FCC Proposes Opening Airwaves for Mobile Services in 1675-80 MHz Band

FCC PROPOSES TO MAKE ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM AVAILABLE FOR MOBILE SERVICES IN THE 1675-1680 MHz BAND

 WASHINGTON, May 9, 2019—The Federal Communications Commission today proposed to reallocate spectrum in the 1675-1680 MHz band for shared use between incumbent federal users and new, non-federal flexible-use wireless operations.

The 1675-1680 MHz band currently is used for weather forecasting services.  But for several years spanning two Administrations, the President’s budget proposals have called for this band to be auctioned for flexible use, subject to sharing arrangements with federal weather satellites.   The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today takes the FCC’s first step toward accomplishing that task. It proposes to reallocate the 1675-1680 MHz band on a co-primary basis for terrestrial fixed and mobile (except aeronautical mobile) use on a shared basis with existing federal users, and it seeks comment on appropriate service and technical rules for the band.

The Commission also seeks comment on how to implement a sharing framework that would create opportunities for commercial operations in this band while also protecting incumbent federal users.  Finally, the Commission asks about possible alternative methods of providing access to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather data to other non-federal users that currently receive such data via earth stations they operate in this band.

Wireless broadband is a critical component of economic growth, job creation, public safety, and global competitiveness, and the demand for spectrum continues to increase.  As shown by today’s action, the Commission is continuing to work to identify and make available additional spectrum to meet the growing demand.