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Spectrum sword to plowshare?
The US Dept. of Defense's 3.5 GHz spectrum will become ever more difficult to use outside the US, Ergo, that spectrum should be reallocated for unlicensed WiMAX use.
In a previous blog, I detailed US Department of Defense concerns over 3.5 GHz use as a WiMAX band outside the US will create interference on US military radars operating in those countries. If those radars functions will be degraded by WiMAX operators, what's the point of maintaining radars that can operate only in the US or far out to sea? The DoD would be wise to move that function performed by 3.5 GHz radars to another technology as soon as possible. Any radar that emits on its given frequency gives away the location of that platform.
That brings up the question: what to do with the 3.5 GHz spectrum in the US? Answer: turn it over to the FCC for allocation as an unlicensed WiMAX band. Why unlicensed and not auctioned off as licensed spectrum? Answer: there is a danger that some deep pocketed legacy service provider seeking to protect its market share using legacy infrastructure will bid up and buy the spectrum and then sit on it, thus denying its use on the open market (the original purpose of Causian Economics in spectrum auctions).
My vision for unlicensed 3.5 GHz is that it would serve in the "best effort" internet connection offered by Wi-Fi today. Instead of seeking out an open Wi-Fi access point (range of about 100 meters), an open WiMAX base station would be available on the "open band" of 3.5 GHz.
What's the next step? In January, a new US Congress will be seated and committee assignments will be made. At that time we can start writing members of Congress for this change. More in January…
Frank Ohrtman
WMX Systems
