On Tuesday, the
FCC voted on two important spectrum-related items that will help advance 5G deployment
throughout the United States.
First, the Commission
adopted a Report
and Order that changes the licensing and technical rules governing Priority
Access Licenses that will be issued in the 3.5 GHz band – including larger
license areas, longer license terms, renewability, and performance
requirements. By reducing the number of licenses a wireless provider must acquire
and the administrative costs of renewing those licenses, these changes will promote
efficient use, encourage additional investment in the 3.5 GHz band, and ultimately
streamline deployment of 5G networks.
The FCC also
adopted a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking that would open up 1,200 megaherts of spectrum in
the 6 GHz band to allow unlicensed devices to operate without interfering with
licensed services that will continue to use this spectrum. As Chairman Ajit Pai
said in his statement:
“From Wi-Fi routers to connected home appliances to retro cordless phones for
those of us who still have landlines, we use devices that connect via
unlicensed spectrum every day. Indeed, they’ve become so popular that there is
now a shortage of airwaves dedicated for their use.”
By proposing to
free up more unlicensed spectrum, the FCC's action could lead to more Wi-Fi
offloading, which, in turn, frees up space on mobile networks and allows for additional
next-generation services. 5G wireless deployment is projected
to create 275 billion in investment, 3 million jobs, and $500 billion in gross
domestic product. And both of these items adopted by the Commission this week
could advance the delivery of those economic benefits.
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