October 22, 2015 The FCC Proposes New Rules for 5G Spectrum Above 24 GHz

The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposes new flexible-use service rules in the 28, 37, 39 and 64 – 71 GHz bands. The NPRM would use county-wide geographical licensing as well as unlicensed and mixed approaches to facilitate both local area and wide-area networks.

The FCC said the steps will unlock the mobile broadband and unlicensed potential of spectrum frontier bands above 24 GHz.  The commissioners hope that the regulatory framework can smoothly coevolve with both future 5G technological advances and the economic realities of millimeter wave (mmW) bands.

In the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands the agency would authorize mobile operations in the 27.5-28.35
GHz band (28 GHz band) and the 38.6-40 GHz band (39 GHz band) with county-sized area licenses. These bands could be suitable for deployment of small cells to support mobile broadband.

Additionally the FCC would authorize operations in the 64-71 GHz band similar to the rules governing  the adjacent 57-64 GHz band. In the 37-38.6 GHz (37 GHz) band, they propose a hybrid licensing scheme granting operating rights by rule to property owners, while establishing geographic area licenses based on counties for outdoor use. "This licensing mechanism would facilitate the deployment of advanced enterprise and industrial applications not suited to unlicensed spectrum or public network services, while also providing additional spectrum for more traditional cellular deployments."