The White House is involved in discussions between the FAA and FCC over wireless use of C-band. Last week, Inside Towers reported that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters and lawmakers at her Senate nomination hearing she’s confident in the ability of the agency’s engineers, and that the issue will be resolved with mitigations.
Now, eleven trade associations, including the Wireless Infrastructure Association; NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association; CTIA; the Competitive Carriers Association, the Consumer Technology Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association; 5G Americas, USTelecom and more, urged the administration not to delay the wireless use of C-band more than has already been agreed to.
In a letter to White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese on Monday, the trade groups said, “Further delays in launching C-band could have serious consequences for our nation’s ability to leverage the economic growth associated with 5G, which is why we are asking that the administration reject calls to hold up U.S. 5G C-band operations beyond January 5, 2022.” They noted their members have invested billions of dollars in developing the equipment and technologies necessary to make 5G a reality.
According to a recent Boston Consulting Group report, 5G will be an economic multiplier for the nation that will bring 4.5 million new U.S. jobs and $1.5 trillion to the economy by 2030, they told the administration. “But the success of our collective efforts and investments in 5G technologies hinge, in part, on the C-band spectrum.”
Delays in deploying C-band for 5G could have “cascading effects for the companies we represent, causing manufacturing delays, stranding research and development investments, and potentially impacting our employees,” they note. “These continued last-minute objections to wireless technology advancement in the U.S. could threaten the ability of our member companies to make the long-term investments necessary to support future wireless innovation in the U.S.,” they stated.
Inside Towers reported last week that CTIA has been pointing out that 5G transmissions on C-band and aviation radio altimeters co-exist in other countries, with no reports of interference. In the letter, the trade groups stressed that, “After 17 years of global study, a multi-year public rulemaking proceeding, and interagency dialogue across all relevant federal agencies, the FCC determined that 5G services in C-band spectrum would not cause harmful interference to aircraft operations.”
“Second guessing the FCC’s determination now – weeks before C-band 5G is launched in the U.S. – is not supported by the evidence and contrary to the U.S. legal framework for spectrum management,” they stressed. They urged the administration to take whatever steps are needed for the wireless companies’ January 5G launch to go forward.
The issue mainly impacts AT&T and Verizon, since they purchased the most C-band licenses to use for 5G in the recent auction, Inside Towers reported. They agreed to a one-month delay. However, since then, citing potential interference issues to aviation radio altimeters, the aviation and aerospace industries have pressed for a longer pause, specifically to give the FAA time for additional testing.
New Street Research Policy Advisor Blair Levin wrote in a client report on Monday, the group doesn’t think it’s likely the FCC would change its mind and prohibit C-band transmissions, believing its original decision to allow them remains correct.
New Street analysts know the White House has been meeting with various stakeholders on this issue and have heard that remedies are being discussed. Potential fixes could be reduced power levels, exclusion zones around airports, and a longer-term plan for device upgrades and replacements.
Levin believes the mitigations being discussed will not impact AT&T and Verizon’s market plans and that all parties understand the short timetable.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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