The FCC says in this letter (pdf), that the 3650Mhz band (3650-3700Mhz) is being opened for nationwide, non-exclusive licencing. The licencing is a new approach to open-spectrum - a mix between licenced an unlicenced spectrum. The band is specifically for the delivery of wireless “broadband” data networking. The use of “contention-based” protocols, including Wi-Max, are explicitly allowed.
All base stations operating in this band must be registered with the FCC and there is no limit to the number of licences that will be issued. Mobile stations must be within range of a registered base station before transmitting in order to avoid interference with grandfathered use of this frequency. This implies that only mobile-to-base-station communication is allowed and not mobile-to-mobile communication. Fixed stations have a power limit of “25 watts per 25 mhz of bandwith” and mobile stations have a limit of “one watt per 25 mhz of bandwith.”
This band has been transfered from government to non-government use. The grandfathered stations are Fixed Satellite Stations (FSS) already in existance and federal radar stations. A couple stories say this spectrum is targeted at rural access.
FCC Charman Michael Powell had this to say: “I am delighted that we are opening this 50MHz of spectrum for the provision of wireless broadband for consumers, especially in rural areas. … it should be attractive to entreprenurial WISPs, community-based networks, and others interested in providing broadband in rural communities. The existing.. stations… in this band must be protected. They severely curtail possible use of this spectrum to serve a substantial portion of the U.S. population.”
The streamlined licensing mechanism with minimal regulatory entry requirements will encourage multiple new entrants and stimulate the rapid expansion of wireless broadband services — especially in rural America.
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-56A1.doc
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-56A2.doc
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-56A3.doc
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-56A4.doc
In a statement from FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, he says in exchange for licencing, a higher power limit is allowed. The licence includes the location of each fixed location to help new users “identify potential interference locations.”
Powell’s comment makes it sound like there is a grandfathered FSS and/or federal radar stations for every major population area, although this remains to be seen. No mention of the cost of the licence is made. The licence is good for 10 years.
WISP Centric has more.
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