The C band is under consideration for terrestrial fixed and mobile networks
The Federal Communications Commission announced today that at its next meeting, it will vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking that could lead to reallocation or spectrum sharing in the C band, which consists of mid-band spectrum between 3.7 GHz-4.2 GHz.
At its July 12 meeting, the FCC will vote on opening up comment on the use of 500 MHz of the C band and is requiring fixed-satellite service earth stations and space stations to “provide a clearer understanding of their operations.”
The FCC said that it will ask for comment on a number of potential aspects of C band use, from a mobile allocation to “flexible use in the band, including whether to transition all or part of the band through a market-based mechanism, auction mechanisms, or alternative mechanisms” and “potentially allowing point-to-multipoint use on a shared basis.”
“We are pursuing the joint goals of making spectrum available for new wireless uses while balancing desired speed to the market, efficiency of use, and effectively accommodating incumbent Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Fixed Service (FS) operations in the band,” according to a proposed draft of the NPRM that was made public. Commissioner Michael O’Rielly had mentioned opening up additional mid-band spectrum as a particular area of focus at the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s ConnectX show in May.
The agency’s move garnered immediate support from the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association. Meanwhile, Intelsat’s stock briefly soared nearly 30%, although it ended Thursday up only a bit more than 1%.
“The FCC is moving in the right direction on the C Band,” said Claude Aiken, president of WISPA, in a statement. “Unlocking this spectrum for fixed wireless use would expand broadband access and competition for millions of rural Americans who lack choices today. If we get this right, we could quickly see more gigabit fixed wireless in rural America.
“Our members will leverage their existing operations in the neighboring band and quickly deploy service in rural areas if the rules are crafted in a way that ensures long-term certainty for fixed uses,” Aiken added. “We’ve shown that sharing with satellite receivers and others is possible through frequency coordination, and we look forward to supplementing the record.”
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