The FCC’s , International and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus and Office of Engineering and Technology (Bureaus), pursuant to a mandate under the recently enacted Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act (MOBILE NOW Act), seek comment for a report on the possibility of commercial wireless services sharing, on a licensed or unlicensed basis, frequencies in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Comments are due by May 31, 2018, and reply comments are due by June 15, 2018. The FCC is required to submit a report to Congress and the Secretary of Commerce by September 23, 2019, evaluating the feasibility of allowing commercial wireless services to share use of the subject frequencies under the MOBILE NOW Act which was included in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill. While noting there are currently no federal entities using the band, the Bureaus nevertheless seek comment on how to assess operations and possible impacts of sharing with federal and non-federal incumbents, how sharing can be accomplished, and whether there are other considerations that should be taken into account. The FCC intends to consult with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration regarding federal entities and operations in the band. The FCC is already exploring future use of this band in its mid-band spectrum proceeding and recently placed a freeze on applications for new/modified fixed-satellite service earth station licenses, receive only earth station registrations, and fixed microwave licenses in the 3.7-4.2 GHz frequency band.
