The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on October 18 to support new rules and guidelines for a nationwide Band Manager framework to coordinate operations in the 4.9 GHz band. Their intent is to optimize public safety’s use of the 4.9 GHz band and facilitate the integration of the latest commercially available technologies, including 5G, for the benefit of public safety users. The 4.9 GHz Band Manager, once selected, will be eligible to apply for a nationwide overlay license and authorized to enter into a sharing agreement with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).
The FCC said that expanding the 4.9 GHz Band Manager’s role and responsibilities to encompass a nationwide overlay license and a sharing agreement with FirstNet for any unassigned spectrum is the best approach to ensure that 4.9 GHz band spectrum is more fully utilized in the near term, while at the same time protecting existing incumbent licensee usage.
The new 4.9 GHz Band Manager responsibilities are as follows:
- Frequency coordination and interference protection for the operations of existing incumbent public safety licensees.
- Managing a spectrum sharing agreement with FirstNet.
- Incentivizing the use of the latest commercially available technologies.
- Submitting an annual report to the FCC
The FCC established parameters that the 4.9 GHz Band Manager must follow when entering into a sharing agreement with FirstNet. The 4.9 GHz Band Manager must certify compliance with any FCC or National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) rules governing the 4.9 GHz band, as well as proving they are preventing and mitigating any chances of harmful interference to incumbent 4.9 GHz band licensees. If interference were to occur, the 4.9 GHz Band Manager must require FirstNet to cease operations in the 4.9 GHz band. Pursuant to this sharing agreement, FirstNet may be permitted to use unassigned spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band as part of its nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) in a manner that protects incumbent operations.
In terms of the selecting the national 4.9 GHz Band Manager, the FCC delegated broad authority to the Wireless Telecommunications and Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureaus to establish the procedures by which a selection committee will be chosen; identify representatives to sit on the selection committee; determine the requisite number of selection committee members; identify the applicable selection criteria; and establish the appropriate procedures and appropriate oversight for the selection process as part of choosing the band manager.
The FCC’s decision did not address the funding of the 4.9 GHz Band Manager. The bureaus now have the authority to manage the process of determining the appropriate band manager funding mechanism.
There will be additional opportunities for the IAFC to weigh in on the management of the 4.9 GHz band as the FCC implements the Eighth Report and Order.
View the new FCC’s report, FCC’s Eighth Report And Order on the 4.9 GHz band.
Steven Alonzo is a Government Relations Manager for the IAFC.