “This is key in terms of how signals go from one point to another and how they interfere from one point to another.” NTIA has experts at its lab in Boulder, Colo., who should be brought into the discussions, he said.
CSMAC member Janice Obuchowski, president of Freedom Technologies, who earlier filed a separate statement on the reports (http://1.usa.gov/13PnoA1), said she was pleased to see that all of the statements were respectful. Those involved with the reports “worked extremely hard, committed substantial resources, made a lot of progress,” she said. But Obuchowski also said more FCC involvement is critical as NTIA continues to examine the future of spectrum sharing. Jennifer Warren of Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, joined the Obuchowski statement.
"We are pleased the CSMAC process was able to substantially further understanding and agreement in many areas between industry and Federal users regarding the opportunities for making spectrum available,” Sugrue said in an email after the meeting. “We look forward to building on the lessons learned in that process to continue a proactive dialogue aimed at implementing the important proposal put forward by DoD to make the 1755-1780 MHz band available for commercial use and to implement a longer term process to consider other opportunities for shared spectrum use.”