Highlights of FCC Rebanding Rules
FCC Rebanding to Change EBS and BRS
The EBS and BRS bands were used for education institutions and commercial operators for the transmission of data and video programming through wireless cable. On July 29, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) restructured the spectrum. The rules guiding this restructuring have been modified since the initial release, with the latest release report being released on April 27, 2006.
Please click here to view the FCC Report. NOTE: This link is to a US Government Website.
Highlights of the new rules are as follows:
- The restructing divides the band into three segments: the lower-band (LBS), mid-band (MBS) and upper-band segments (UBS). The new rules designate the UBS and LBS for low-power, cellularized type services and the MBS for high-power operations.
- The band is technology neutral.
- Each four channel group licensee will have three 5.5 MHz channels in either the LBS or UBS and one 6 MHz channel in the MBS for a total of 22.5 MHz. The licensee will also receive space in one of the two newly designated guard bands (J or K). There will no longer be interleaved channels. Please click here to view the Band Plan developed by the FCC. NOTE: This is a link to a US Government Website.
- Implements a GSA based on the license’s existing 35-mile radius. A “split the football” approach was formally adopted as a means for resolving overlapping coverage issues.
- Spectrum leasing will follow the secondary market spectrum leasing policies and procedures adopted by the FCC in 2003.
- These leases are limited to a maximum term of 30 years. Leases extending more than 15 years must include the right to review the educational requirements every five years beyond year 15.
- The rebanding is scheduled to be completed by January 2008. For more information on the transition, please click here. NOTE: This is a link to a US Government Website.
The new rule changes have allowed the spectrum to evolve into a more desirable frequency band. The spectrum is now used for providing high-speed, high-capacity broadband service, including two-way Internet service via cellularized communication systems. Such services provide consumers integrated access to voice, high-speed data, video-on-demand, and interactive delivery services from a wireless device.
Contact us today for more information about our EBS/BRS Evaluation and Consulting Services at: ebsinfo@bia.com |
