WASHINGTON — Radio broadcasters are not the only group lamenting proposed changes to the 3.7-4.2 GHz “C Band.”
Comcast executives recently met with FCC officials to discuss the critical role C-band satellite transmissions play in the video distribution ecosystem generally and for Comcast and NBCUniversal in particular. Comcast said it uses “hundreds of C-band earth stations at locations throughout the country, and about 80% of video programming is received by Comcast via C-band satellites,” according to fiercewireless.com.
In 2017 the FCC agreed to explore repurposing more mid-band spectrum (including the 3.7-4.2 GHz), and in the meantime, satellite companies using the have proposed a way to make 100 MHz available for 5G, but “terrestrial players say that’s not enough…and it sounds like the leadership at the FCC agrees with the terrestrial folks,” according to the same article.
FCC Chairman Pai announced at the end of May that he’s ready to put a 3.7-4.2 GHz item on the FCC’s July open meeting agenda. “At the FCC’s July meeting, I intend to put up for a vote a proposal to make more intensive use of that 500 MHz of spectrum, including seeking additional input on making it available for commercial terrestrial use,” Pai said.
Keep reading Radio Magazine Today to be informed on pending changes to the C Band.
