The FCC, NTIA, and the U.S. Navy have collaborated to expand spectrum sharing in the 3.5 GHz band. Modifications to the aggregate interference model used in the 3.5 GHz band would allow the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) to provide uninterrupted access to mid-band spectrum that supports wireless internet and other services to approximately 72 million more people, officials said.
After coordination with the Navy and the FCC, NTIA formally submitted a request to change the aggregate interference model to the FCC this week. The FCC endorsed the changes yesterday and invited Spectrum Access System administrators to submit demonstrations of their ability to implement the modified protection criteria.
NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson called the “innovative approach” of the CBRS a win-win: “The Department of Defense has the airwaves it needs to carry out crucial missions while providing greater access for commercial 5G and high-speed internet deployment. The changes outlined by NTIA will expand internet access to more people. They could not have been implemented without the collaboration of the Navy and our ongoing coordination with the FCC.”
“Today, we are improving access to the 3.5 GHz band for tens of millions of Americans,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The CBRS dynamic spectrum sharing framework is already fertile ground for wireless innovation, and through collaboration with Department of Defense, NTIA, and stakeholders, we are expanding opportunities for reliable spectrum access while also ensuring that federal incumbents remain protected.” She called the approach “creative spectrum policy at work.”
CBRS, established by FCC rules in 2015 in coordination with NTIA and the Navy, allows for dynamic spectrum sharing in the 3.5 GHz band between the Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial spectrum users. DoD users have protected, prioritized use of the spectrum. When the government isn’t using the band, companies and the public can gain access through a tiered framework.
This enables DoD to use the same frequencies for its critical missions while companies and the public can use it for next-generation wireless services, including 5G. The new plan calls for a reduction in the size of Dynamic Protection Area neighborhoods along coastlines and around federal facilities throughout the country. In these areas, commercial use can be preempted by federal operations.
“The Navy is committed to developing a Dynamic Spectrum Sharing capability with our industry partners to appropriately balance national economic and defense priorities,” said Navy Chief Information Officer Jane Overslaugh Rathbun. “Agile spectrum access is critical to preserving the Navy’s maritime warfighting competitive advantage and we are actively pursuing the development of innovative wireless solutions that will increase the quality life for Sailors and Marines.”
Testing will be conducted to ensure the proposed changes won’t cause harmful interference. If the trials demonstrate the changes can occur as envisioned, Spectrum Access System administrators will be permitted to proceed.
The changes would authorize service to approximately 72 million more people and expand the total unencumbered CBRS area to roughly 240 million people nationwide, according to officials. The population affected by these changes is distributed throughout the country, with the most notable estimated increases occurring in the states listed in the chart.
WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries, praised the action, noting the Spectrum Access System allows commercial providers to use the band safely, essentially staying out of the way of the U.S. Navy’s defense operations. “With little ‘greenfield’ spectrum available yet ever-increasing demand for spectrum-driven utilizations, sharing allows more efficient use of limited spectrum resources,” stated Richard Bernhardt, Vice President of Spectrum & Industry, WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries. “The work noted today will provide more predictability and allow for approximately 72 million additional people to be covered by CBRS without having to move or change power due to federal operations.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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