C-Band Alliance responds to backlash

The C-Band Alliance (CBA) recently responded to a number of critics of its proposal to make 200 megahertz of 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum available for 5G, saying many commenters wrongly contend that the “market-based approach” that it’s advocating for violates the Communications Act and flies in the face of precedent.It’s noteworthy on several fronts, including the timing. The CBA's response was filed Feb. 6, the same day that several critics were calling for more transparency from the group and noting the great likelihood that the CBA’s plan would lead to litigation. Representatives from Google and Charter Communications also suggested the CBA plan would delay getting the spectrum into the hands of 5G players longer than if it were to go through a public FCC auction. The C-band, or 3.7-4.2 GHz, is considered midband spectrum, which offers a “Goldilocks” mix of capacity and coverage that mobile operators and other 5G stakeholders want in 5G. It’s probably one of the best shots carriers have at getting midband spectrum at the moment, since the 3.5 GHz band will offer only 70 MHz for licensed usage when a portion of that band is made ready for auction.