AT&T has signed a MOU with T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and the Department of Defense (DoD) to explore the idea of sharing the 95 MHz of spectrum that is currently used by DoD and other federal agencies. It made the announcement on its public policy blog.
The agreement follows recommendations made by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) last year that the option is considered as an alternative to new spectrum auctions. The companies will test spectrum that is located in the 1755 to 1850 MHz spectrum band.
Over the next couple months, spectrum monitoring, sharing and simulation activities will be conducted within the band to determine whether existing federal use of this spectrum is negatively impacted by the introduction of commercial mobile broadband services in the band, and conversely how the incumbent DoD system would affect mobile broadband services.
The tests will include monitoring, sharing, and simulations at five locations specified by the DoD to determine if its activities are harmed or disrupted by nearby base station activity. The actual sharing of spectrum will be evaluated between low power mobile broadband uplinks (base station receivers) and four uses identified by NTIA, including air combat training systems, aeronautical mobile telemetry, satellite command and control, and small unmanned aerial vehicles.
The testing will be completed by the end of March and the results will be shared with the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) when completed.
“I want to emphasize that we continue to believe that clearing and reallocating is the best approach to freeing up much needed spectrum for commercial mobile broadband use. The existing exclusive licensing regime has resulted in billions of dollars in wireless infrastructure investment, enabling the U.S. to lead the way in the global mobile broadband marketplace. While clearing spectrum for exclusive commercial licensing must remain the top priority, when that is neither time nor cost effective, AT&T supports exploring sharing arrangements. As FCC Chairman Genachowski has noted, it doesn’t have to be an either/or choice for effective spectrum management,” writes Stacey Black, AT&T Assistant Vice President of Federal Regulatory.
Black adds AT&T is hopeful that, by working closely with DoD and other federal users, they can identify opportunities to clear spectrum for exclusive licensing and, “when that’s not feasible, to develop mutually beneficial sharing arrangements to tackle the ever growing demand for mobile broadband technologies and services.”
