Some of the nation’s largest cellular carriers and their allies are urging the Federal Communications Commission to dramatically raise power levels in the 3.5 GHz band, claiming that a new auction framework could unlock tens of billions for the Treasury. The FCC should reject this proposal outright.
My new technical analysis shows that the promised gains would come at a devastating cost to the over one thousand operators who depend on this band today. Significant impacts include a 1,000-fold degradation of throughput at American manufacturing facilities, the loss of nearly a third of network capacity at a major international airport, and repeated broadband outages in rural communities with no alternative means to gain internet access.
The 3.5 GHz band is home to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service, which represents something revolutionary in telecommunications: a successful implementation of dynamic spectrum sharing.
GOP CONCERN GROWS AS FCC COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR MAY HAVE RESHAPED TEXAS
Continue reading
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!