| How to Access Spectrum for Wireless Broadband Services |
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 There are several mechanisms that the FCC uses to make spectrum available for wireless services, including licensed and licensed-exempt
spectrum. Some licensed frequencies are designated for commercial use while others are allocated for use by public safety
agencies. Many of the licensed frequencies can also be leased or transferred to other entities in the secondary market.
Some of the frequencies described below are used for fixed broadband service, while others are used for mobile, portable,
or a combination of fixed and mobile service.
| License-Exempt Spectrum (Part 15) |
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In spectrum that is designated as "unlicensed" or "licensed-exempt," users can operate without an FCC license but must use
certified radio equipment and must comply with the FCC's Part 15 technical requirements, including power limits. Users of
the license-exempt bands do not have exclusive use of the spectrum and are subject to interference.
- Unlicensed & Unshackled: A Joint OET-OSP Paper on Unlicensed Devices and Their Regulatory Issues (pdf)
- Part 15 Rules
| Licensed Spectrum for Commercial Services |
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Licensed spectrum allows for exclusive, and in some cases non-exclusive, use of particular frequencies or channels in particular
locations. Some licensed frequency bands were made available on a site-by-site basis, meaning that licensees have exclusive
use of the specified spectrum bands in a particular point location with a radius around that location. The rights to use other
bands, including all of those auctioned and licensed since 1994, were made available by particular geographic areas, such
as Economic Areas (EAs) or Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). Some bands include a hybrid of these 2 models, in which the spectrum
was initially licensed on a site-by-site basis, and then the "white space" around those licenses was auctioned and licensed
on a geographic area basis.
Existing Licensed Services
The following spectrum bands have already been licensed and can be used for wireless broadband services:
| FCC Spectrum Auctions |
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The FCC is always working to make new spectrum available for wireless services, including wireless broadband. The FCC typically
puts new spectrum licenses for commercial services into the market using spectrum.
| Licensed Spectrum for Public Safety |
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The FCC makes spectrum available for exclusive use by public safety agencies and first responders, such as state and local
police and fire departments. The rules for certain frequencies are designed to allow public safety licensees to deploy broadband
services.
| Secondary Market for Licensed Spectrum |
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The FCC has taken significant steps to remove regulatory barriers and facilitate the development of secondary markets in spectrum
usage rights. In 2003 and 2004, the FCC established new policies and procedures to facilitate broader access to valuable spectrum
resources through the use of spectrum leasing arrangements, and streamlined procedures for approving license assignments and
transfers of control. The FCC also provided for immediate processing of certain qualifying spectrum leasing and license assignment
and transfer transactions.
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| Wireless Broadband Services |
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are a variety of terrestrial wireless technologies available
or being developed to provide broadband services. There
are a range of options for accessing spectrum for wireless
and satellite broadband services, including spectrum auctions,
spectrum leasing, public safety spectrum licensing, and
the use Part 15 equipment in license-exempt spectrum bands.
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| Wireless Broadband Technologies |
| How
to Find a Licensee in Your Area |
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| FCC Proceedings Related to Wireless Broadband |
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