3 Senate Republicans Oppose Large License Sizes in 3.5 GHz Band

The Rural Wireless Association hailed a letter by three Republican senators saying the FCC should consider countywide tracts for priority access licenses in rural areas in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band instead of using partial economic areas (PEAs). The letter urges licensing by metropolitan statistical area in urban communities. The letter was signed by Steve Daines of Montana, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Dan Sullivan of Alaska. They said the FCC should “reject the expansion of geographic licensing areas such as large scale" PEAs. The proposal makes sense, said RWA President Mike Kilgore, CEO of Sagebrush Cellular. “The use of PEAs or other large license sizes in the CBRS context would stifle broadband deployment in rural states.”