The FCC believes the C-band transition is on-track. That’s according to Matthew Pearl, Assistant Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. He spoke during the tenth annual Americas Spectrum Management Conference on Wednesday.
Satellite operators have until December 5 to file their phase one certifications. “We have no reason to believe any of them would miss the deadline,” he said, noting they’ve had to submit updates on their preparation to vacate the lower portion of the band.
“The satellite operators have been doing all the work, but we’ve been following it and overseeing it,” Pearl explained. “We need to review their certifications and [conduct] cross data checks” to ensure satellite operators [and their clients] receive continuous and uninterrupted service.”
Verizon VP/Associate General Counsel Rachel Bender noted that even though auction licenses have been granted and satellite operators have nearly completed phase one of the repack, “there’s still a lot of work to be done. Satellite operators need to build space stations and earth station operators need to install filters,” to guard against interference when wireless operators begin transmissions on the lower part of the band. “We understand all of the work going on to ensure earth stations remain whole throughout this process,” Bender emphasized.
“On the wireless side, Verizon will work hard to deploy [in the] C-band when all the markets are cleared. We’re relying on the FCC to partner with us as this transition moves forward, and to make sure the C-band transition happens smoothly and on time” over the next two years. In the meantime, Verizon will roll out more 5G handsets. “The bottom line — we are excited about C-band. We look forward to deploying our 5G services,” Bender said.
Gerry Oberst, Senior Counsel, Hogan Lovells, was a member of the C-band Alliance preparing FCC filings before his current job. He was careful to say he spoke personally, and not for any one company. He characterized C-band as a “workhorse” for the satellite industry, delivering video programming to 20,000 earth stations.
“The satellite companies had to overcome a strong tradition of using this spectrum,” when the rulemaking began. “We had defended using the spectrum for decades,” Oberst noted. The satellite licensees had use of the full band, full arc, and one satellite company holding out on the plan to move incumbents to the upper portion of the band so the Commission could auction the lower portion of the band for wireless use “could have gummed up the whole works,” Oberst said.
Deciding how much spectrum would be enough to still serve the video market and yet also provide enough for 5G use was a delicate task, according to Oberst. Additional satellites “which are not cheap,” would need to be ordered, and “filters to be installed for every receive antenna had to be designed, made and delivered.” New satellites are being built now and should launch next year, he said.
Both Oberst and Bender acknowledged that broadcasters are concerned about their ability to receive programming via satellite during and after the repack.
And the lesson learned from the C-band experience? “Transitions are not easy,” said Oberst. “You have to give incumbents time to make arrangements. If you incentivize them,” he said, referring to the payments promised by the FCC to satellite operators who vacate the spectrum early, that “makes it easier.” In this case, the payments will be made by the auction winners. He said the C-band experience can be a lesson to the world on how to move faster to 5G.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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