The FCC and members of Congress urged the re-purposing of little used federal spectrum for commercial wireless use. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications governs federal spectrum. Now, NTIA says it chose the 3450-3550 MHz band for a detailed feasibility study that could lead to repurposing 100 megahertz for next-generation commercial wireless services.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called that great news. Working together with NTIA, the Commission made the 3.5 GHz band available for wireless services and recently initiated a process to consider whether all or parts of the adjacent satellite spectrum can also be made available. “Altogether, this could unleash a contiguous block of hundreds of megahertz of valuable spectrum for new technologies and services, including 5G,” said Pai.
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said the 100 megahertz NTIA has identified for the study (3.45 to 3.55 GHz) is located right next to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band. The study, he said, “is the first step to creating a key building block for a mid-band 5G spectrum play.”
February 27, 2018
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