Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band

Résumé

In this document, the Commission proposes to create a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service under part 95 of its rules for shared small cell use in the 3550-3650 MHz band (3.5 GHz Band). The Commission seeks comment on other techniques that could be used to manage access within the 3.5 GHz band as well as protections for incumbent Department of Defense (DoD) and Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) users. The Commission also seeks comment on how the unique characteristics of small cells may help reduce the need for geographic protections and enable shared access of the 3.5 GHz Band across the widest possible geographic footprint. In addition, the Commission offers a supplemental proposal to integrate the 3650-3700 MHz band within the proposed Citizens Broadband Service, thereby encompassing an additional 50 megahertz of contiguous spectrum. This approach would leverage the benefits of small cell technology to enable widespread broadband access to the 3.5 GHz Band while minimizing the possibility of harmful interference to incumbent DoD and FSS users.