In their July open meeting the FCC approved freeing up almost 11 GHz of spectrum for licensed and unlicensed use. The Spectrum Frontiers initiative is focussed on giving the U.S. a headstart on 5G implementation. The spectrum is to include 3.85 GHz for licensed use in the 64-71 GHz bands and 7 GHz for unlicensed use in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz bands.
“These rules balance different spectrum access approaches, including exclusive use licensing, shared access and unlicensed access, in order to meet a variety of different needs and use cases,” the FCC noted in a statement. “The commission also adopted other flexible service and technical rules to allow new technologies and innovations to evolve and flourish without needlessly prescriptive regulations.”
Chairman Wheeler, who has been pushing spectrum frontiers said: “Today’s order will make the United States the first country in the world to identify and open up vast amounts of high frequency spectrum for 5G applications. The big game-changer is that we are using much higher-frequency bands than previously thought viable for flexible uses, including mobile. The ability to use this high-frequency spectrum opens much bigger chunks of spectrum. Current blocks of licensed low-band spectrum are usually five to 10 megahertz in width. With 5G, however, we are looking at blocks of at least 200 megahertz in width...we’re talking about fiber-like capacity to wireless users...”
The meeting saw commissioners adopt a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments on plans for an additional 18 GHz of spectrum and for comments on sharing with satellite and other incumbent users. The FCC is also looking for comments on mm band spectrum approaching 100 GHz.
Not surprisingly, the CTIA President Meredith Attwell Baker supported the FCC commissioners spectrum frontiers actions.
Updates and Analysis of FCC Spectrum Management and Auction Policy
