Page 161 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

coverage; and it may also provide wholesale duct quality of services available and help meet growing
access as a standalone service. Ofcom believes that consumer and business demand for connectivity.
both networks will benefit the public, improving the (September 1, 2019) telecompaper.com

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
seeking comments on its proposed plans for the auction announced that the Wireless Telecommunications
of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, its commissioners Bureau (WTB) and Office of Engineering and Technology
having voted to launch the sale on 25 June next year. (OET) have approved five Spectrum Access Systems
United The FCC has outlined a structure in which spectrum (SAS) administrators to begin initial commercial
deployments in the 3.5GHz band. As such, SAS
will be available via so-called priority access licenses
States (PALs), each of which will comprise 10 MHz of unpaired operated by Amdocs, CommScope, Federated Wireless,
spectrum. Seven PALs will be available in each county- Google and Sony have satisfied the FCC’s laboratory
based license area, giving a total of 22,631 to bid for testing requirements and are approved to begin their
across the US. The regulator is seeking comment on a initial commercial deployments (ICDs) as previously
number of areas of the auction process, which has been proposed. The FCC’s reviews were carried out after
dubbed Auction 105. It proposes an ascending clock consultation with the Department of Defense (DoD)
format, similar to that used in Auction 102 – which and the National Telecommunications and Information
raised US$2 billion from the sale of 24 GHz frequencies Administration (NTIA). The FCC has proposed to stage
earlier this year – and a format that has been approved Auction 105 – its sale of 5G-suitable spectrum in the
for Auction 103, its latest millimeter wave sale that is 3550MHz-3700MHz (3.5GHz) band – on 25 June 2020.
due to take place later this year. The format would see The auction will offer seven Priority Access Licenses
participants bid for generic license blocks in specific (PALs) in each county-based license area, for a total
counties. The regulator is also exploring the option of 22,631 PALs nationwide. Each PAL will be a ten-
of allowing participants to bid for airwaves across year renewable license, consisting of an unpaired
multiple counties in 172 metropolitan areas, and 10MHz channel. Alongside the anticipated 5G usage
permitting them to lodge bids for more airwaves than cases, the 3.5GHz band is also expected to pique the
they are eligible to actually hold. In addition, it has also interest of wireless internet service providers (WISPs),
outlined rules on credit caps, upfront payments, bidding major cablecos who have entered the MVNO space
eligibility, minimum opening bids, and a number of and entities wishing to deploy private LTE networks.
other auction functions. (September 29, 2019) totaltele.com (September 17, 2019) telegeography.com

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
approved a mid-2020 start date for its first mid-band has proposed to stage Auction 105 – its sale of
spectrum auction, despite pressure from one member 5G-suitable spectrum in the 3550MHz-3700MHz
to pull the timeline forward into 2019. Bidding on (3.5GHz) band – on 25 June 2020. The auction will
licenses for the shared 3.5GHz band will begin 25 offer seven Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in each
June 2020. Comments are currently being sought on county-based license area, for a total of 22,631 PALs
the proposed auction structure, including a motion to nationwide. Each PAL will be a ten-year renewable
further expand the geographic area covered by each license, consisting of an unpaired 10MHz channel. As
license. The FCC previously increased the license per the FCC proposal, bidders will be allowed to bid
zones for the band in October 2018. Commissioner for up to four generic blocks of spectrum per county.
Jessica Rosenworcel (pictured, far left) warned further Interested parties are invited to submit feedback on the
expansion would narrow the pool of players able to proposed auction by 28 October 2019.
make use of the spectrum and “unacceptably risk the (September 6, 2019) telegeography.com
opportunities for innovation in this band and new entry
points for 5G”. She also argued the 3.5GHz auction US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
should take precedence over the FCC’s third sale of Chairman Ajit Pai announced members will vote later
mmWave spectrum scheduled for December, citing a this month on whether to approve a mid-2020 start
dire need for mid-band airwaves for 5G. “I would hold date for a long-awaited auction of licensed spectrum
this auction this year, before we bring to market any in the 3.5GHz band. The vote would seek comment
higher band spectrum including the 37GHz, 39GHz and on draft procedures for the auction, with the target of
47GHz bands.” The action comes shortly after the FCC commencing bidding on 25 June 2020. License zones
gave the go ahead for initial commercial deployments and terms for the band were established in October
in the unlicensed portion of the 3.5GHz band. (September 2018. In a blog post, Pai said the 70MHz of licensed
27, 2019) mobileworldlive.com airwaves the FCC aims to offer in the auction is “prime

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