FCC Urged To Protect Expanded C-Band Spectrum Use

Two U-S Representatives sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai this week expressing concerns regarding the the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examining expanded operations in the C-band. While supporting the Commission's efforts to close the digital divide, they requested that the agency ensure any broadband proposals reflect the importance of existing services that may be affected that use the spectrum. This includes content producers that deliver news, sports and other content each day via satellite.

"In seeking a balanced approach, the Commission must further endeavor to avoid disruptions in the services American consumers currently enjoy. The Commission must also carefully consider the potential for interference from new terrestrial users to incumbent operations and, if it finds the benefits outweigh the harms, tailor its technical rules appropriately to avoid such interference," the letter from Reps. Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) stated.

The letter continued, "These considerations are especially critical for the Commission as it considers permitting new commercial wireless services and shared use in the 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum band, as proposed in the Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on July 12, 2018. This spectrum band, also known as the "C-band," is licensed to satellite companies and is heavily relied upon by a vast number of stakeholders in rural and non-rural areas alike, including those that deliver content for television and cable programming."

For years, radio and television broadcasters, as well as cable providers, have been relying on C Band satellite systems for reliable distribution of programming content. Some estimates place the number of C Band downlink sites in the United States at more than 27,000, and demand for new facilities shows no signs of letting up.

But as RadioWorld has reported, the C Band isn’t something that broadcasters should take for granted. The system is in imminent peril of being rendered useless by terrestrial interference, at least according to some observers.

Among them are Mark and Karen Johnson, principals of LinkUp Communications Corp., who recently traveled to Washington to make their case before the commission.

The problem is the FCC’s consideration of changing the rules to allow 3.7–4.2 GHz to be shared by other services. The move is being spearheaded by broadband companies, including Google and Verizon, who are asking the commission to turn over some or all of the spectrum to internet providers for future 5G technology.

But syndicators and networks such as Premiere, Westwood One and NPR as well as many radio and television broadcasters stand opposed to the proposed changes, claiming that interference from terrestrial services could render satellite reception all but impossible.