How does the success in the CBRS band impact the future of spectrum policy and the look ahead to the next bands in the spectrum pipeline?

Getting back to our regularly scheduled FrequencyPULSE with this week’s question: How does the success in the CBRS band impact the future of spectrum policy and the look ahead to the next bands in the spectrum pipeline?


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CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) provides a new and successful means of spectrum sharing and diversity of uses within the same band. Spectrum policy creators should pay heed to the fact that both incumbent and secondary uses are living in the same environment and successfully operating alongside each other. With a “technology neutral” approach, CBRS allows for all current incumbent uses (such as Federal radar systems, Fixed Satellite Systems (FSS), and grandfathered uses right alongside, GAA (Generally Authorized Access) and PAL (Priority Access Licensee) uses. Governed by a Spectrum Access System or SAS, the band is 150 MHz of frequencies with many uses and different types of operators accessing simultaneously. This provides for maximum use of spectrum while still providing incumbents and operators with protections. It is a very promising model for a wide variety of bands in the spectrum pipeline.

RICHARD BERNHARDT
Senior Director, Spectrum and Industry
Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)

 

The success of the CBRS band has shown what the benefits of spectrum sharing can accomplish. The CBRS band supports 5G networks and provides the backbone for WiFI networks and other enterprise applications. As more spectrum bands are repurposed and open up for unlicensed use, successful models for spectrum sharing will be essential. The FCC and industry should look to the CBRS sharing model as a clear starting point for other bands.

RYAN JOHNSTON
Senior Policy Counsel
Next Century Cities

 

Apart from the critical points that more spectrum is made available and innovative hybrid networks—like MVNOs—are better facilitated, the long-term value of CBRS is it proves a sharing model that can be profitably used for other bands.

KRISTIAN STOUT
Director of Innovation Policy
International Center for Law & Economics

 

 

 

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