The FCC has issued a Public Notice permitting certified Spectrum Access System administrators to modify the aggregate interference model used to regulate Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) operations in the 3.5 GHz band. The aggregate interference model is designed to enable dynamic spectrum sharing in CBRS operations by protecting priority federal operations from the effects of the public’s operations in the shared band. The modifications to the interference model were proposed by NTIA in close coordination with the DOD and FCC, and are intended to expand 3.5 GHz access to an estimated 72 million additional people.
The changes will affect the standards used for Time Division Duplex, Irregular Terrain Modeling, and median clutter loss, among other things. Spectrum Access System administrators must submit for approval a demonstration of their capacity to implement the new model before applying the changes in practice.