The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) completed a lengthy proceeding to clear satellite operators out of the C-Band to make bandwidth available for 5G, yet spectrum-related safety concerns have arisen. In a new insight, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy Jeffrey Westling explains the current dispute over C-Band, determinations made about safety and spectrum allocation thus far, and the importance of mid-band spectrum to 5G deployment.

Key points:

• The FCC completed a lengthy proceeding to clear satellite operators out of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C-Band to make bandwidth available for 5G, and the auction saw record revenues due to significant interest from carriers.
• Interagency disputes are becoming a challenge for the deployment of 5G networks; while there are legitimate parochial concerns, resolving these disputes will be critical to successful deployment of 5G services.
• Recent conflicts between the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the deployment of 5G services in the C-Band highlight the importance of streamlining the interagency process and mitigating public disputes between federal agencies late in the deployment process.

Read the analysis