Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adjacent spectrum to provide for up to 160 MHz wide
has released an order finding that SNR Wireless and channels to help meet the growing demand for WiFi.
Northstar Wireless remain ineligible for the bidding Those cable and computer companies pushed the FCC
credits they sought during the AWS-3 Advanced open up the entire 75 GHz--which had been reserved
United Wireless Services auction (Auction 97). The two for licensed V2V services, to share between WiFi and
V2V, but supported chairman Pai's proposal to divide
companies together won a large number of licensees
States in the auction, with aggregate gross winning bids of up the band instead, giving each their own swath of
approximately USD13.3 billion. In 2015, the FCC denied spectrum. WiFi operators will get immediate access
their requests for approximately USD3.3 billion in to the spectrum for unlicensed indoor operations and,
bidding credits, finding that they did not qualify for the potentially, outdoor as well. The FNPRM tees up rules
25% bidding credits available to very small businesses for that outdoor use and asks for comment on whether
because they were controlled by DISH Network. The the FCC should allocate additional intelligent transport
parties appealed, and in 2018 the US Court of Appeals systems spectrum in the future. Auto manufacturers
for the DC Circuit affirmed the FCC’s findings. have argued that sharing the band with WiFi, including
The memorandum released this week concludes – a decision to split it up, could interfere with intelligent
based on a review of the revised agreements and the transportation Systems (ITS)/V2V safety systems, but
record on remand – that DISH Network continues to the FCC said the new rules would improve auto safety
possess de facto control over SNR and Northstar. As by transitioning the upper 30 MHz from the "long-
a result, the two companies continue to be ineligible stalled" DSRC V2V technology, which the FCC said "has
for the very small business designated entity bidding done virtually nothing to improve automotive safety" to
credits sought for the licensees they won in Auction 97. C-V2X.
Because SNR and Northstar defaulted on 197 licenses (November 18, 2020) nexttv.com
– including licensees in New York, Boston and Chicago
– they paid the full price for the remaining spectrum The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
they won in the 2015 AWS-3 auction. The applicants announced that its Wireline Competition Bureau has
therefore do not owe the FCC the additional USD3.3 awarded US Virgin Islands (USVI)-based Broadband
billion that they bid in the auction. VI USD84.5 million worth of funding – payable over
(November 25, 2020) commsupdate.com ten years – to bring 1Gbps download speeds to a total
of 46,039 locations across the islands. The recipient
In a victory for cable broadband operators and was decided via the ‘Connect USVI Fund Stage 2’
computer companies, the FCC has voted to free up competitive process. Earlier this month, the FCC
the lower 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for wireless confirmed that Liberty Communications and Puerto
broadband while transitioning the remaining upper 30 Rico Telephone Company (Claro) were the winning
MHz to the latest iteration of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) applicants in the corresponding ‘Uniendo a Puerto
communications, and cellular vehicle-to-everything Rico Stage 2’ competitive process. The government
(C-V2X) technology. That vote--on a Report and Order will supply funding worth USD127.1 million to the duo
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM)-- to deliver 100Mbps connectivity to a total of 1.2 million
came at the FCC's virtual meeting Wednesday (Nov. 18). locations, of which nearly one-third will receive 1Gbps
It was unanimous, but with the Democrats concurring speeds. Liberty will receive USD71.54 million to roll out
because they would have preferred the vote come services to 914,000 locations in 43 of Puerto Rico’s 78
under the upcoming Democratic-led commission. The municipios, while Claro will receive USD55.56 million
FCC said the item promotes the efficient and effective in support to provide high speed broadband access to
use of the band by freeing up long-underused spectrum 308,000 locations in the other 35 municipios.
and would deliver immediate benefits combined with (November 17, 2020) commsupdate.com

The head of Uruguay’s Regulatory Unit of American Spectrum Management Conference. In
Communications Services (URSEC), Mercedes addition to the 26GHz band, it is also considering the
Aramendia, has said the country is preparing a spectrum 3.5GHz-3.6GHz range for 5G services. ‘We understand
and connectivity policy which will have a focus on 5G. it is key to work on the expansion of connectivity, which
The policy is expected to be ready in the first quarter is the reason why we believe it is essential to coordinate
Uruguay of next year and aims to boost the availability of high- the awarding of spectrum, harmonize its management
speed connectivity services throughout Uruguay. The and seek an efficient use of the asset,’ Aramendia was
regulator will also authorize mobile operators to carry quoted as saying. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms
out 5G pilots using temporarily assigned spectrum in Database notes that state-owned operator Antel
the 26GHz band, Aramendia revealed during the Latin teamed up with Nokia to launch what it claimed to be

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