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CSMAC Continues to Consider Options for Reallocating/Sharing Federal Government Spectrum

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Commercial carriers want clear spectrum, rather than sharing it with Federal government users. That was the essence of the first of several recommendations in an outline document on spectrum sharing that was considered during the November 11 meeting of the Commerce Representatives on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC). While carriers prefer reallocation and clearing of spectrum, the outline also recommended sharing should be studied in spectrum bands that cannot be fully cleared in order to determine what impact those federal systems that remain in the band would have on future commercial uses, and what sharing conditions are required to protect incumbent systems. The outline recommended that joint-studies between incumbents and new entrants be conducted to characterize incumbent operations and evaluate compatibility between new entrants and incumbent Federal government operations. Further, the outline recommended the establishment of a joint government-industry technical committee to conduct the studies.
UTC is working with CSMAC to develop opportunities for utilities and other critical infrastructure industries (CII) to share spectrum with Federal government users. Given carriers' preference for cleared spectrum, utilities may have a better opportunity to share spectrum that cannot be cleared. UTC has advocated for shared access to the 1800-1830 MHz band, which is part of the larger 1755-1850 MHz band that the CSMAC is currently evaluating for broadband use. During today’s CSMAC meeting, the “Search for 500 MHz Working Group” recommended reallocating the entire 1755-1850 MHz band for commercial broadband using a two-stage approach by which the 1755-1780 MHz band would be fast-tracked on a "high priority" and the rest of the spectrum from 1780-1850 MHz would be given a "longer term focus" to provide additional time to further develop government reallocation and sharing options and develop pairing options with other spectrum bands. Thus, the CSMAC appears intent on pushing to reallocate and clear the 1800-1830 MHz band for commercial broadband, but the question remains whether incumbent Federal users in the band will agree to move and whether commercial broadband service providers can afford to pay for relocating them. If not, there may still be an opportunity for utilities to share that spectrum with Federal government users.


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