UPDATE Not everyone is happy with Tuesday’s FCC vote to revise the rules for the 3.5 GHz “Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS)” spectrum band. The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), whose members have made “significant” investments in the band under the current model, called the change “a step backwards.”
The changes sought by the mobile industry include expanding the geographic size of licenses from census tracts to larger areas, extending license terms from three years to 10 and adding a renewal expectancy. Taken together, these changes would benefit only the largest mobile wireless carriers and effectively preclude entrepreneurial WISPs from using this spectrum to provide fixed broadband to unserved rural Americans, according to the association.
Inside Towers reported Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at first opposed the changes but eventually voted for the item, after language was edited to enable licenses to cover varying geographic sizes. WISPA applauded her efforts but WISPA Board Chairman Chuck Hogg said the association, “is very disappointed that, once again, the FCC has prioritized the ‘wants’ of the mobile industry over the ‘needs’ of rural Americans.”
“Using census tracts for Priority Access License sizes allows all interested bidders to compete and lets the market determine the highest and best use of this unique public resource. Shifting to larger geographic areas such as Partial Economic Areas would create an artificial restriction that inherently benefits mobile carriers to the detriment of all other use cases.”
He added: “WISPA appreciates the Commission’s willingness to explore other potential solutions that address the needs of rural Americans and small businesses. WISPA and its members will continue as active participants in this proceeding and hope to work with all stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome.”
October 26, 2017
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