Page 120 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NTIA Announces US$288m Funding for Broadband Rollouts

The US Department of Commerce’s • Be most cost-effective in providing download speed of at least 100Mbps
National Telecommunications and broadband service; or and an upload speed of at least 20Mbps.
Information Administration (NTIA) has • Provide broadband service with a
announced the availability of USD288
million in grant funding for the deployment
of broadband infrastructure. Grants will be
awarded to partnerships between a state,
or political subdivisions of a state, and
fixed broadband service providers. The
NTIA’s ‘Broadband Infrastructure Program’
was established by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2021. The NTIA says
it will accept applications for projects that
are designed to:
• Provide broadband service to the
greatest number of households in an
eligible service area;
• Provide broadband service to rural
areas;

FCC Takes Steps to Free Up 3.5GHz Spectrum in Puerto Rico, Guam, American

Samoa

The Federal Communications Commission Google, Federated Wireless and Key Nokia and RED Technologies,
(FCC) says that it has taken steps to Bridge Wireless – clearing the way for completing the first phase of the two-
enable the use of mid-band spectrum in commercial access to the 3550MHz- stage SAS application review process
the 3550MHz-3700MHz (3.5GHz) band 3650MHz portion of the Citizens established by the FCC.
for 5G use in Puerto Rico, Guam and Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in In addition to these actions, last week, the
American Samoa for the first time. After Puerto Rico and Guam for the first time. WTB granted an additional 13 applications
close coordination with the National • Approved Federated Wireless to for Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the
Telecommunications and Information expand its SAS operations to cover 3.5GHz band, representing a total of 125
Administration (NTIA) and the Department the 3550MHz-3650MHz portion of licenses. Acting FCC chairwoman Jessica
of Defence (DoD), the FCC’s Wireless the 3.5GHz band in American Samoa Rosenworcel commented: ‘No matter who
Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and consistent with protection criteria you are or where you live, you need access
Office of Engineering and Technology described by NTIA in a letter filed with to modern communications to have a fair
(OET) have taken the following three the FCC on 26 April 2021, which will shot at 21st century success. This is true,
actions related to 3.5GHz Environmental enable the first CBRS deployments in of course, for those living in Puerto Rico,
Sensing Capability (ESC) and Spectrum that portion of the band in American Guam and American Samoa too. These
Access Systems (SAS) approvals: Samoa. actions continue our efforts to bring 5G to
• Approved new and updated ESC sensor • Conditionally approved three entities everyone, everywhere in the country – and
deployment and coverage plans of that applied during the Second Wave not create communities of 5G haves and
four ESC operators – CommScope, SAS application window – Fairspectrum, have-nots.’

DoT Allots Trial 5G Spectrum to Trio

The Wireless Planning and Coordination cellcos, the Economic Times reports, citing Jio Infocomm (Jio), Bharti Airtel and
(WPC) division of India’s Department of a unnamed senior executive. According Vodafone Idea (Vi). The decision paves
Telecommunications (DoT) has allocated to the source, six-month licenses for the way for the trio to begin conducting 5G
temporary 5G spectrum licenses to the frequencies in the 3.5GHz, 26GHz and technology trials with vendor partners.
nation’s three largest privately-owned 700MHz bands were awarded to Reliance
120 APRIL-MAY 2021