Ruckus Networks is still holding strong to the position that any rule changes in the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band should be for the benefit of all the various industry sectors that have made significant investments toward the band. That includes mobile, cable, rural, industrial and enterprise stakeholders.
The company’s director of Regulatory Affairs and Network Standard, David Wright, met with FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly’s wireless adviser, Erin McGrath, on Aug. 21, according to an ex parte filing (PDF). Wright is also the president of the CBRS Alliance, which recently celebrated its two-year anniversary.
Ruckus, which is now part of Arris, is part of a larger coalition that earlier this year presented a proposed compromise framework for Priority Access Licenses (PALs) that drew support from many different stakeholders: Google, GE, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association and others.
That compromise had the parties each accepting some obstacles to their own CBRS opportunities in order to ensure the largest possible group of stakeholders could derive value from the 3.5 GHz band, although the list of signatories did not include wireless carriers. CTIA is still pushing for 10-year license terms and doesn’t want to see any licenses based on census tracts. The compromise put forth by the tech companies in May included a provision that there would be two census-tract-based CBRS PALs available at auction and five county-sized PALs available in every county at auction.
O’Rielly’s office has been particularly busy of late with 3.5 GHz discussions. The Competitive Carriers Association earlier this month also met with his office to reiterate its recommendations and discuss efforts to facilitate access to additional spectrum resources.
While the FCC works out the parameters for the PALs, the industry is still aiming to see CBRS commercialized before the end of the year. The General Authorized Access (GAA) portion of the band is unlicensed and is expected to see deployments in the fourth quarter. The OnGo Certification Program was established by the alliance to ensure seamless integration and deployment of OnGo solutions.
RELATED: CBRS Alliance establishes working group focused on end-to-end deployment models
The alliance just announced a new working group, one that will focus on identifying, defining and implementing end-to-end deployment models and operational best practices for OnGo connectivity, including the interconnections between networks, network operators and roaming hubs.
Of course, the CBRS Alliance has big plans for Mobile World Congress Americas 2018 in Los Angeles next month. The organization's work will be showcased in the second annual partner program, dubbed "Catch the OnGo Wave." The program will explore current customer activities and the opportunities OnGo will enable for operators, managed service providers and enterprises.