The 3.65 GHz [semi] licensed band that the FCC enacted last summer, may provide a real opportunity to provide broadband wireless, especially in rural areas. It is “lightly” licensed with WiMAX gear available from several providers.
Alzustar is planning to use 3.65 GHz in some of their municipal wireless projects using equipment from Airspan and Redline. One catch; there is an exclusion zone around certain satellite earth stations that use nearby frequencies.
But, reports Tim Sanders, there is no easy way on the FCC site to search via zip code, GPS coordinate or city name to find a listing of these Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) operators.
Now two groups Zing Wireless (an independent wireless ISP) and WirelessGuys (an equipment distributor and integrator) have collaborated on a simple solution — here.
Their free mapping site at zing.naviciti.com uses Microsoft’s Virtual Earth maps with high resolution photos.
The site is very easy to use. FSS sites are visually represented and the operator name pops up when moused over. You can search by zip code and zoom until the virtual border is visible. They have the community for help in compiling additional data for this free service. Those with information can contact Tolly at map@getzing.com.
The “lightly regulated” 3.65 - 3.7 GHz band, is non-exclusive, but does require base station registration and a filing fee for the spectrum by each provider. This is close to the unlicensed-band approach, aside from the registration and fee.
The block of 50 MHz spectrum boasts a mid-range blend of power allotment (higher than unlicensed spectrum and lower than licensed spectrum) that has a lot of utility, especially for rural providers. A restriction of WiMAX gear to the lower 25 MHz is designed to prevent interference with unrestricted protocols in the upper 25 MHz.
The FCC’s 3650-3700 MHz band requires fixed and base stations be at least 150 km from 86 grandfathered earth stations without consent, or within 80 km of three federal radar facilities without successful coordination. The rules give the locations of these facilities. The FCC’s public notice is available here (pdf).
DailyWireless has more 3.65 GHz articles including; Who the MuniFi MAN?, WiMAX: No Satellite Interference says WARC, Intel’s Rural Connectivity Platform, Airspan Gets FCC Nod for 3.65 GHz, 3.65 GHz Gets Real, FCC: Non-exclusive 3.6GHz Licensing, Airspan Does 3650, Broadband Wireless — Hello Goodbye, Is 3.65GHz Cost/Effective?, 3.65GHz: Made for Independent ISPs, The FCC Opens the 3650MHz band and Battle at 3 Dot 5.
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