The telecom Industry praised the FCC’s moves Wednesday to make more spectrum available for future wireless use.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, hailed the vote to free up 100 MHz of the 3.45-3.55 GHz band, calling mid-band spectrum ideal because it can deliver high capacity and reliability over significant distances. “We are excited by the opportunity to use more spectrum,” said NATE President/CEO Todd Schlekeway. “More spectrum translates into more deployment opportunities for the telecommunications tower industry, while substantially advancing the nation’s critical communications capabilities by promoting the deployment of 5G.”
The Wireless Infrastructure Association also applauded the action. “The consistent leadership in promoting 5G deployment provides incentives to invest in wireless infrastructure to meet consumer needs for more and more data,” said WIA VP Government and Public Affairs Matt Mandel. “Access to spectrum is critical for speeding America toward winning the race to 5G and all the jobs and economic growth that come to the winner.”
CTIA offered kudos on facilitating shared use in the 3.1-3.55 GHz band, thanking the FCC, White House and Department of Defense, “for taking quick, decisive action to accelerate our transition to a new 5G economy by moving forward with plans to auction 100 megahertz of lower 3 GHz spectrum, at full power levels, next year,” said CTIA President/CEO Meredith Attwell Baker. “The long-standing commitment to private-sector approaches and auctioning exclusive use, commercial licensed spectrum is critical to maintaining America’s wireless leadership and the reason why we benefit from multiple nationwide 5G networks today.”
Meanwhile, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association also hailed the agency’s move to open the 4.9 GHz bands to commercial use, noting “sub-6 GHz greenfield spectrum” is hard to come by. The agency’s actions, noted WISPA VP of Policy Louis Peraertz, changes that dynamic.
“WISPA especially appreciates the efforts of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks for changing the initial draft of the 3.1 – 3.55 GHz Further Notice so that it now seeks comment on alternative proposals that would incorporate, in the 3.45 to 3.55 GHz portion, similar approaches the Commission used in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band, such as smaller license areas, lower power levels, and opportunistic use,” said Peraertz. “As the Commission moves forward with its plans, we urge it to use spectrum utilization models it knows work, as well as ensure that the very smallest players have meaningful access to these and other growth opportunities.”
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