FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel says 4.9 GHz proposal under consideration

FCC commissioners are able to consider taking action on a 4.9 GHz order that is designed to “create new public-safety opportunities for 5G,” according to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who put the item on circulation this week.

Rosenworcel mentioned the proposal during yesterday’s FCC open meeting, during which the four commissioners voted unanimously in support of a notice of inquiry to explore the possibility of the FCC auctioning as much as 550 MHz of spectrum in the 12.7 GHz band.

While outlining some of the FCC’s recent spectrum-policy work, Rosenworcel outlined past initiatives to make mid-band spectrum available for 5G before briefly referencing the possibility of future action in the 4.9 GHz band (4940 MHz to 4990 MHz).

“Just yesterday, I shared with my colleagues an order that would create new public-safety opportunities for 5G in the 4.9 GHz band,” Rosenworcel said during the meeting.

Indeed, the FCC web page that lists items on circulation notes the 4.9 GHz proposal—both a report and order, as well as further notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)—from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB).

This posting occurred on Wednesday, the same day that representatives of five organizations—the American Petroleum Institute, Enterprise Wireless Alliance, Forestry Conservation Communications Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, and Utilities Technology Council—had a telephone conference with a member of Rosenworcel’s staff to discus the proceeding, according to a joint ex parte filing from the entities.

In August, these organizations proposed a “a framework for establishing a single entity with nationwide spectrum-management responsibility for the 4.9 GHz band,” according to the joint filing.

Rosenworcel did not disclose any details of the 4.9 GHz proposal during the FCC open meeting, but the ex parte filing from the five organizations indicated aspects those entities would like to see included in a prospective order.

“The representatives expressed their interest in working with the Commission in finalizing rules that would promote more intensive use of this spectrum for multiple use cases, such as fixed, mobile, microwave, robotics, Wi-Fi, UAS, and other technologies,” according to the organizations’ joint filing. “They were advised that the Chairwoman understood the need for a national manager and hoped to take further steps in the proceeding in the near-term future.”

There is no specific timetable for the FCC to take action on any item on circulation, but some industry sources have expressed hope that the FCC would vote on the matter before the end of this year. The 4.9 GHz proposal was not included as part of the FCC’s tentative agenda for the commissioners’ open meeting on Nov. 17.

If the proposed order is approved, it would mark yet another change in policy for the 50 MHz of 4.9 GHz spectrum that was dedicated for public-safety use for years but has been considered underutilized, according to FCC commissioners.

In the current proceeding, the FCC is examining an alternative path for the band rather than implement the state-licensing scheme approved during the fall of 2020—rules that were halted last year.