Satellite Interests Stump for C-Band Plan, Slam T-Mobile's
Satellite interests with a plan to clear some 200 MHz in the C band opposed T-Mobile's plan (see 1811130055) and stumped for theirs, in early replies Friday to be posted in FCC docket 18-122. T-Mobile seeks a commission-run, "market-based auction…
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mechanism to maximize the use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band by terrestrial licensees, while permitting satellite operators to retain sufficient spectrum to continue to provide services" and share auction revenue. It wants at least 300 MHz in most areas available for terrestrial networks. Satellite companies, including those allied with the C-Band Alliance, have a different plan where carriers could buy rights to use frequencies in the secondary market. That's "favored by commenters spanning a diverse array of industries and interests, including the commercial aviation industry, C-band satellite operators," ISPs, broadcasters, content distributors, video programmers, carriers and others, said the alliance alliance of Eutelsat, Intelsat, SES and Telesat. T-Mobile's recommendation "would add years of delay to 5G deployment," the group said. "The Communications Act does not provide authority for the Commission to conduct the T-Mobile auction proposal because it would be neither voluntary nor among competing bidders." The company "assumes" the agency "would force or threaten to force the satellite operators to do more than they volunteered to do" on "how much of their shared, non-exclusive spectrum they are able to collectively repurpose within an 18-36 month timeline while maintaining high service quality," said Intel, Intelsat and SES Americom. T-Mobile declined to comment. Replies are due Tuesday, after the Wireless Bureau granted a request for more time by the American Cable Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, Public Interest Spectrum Coalition and Wireless ISP Association. The groups didn't comment and the docket lacked their replies, which some noted they hadn't yet filed.