On June 10, 2020, the Commission released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (“NPRM and Order”) in the Modernizing and Expanding Access to the 70/80/90 GHz Bands proceeding, which considers rules to allow for new uses of the 70/80/90 GHz bands, including potential changes allowing for the provision of wireless backhaul for 5G and the deployment of broadband services to aircraft and ships (WT Docket Nos. 20-133 and 10-153).
The adopted NPRM makes few changes from the circulated draft version:
- The Commission clarified that in addition to seeking comment on how possible changes to the antenna standards for the 70/80/90 GHz bands will affect Federal operations in the shared bands, the Commission also seeks comment on how changing the antenna standards may affect future uses of these bands, including for Fixed-Satellite Service (¶ 17).
- The Commission added that it seeks comment on whether aeronautical or maritime deployments in the 70 and 80 GHz bands would inhibit use of the spectrum by Fixed-Satellite Service systems (¶ 28).
- The Commission added that it seeks comment on how coordination and registration mechanisms would be able to accommodate Aeronet’s proposed operations to transmit signals toward known flight paths or ship routes according to a specified schedule (¶ 38).
- The Commission added that it seeks comment on how the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (“NTIA”) “green light” / “yellow light” coordination system would manage the coordination of commercial aircraft-to-aircraft and aircraft-to-ground links with Federal operations (¶ 40).
- Comments on the NPRM are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register
- Reply comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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