One of the FCC’s five commissioners said that he’s working to release enough midband spectrum over the next two years that providers could create a new, fully operational 5G network using the licenses.  

Those comments, made at the WIA’s Connect (X) show by Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, are noteworthy considering he is taking the lead at the agency in the industry’s ongoing CBRS proceeding. Wireless industry players are keen to see the FCC act on that proceeding because it will release up to 150 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for both licensed and unlicensed operations.  

However, O'Rielly gave no indication about how and when the FCC might act on the CBRS issue. He said that geographic licensing sizes are the last sticking point in the proceeding—large wireless operators are pushing the FCC to issue 3.5 GHz licenses in larger geographic sizes, while others are urging the agency to issue smaller licenses—but he didn’t say how the agency might fall on the issue. O'Rielly also did not say when the FCC might issue final rules on the 3.5 GHz band, though many in the industry expect the agency to do so this summer.  

Nonetheless, O'Rielly said that the CBRS band is just one of several that he hopes to release to the wireless industry in the next two years. He also pointed to the 3.45-3.55 GHz the NTIA may release, and the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, also known as the C band.