CTIA is urging the FCC to adopt several reforms to spur investment and innovation of the 3.5 GHz band that is likely to be a key to deploying 5G services.
The FCC in 2015 proposed a three-tier sharing framework for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the 3.5 GHz band in an effort to maximize the use of those airwaves. CTIA issued a filing with the agency Friday recommending longer licensing terms for the spectrum; strengthened privacy and property rights for users of 3.5 GHz device users; and simplification of license terms based on Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) rather than census tracts.
“These reforms are important because if we get our spectrum and wireless infrastructure policy right, 5G is forecast to be a $500 billion shot in the arm to American’s economy, creating three million jobs and enabling smart city solutions that could produce $160 billion in benefits and savings for communities across the country,” the trade group said in a press release. “Nations around the world are accelerating the development and deployment of 5G by streamlining access to bands like 3.5 GHz. China, for example, is testing 5G already and has allocated 300 MHz of 3.5 GHz and spectrum for 5G use.
“With 3.5 GHz as the only mid-band spectrum in the pipeline in the U.S., we need a licensing framework that facilitates investment, cements our lead in 5G and maintains our position as the global leader in wireless,” CTIA urged.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) several years ago identified the 3.5 GHz band as suitable for shared use between government and commercial interests as long as incumbents including the DoD and fixed satellite services were given protection. A three-tiered access framework was developed that includes an Incumbent Access tier, Priority Access tier and General Authorized access tier; those three levels will be coordinated through a dynamic Spectrum Access System (SAS).