The C-Band Alliance told the FCC its proposal remains the best alternative for opening the band for 5G. Other commenters endorsed a proposal by America’s Communications Association, the Competitive Carriers Association and Charter Communications, or a study by Jeff Reed of Virginia Tech and Reed Engineering on sharing the band with fixed point-to-multipoint (P2MP) operations (see 1907020061). Industry officials said there's little consensus on the band. Comments were due Wednesday in docket 18-122.
House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said Wednesday she filed her C-band-centric Wireless Investment Now in (Win) 5G Act (HR-4171). The bill, which Matsui floated in June as a draft (see 1906260078), would set up a tiered system for satellite companies to benefit from an FCC-administered auction of spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band in which freeing up additional spectrum would increase satellite companies' share. The filed version shortens the deadline for submitting a transition plan to the FCC to four months from the six months in the draft. It also shortens the timeline for the FCC to ensure a transition plan is adequate to two months from the original 90-day deadline. “Since releasing the draft of this legislation, I am [pleased] with the breadth of stakeholders who have offered support for a compromise and consensus-based approach,” Matsui said in a statement. “As introduced, the WIN 5G Act includes stronger timeframes for the review and reallocation plan to be completed -- ensuring that this spectrum can be repurposed for 5G rapidly and equitably.”
One of the bands NTIA seeks more information on from other agencies is a relative mystery band, 7125-8400 MHz, which has gotten little previous attention. It's among those mentioned in the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (Airwaves) Act, which seeks to identify spectrum for unlicensed use and free up mid-band spectrum for auction (see 1802070054). The band is directly north of spectrum the FCC is already looking at for unlicensed use, the 6 GHz band.
The Trump administration didn’t meet a July 22 deadline for completing its long-term National Spectrum Strategy. An Oct. 28, 2018, memo by President Donald Trump set that date for the National Economic Council director and the assistant to the president for national security affairs to submit the strategy. Two government officials told us the White House missed the deadline, but the report is essentially finished and under internal review. It's still unclear how or when it will be publicly released, one official said.
Nokia officials urged the FCC to move forward on the C band for 5G, in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “While the planned 2.5 GHz band and 3.5 GHz band auctions are positive steps for mid-band spectrum in the U.S., they do not remove the urgency of moving forward with the 3.7 GHz band,” Nokia said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-122. “Terrestrial wireless spectrum in the mid-band is critical to the United States keeping pace globally in the ‘Race to 5G.’ Nokia outlined the most recent international developments where spectrum allocation and product development and deployment planning in mid-band continue ahead of the U.S.”
Incumbent 39 GHz licensee short-form applications, to be submitted in preparation for upcoming FCC Auction 103, are available to the public, said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The auction, to start Dec. 10, will be the FCC’s third of high-band spectrum for 5G. “FCC Form 175-A applicants and other interested parties may view submitted FCC Form 175-A applications by searching for them in the Commission’s database on the Commission’s website,” said the notice in docket 14-177 by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics.
With DOJ's justification for approving T-Mobile/Sprint largely hinging on Dish Network's ability to become a national wireless player (see 1907260071), wireless industry watchers tell us that whether Dish can pull that off is a big question mark. "Wireless is a very tough business to get right -- many companies have tried and failed," said wireless analyst Jeff Kagan.
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., again (see 1905150061) criticized the C-Band Alliance's proposal for clearing spectrum in 3.7-4.2 GHz, saying during a Thursday House Commerce Committee hearing it could disrupt the opportunity for using proceeds from sales of the spectrum to pay for rural broadband deployment. Several tech and telecom policy topics came up during Thursday's hearing on the policy priorities of lawmakers who aren't its members. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, urged House Commerce to probe the tech sector's Communications Decency Act Section 230 liability shield and make further CDA changes.
T-Mobile/Sprint delayed an expected announcement (see 1907240062) of a deal with Dish Network Thursday. T-Mobile issued a news release less than an hour before a Q2 call with its CEO John Legere and others, saying the call was delayed. T-Mobile was ready to go and the holdup likely came from DOJ, which appears to be looking for state support, industry officials said. The deal with Dish was intended to address Justice interest in creating a fourth national wireless carrier to replace Sprint. Dish closed at $39.17, down 5.75 percent.
Ligado urged the FCC to finalize rules for the 1675-1680 MHz band, in reply comments this week in docket 19-116. Weather interests oppose Ligado's terrestrial low-power service plans for the band and its proposed alternatives for delivering NOAA weather satellite data (see 1704130023). Commissioners launched an NPRM in May seeking comment (see 1905090041).