Memo: Part 90 Transition to CBRS Operations

March 20, 2020

Part 90 Transition to CBRS Operations

On March 19, 2020, the FCC released its Order, DA 20-291, in which the FCC has announced the extension of six-months for existing Part 90 license holders. April 17, 2020 was the original transition deadline from Part 90 operations to Part 96, Citizens Broadband Radio Services (CBRS), operations for those Part 90 license holders without grandfathered status and those with grandfathered status, but a license expiration date of April 17, 2020. With this extension, those Part 90 license holders without grandfathered status and those with grandfathered status, but has a license expiration date between April 17, 2020 and October 17, 2020, the revised deadline for operations to transition from Part 90 to Part 96 operations has been extended to October 17, 2020.

Please note, this Part 90 transition extension will not impact the forthcoming CBRS Priority Access License (PAL) auction, Auction 105. The short-form filing window for Auction 105 remains unchanged, opening on March 26, 2020 and closing on April 9, 2020.

Background

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expanded the existing 50MHz of shared spectrum in the 3650-3700MHz (NN Service) band by 100MHz. Combined, 3550-3700MHz, makes 150MHz of spectrum available and has formed the new Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band. The FCC released its Report and Order, FCC 15-47, in which it defined the CBRS band, introduced the CBRS governing Part 96 rules, and sunsets the existing Part 90 rules.

Download the full memo for additional detail.

VPS Memo – Part 90 Transition to CBRS Operations

Additional Information

For information on this issue or if you would like VPS guidance, please contact these members of the Vantage Point Solutions team:

Brian Bell, PE at (605) 995-1767

Wendy Harper at (605) 995-1756

Kristy Szabo at (605) 995-1786