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Following C-Band 5G Debacle, FCC Considers Regulating Radio Receiver Performance

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Apr 21, 2022, 4:38 PM by Rich Brome

The FCC has launched an official proceeding to investigate how it can best address the issue of radio receiver performance. The FCC has historically regulated radio transmitters, but paid little attention to the technical aspects of radio receivers. Specifically, poor filters can leave radio receivers susceptible to interference from transmitters using nearby frequencies. The FCC has addressed this issue in the past by leaving "guard bands" of empty radio spectrum between various bands it designates for specific uses. But large guard bands are an inefficient use of increasingly-precious radio spectrum. This issue flared up in a dramatic fashion with the recent launch of 5G in the C Band. The FAA raised last-minute objections saying that the FCC's guard band for C Band was inadequate to protect against interference with planes' radio altimeters, some of which may have poorly-performing filters. The FCC will now explore its legal options to regulate receivers, as well as "incentives, industry-led voluntary approaches, and Commission policy and guidance". The goal is to "take a fresh look at ... how improved receiver performance can promote more efficient spectrum use and enable valuable new services to be introduced that will benefit the American public."

Oct 5, 2021
The FCC today started Auction 110, the third in a series of auctions to sell licenses for valuable C-band (mid-band) radio frequencies that offer a good mix of data speeds and coverage when deployed for 5G networks. All three major US wireless carriers have registered and qualified to bid in the auction.

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Apr 3, 2023
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C-Band 5G Launches Delayed until Next Year

Nov 4, 2021
AT&T and Verizon have agreed to an FAA request to delay the launch of 5G in new C-Band radio frequencies by one month, while potential interference issues are addressed, reports the Wall Street Journal. Both companies were planning to launch the highly-anticipated mid-band 5G service on or around December 5th, but will now launch the service no sooner than January 5th, 2022.

T-Mobile Details Plans to Keep its Lead in Mid-Band 5G Through 2023

Dec 1, 2021
T-Mobile recently announced that its mid-band 5G network now covers over 200 million people, a threshold that the industry acknowledges as "nationwide" coverage. (Mid-band 5G offers an ideal balance of fast data speeds and broad coverage compared to 5G in other bands.) In an interview with Phone Scoop, T-Mobile executives detailed how they plan to maintain the company's lead in mid-band 5G even as Verizon and AT&T launch mid-band 5G early next year.

Verizon, AT&T Moving Forward with C-Band 5G Launch This Week Over FAA Objection

Jan 2, 2022
Verizon and AT&T this morning refused a request by federal transportation officials to delay this week's planned launch of 5G service in the critical new C Band. [Update: By evening, the two companies agreed to a two-week delay.] The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) insists that the service could potentially interfere with radio altimeters that planes use to measure distance to the ground in poor weather.

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