Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

AT&T Slams FCC’s Plans for 6 GHz Band

A lot of people praised the FCC for devices causing interference. Ultimately, iPhones in places like New York City and
demonstrating its boldness in voting it will be public safety, our nation’s critical getting 100 Mbps to those phones over
unanimously Thursday to open up the 6 infrastructure and consumers that will unlicensed. “I can see that over time, they
GHz band for unlicensed devices. AT&T’s pay the price,” she added. Up until the might well do the same over 6 GHz” to the
public policy team was not among them, vote, AT&T had been steadily submitting extent it’s in areas where there won’t be
accusing the agency of putting critical comments and telling the FCC about its interference with small cells and incumbent
incumbent services at risk. “While concerns (PDF). The company disclosed microwave services, said analyst Chris
we support use of this band for Wi-Fi (PDF) that it holds 8,138 licenses in the 6 DePuy, founder of the 650 Group. “I imagine
expansion, any new use must protect GHz fixed service (FS) bands supporting they’ll take advantage of it.” There’s also a
incumbent services, which in this case backhaul for its mobile networks, as well good case to be made for mobile operators
includes tens of thousands of microwave as telecom links for its landline assets. eventually to use the spectrum for offering
links critical to maintaining network On the flip side, it's worth noting that JR fixed wireless access (FWA), according
infrastructure. This order does not do that,” Wilson, Vice President of tower strategy to DePuy. Verizon, for example, already
said Joan Marsh, AT&T EVP of Regulatory and roaming at AT&T, is Chairman of the offers a FWA service using the millimeter
& State External Affairs, in a statement. “By Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), which wave (mmWave) spectrum. “The 6 GHz
failing to require that new Wi-Fi devices cheered the FCC’s decision on 6 GHz. AT&T spectrum is a good opportunity for the
using this band include smart technology also happens to be one of the nation’s mobile operators to reinvigorate their
that avoids interference, the FCC’s order largest users of Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi came to FWA aspirations, especially in suburban
will allow the introduction of devices that the rescue when AT&T held the exclusive on and rural areas where there are few
can impair, or even knock out, links in the the first iPhone that crushed its network’s microwave links that are active, so they
networks that monitor our electric grid, ability to handle all that traffic way back will be able to use that spectrum,” DePuy
enable first responders to communicate then. The FCC’s 6 GHz order puts a lot of said, suggesting that could happen in the
and provide mobile broadband services emphasis on Wi-Fi in the beginning, as next couple years. It’s not unlike Project
to millions of Americans, particularly in that’s what a lot of the low-powered indoor Angel, which was an initiative that AT&T
rural areas,” she said. “Even more troubling devices will use. But nothing prohibits Wireless undertook before the company
is the fact that the FCC has no plan to AT&T and other licensed operators from was acquired by Cingular Wireless in 2004.
mitigate the interference when it inevitably using the 6 GHz band as well, either for Wi- “This is very similar,” DePuy said, where
occurs. Once millions of these new Fi offload or technologies like LTE, which the new 6 GHz spectrum could effectively
unlicensed devices are released and in use, they fought hard for via Licensed Assisted deliver gigabit class service to residential
it will be impracticable, if not impossible, Access (LAA) in 5 GHz. AT&T already uses areas.
for the FCC to identify and remove specific the 5 GHz band to connect small cells with

China Telecom Fights for US License

China Telecom’s US subsidiary argued
any move to terminate an interconnection
license in the country would be unlawful,
after officials pressed the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to
block the company on security grounds.
In a filing, China Telecom Americas’ (CTA)
lawyers said any move to withdraw its
permit without the opportunity to put
its case to a judge would contravene its
“constitutionally protected liberties,” and which it held since 2007. In a statement, and where it stored US records. The
damage its reputation. The lawyers asked the agencies cited “substantial and recommendation came less than a week
the FCC to confirm no action will be taken unacceptable national security and law after US President Donald Trump ordered
until CTA is notified of the allegations enforcement risks” associated with the the creation of a special committee to
against it and given a chance to respond. company’s operations. They pointed review telecoms licenses and applications
Its request comes after the Departments of to concerns it is vulnerable to Chinese to pinpoint potential national security
Justice, Homeland Security, Defence, State government influence, and alleged the threats. While the committee provides
and Commerce on 9 April jointly urged company made inaccurate statements recommendations, the FCC has the final
the FCC to withdraw CTA’s authorization, about its Cybersecurity practices say.

88 APRIL 2020