{"id":1102,"date":"2020-01-24T18:28:04","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T18:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlj-dev.cu.law\/?p=1102"},"modified":"2020-01-24T18:28:06","modified_gmt":"2020-01-24T18:28:06","slug":"5g-better-for-everyone-no-delay-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctlj-dev.cu.law\/?p=1102","title":{"rendered":"5G: Better for Everyone, No Delay Necessary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Used with a Creative Commons Zero License – Via Piqsels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s 1964. President Lyndon Johnson, hard at work whipping votes to pass the Civil Rights Act, enjoys a cigarette on his Texas ranch. Between puffs, he lobbies segregationist colleague Senator J. William Fulbright on the bill through his infamously intimidating Johnson Treatment<\/a>, an imposing, loud, in-your-face posture. But this time, he delivered it via high-tech AT&T 2G mobile connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not how the story went. Despite early mobile telephony and blueprints for cellular networks existing by the 1940s and 50s, regulators at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wouldn\u2019t free spectrum channels for wireless phones until the 1980s<\/a>. It\u2019s fun to speculate how soon within last century our parents and grandparents would\u2019ve sent their first texts if the FCC bureaucrats hadn\u2019t held this spectrum ransom for the broadcast industry. But avoiding the senseless delay in tech development they experienced is more important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, today\u2019s FCC clears spectrum and cuts red tape for next generation \u201c5G\u201d mobile networks. Despite contrary arguments made by this journal\u2019s Digital Content Team<\/a>, 5G-friendly changes can\u2019t happen fast enough. Upgraded mobile networks will benefit all Americans through improved service and faster innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5G Network \u2013\nAnd How We\u2019re Getting There<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally, the wireless industry defines<\/a> 5G as a new mobile network structure that enables faster speeds, lower latency, and higher capacity for connected devices. Faster speeds mean faster downloads and uploads. Lower latency means nearly zero signal delay, enabling technologies that depend on immediate reactivity, such as virtual reality or autonomous vehicles. Capacity for more connected devices means integrating Internet functionalities further into life. Connection already seeps deeper with devices such as Alexa, smartwatches, and browser-enabled refrigerators<\/a>. These upgrades will make mobile networks more useful than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-Band Spectrum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achieving 5G\u2019s promise requires smarter spectrum allocations and infrastructure for mobile broadband. In 5G networks, carriers for the first time will deploy high-band spectrum, which has greater capacity than frequencies used by 4G LTE. The FCC recently auctioned high-band spectrum in the 24 GHz and 28 GHz<\/a> frequencies with pending moves for the 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands<\/a> that will transmit the fastest, highest capacity mobile speeds available<\/a>. High-band frequencies are dubbed \u201cmillimeter waves,\u201d since they repeat wave cycles within mere millimeters \u2013 providing unprecedented space for data. Carriers will deploy hundreds of \u201csmall cell\u201d antennas in densely populated areas to make use of high-band spectrum. These antennas sit closer to customers than the large, distant towers currently delivering 4G to your phone. Shorter distance between phone and antenna reduces latency. Thankfully, the FCC streamlined rules, blocked extortion by local governments, and cut red tape for small cell deployment in 2018<\/a>, a move largely upheld<\/a> by the D.C. Circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics wrongly assume that 5G will leave rural America behind because millimeter waves only travel a few hundred yards and don\u2019t penetrate buildings, making it an urban fixture. But 5G and high-band aren\u2019t synonyms \u2013 high-band spectrum is only one piece of the 5G puzzle. Speeds will improve for all mobile customers because carriers will deliver 5G with an all-band strategy<\/a> that increases mobile bandwidth by transmitting data over a wider spectrum range<\/a> than 4G LTE networks. An all-band strategy reduces congestion for existing spectrum by splitting data transmission over more spectrum, regardless of whether you have a high band antenna nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, areas\ndotted with small cells and enmeshed with millimeter waves \u2013 like large urban\ncenters \u2013 will have the fastest speeds. But it\u2019d be senseless to kill\ninnovation just because some people benefit less<\/em> than others. The point\nis that everyone benefits<\/em> from 5G, and 5G benefits rural America by\nexceeding existing rural options. Disregarding 5G due to disparate, positive\nimpact is like riding horses instead of driving cars because some cars are\nfaster than others. Even if some people get Ferraris, there\u2019s nothing wrong\nwith a Lexus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low-Band & Mid-Band Spectrum:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An all-band strategy wouldn\u2019t be possible without FCC Chairman Pai\u2019s action to free-up largely unused mid-band spectrum. The FCC set a June 2020 auction<\/a> for mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, will soon set a 2.5 GHz<\/a> auction, and will hopefully resolve a heated proceeding<\/a> over the C-Band. Freeing mid-band spectrum is critical for 5G because these frequencies travel farther than higher frequencies while still bearing high capacity. Currently, Sprint is the only mobile carrier<\/a> with mid-band holdings and many of its licenses remain unused. Additionally, the FCC\u2019s auction of 600 MHz and changes to the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands<\/a> will ensure signals blanket the country and penetrate buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of Sprint, its approved merger with T-Mobile will ensure a third carrier has adequate spectrum for a nationwide 5G network. The \u201cnew T-Mobile\u201d will combine Sprint\u2019s strong mid-band holdings with T-Mobile\u2019s stronger position in low-band and high-band spectrum. While the Department of Justice required T-Mobile to relinquish some of its 800 MHz licenses, the company still maintains strong 600 MHz holdings that deployed on its commercial 5G network in December<\/a>. With a strong spectrum portfolio, more customers, and greater capacity to draw investment, T-Mobile will be well situated vs. Verizon and AT&T in every market. Without the merger, Sprint would continue bleeding customers<\/a> to the three networks with better service & spouting bad finances<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to\nspectrum reallocation, infrastructure reform, and the Sprint-T-Mobile merger,\nmobile networks will be better than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5G Benefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The obvious benefit from 5G networks will be better broadband competition. With improved speeds, wireless broadband will become a real cable substitute. Currently, mean mobile speeds<\/a> are 33.88 mbps down and 9.75 mbps up. Mean fixed broadband speeds<\/a> were 96.25 mbps down and 32.88 mbps up in 2018. Tests from earlier this year<\/a> show 5G networks achieving speeds substantially above one gigabit on high-band spectrum, around 450 mbps on mid-band. Carriers estimate<\/a> that 5G boosts speeds twenty-fold over 4G LTE networks in perfect conditions, With wireless speeds finally catching up to cable, there will be greater head-to-head competitive pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers will have two 5G broadband options: mobile and fixed wireless. Mobile wireless broadband is cellphone service. Improved speeds, latency, and capacity from 5G networks could accelerate the trend of \u201csmartphone only\u201d Internet users who only subscribe to mobile broadband. Smartphone only users doubled from eight percent to seventeen percent<\/a> of the US population over the past decade and forty-five percent<\/a> of those shirking home broadband say their smartphone meets their needs. Mobile improvements from 5G could reduce duplicative home broadband subscriptions, or at the very least, pressure cable operators into reducing prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verizon<\/a> and T-Mobile<\/a> also offer 5G fixed wireless service that competes with cable. Fixed wireless provides home broadband through rooftop antennas<\/a> on homes and apartments. The antennas hook to routers that blanket home interiors with 5G-powered Wi-Fi. Since mobile networks avoid costs of stringing and trenching cables, 5G fixed wireless plans are often cheaper than home broadband, although they need line-of-sight to operate. For example, Verizon offers its mobile customers 5G fixed wireless with 900 mbps speeds for $50 per month, while its FiOS cable service costs between $70-80 per month. Faster-than-ever fixed wireless offers new options for low-cost connection in rural America and certain urban settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But most importantly, 5G offers a new platform for innovation. Having Internet on the go with workable connections brought us the $820 billion app economy<\/a>. With 5G, we\u2019ll see the \u201cInternet of Things\u201d come to life. Mobile networks will have greater capacity to handle more devices. Right now, the Internet of Things relies mostly on indoor Wi-Fi connections since 4G signals suffer from latency and interference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could\nchange with 5G \u2013 its faster, low-latency, high-capacity connections will\nimprove the business case for mobile devices beyond cellphones. This is\nespecially true for technologies dependent on instantaneous reaction, such as\nautonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Cars need to react to their\nsurrounding in real time and any latency could cost lives. Virtual reality devices\nthat augment our sight and haptics need uninterrupted connection to be useful \u2013\notherwise your real-world actions won\u2019t sync with the tech. It\u2019s easy to see\nhow other time-sensitive services like medicine and healthcare might improve. With\n5G networks, these techs will become more commonplace and there are likely\nthousands of uses we can\u2019t predict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anybody who thinks 5G is about doing today\u2019s activities with faster speeds or watching Netflix with less buffering misses the point. Business and government have no reason to hold back 5G. When the FCC failed to respond to mobile telephony developments for decades, it crushed generations of economic growth. Similarly, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr noted in a recent speech<\/a> slamming telecom experts from last decade who shrugged at mobile broadband\u2019s value: \u201cThese digital deniers didn\u2019t imagine how Venmo would transform banking\u2026 predict what Uber would do for mobility\u2026 didn\u2019t foresee that Tinder would disrupt dating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you love your cell phone, think of how much people that never lived to see one could\u2019ve loved theirs. Sure, LBJ\u2019s Johnson Treatment might not have worked over text, but civil rights activists may have enjoyed encrypted texting\u2019s protections<\/a> against J. Edgar Hoover<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no\nreason to delay the future for today\u2019s people. We are, and should be, hurtling\ntowards 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baseless Claims\nabout 5G<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding\nthe benefits of 5G, I have to touch on two ridiculous claims made by this\njournal\u2019s Digital Content Team \u2013 that 5G will harm weather predictions and that\nthe US policy for 5G networks mirrors communism. Neither are true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, stories about 5G ruining weather signals are complete fabrication<\/a>s. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) claimed that 5G deployments in the 24 GHz band would interfere with tools used to detect water vapor in air. NOAA backed its claims with a study showing interference with the weather censor technology called \u201cconical microwave image\/sounder.\u201d Weather forecasters no longer use this technology \u2013 and its replacement is not susceptible to interference<\/a>. Currently, 40,000 fixed and microwave links coexist with weather forecasting in the 24 GHz band<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, the Digital Content Team analogizes China\u2019s communist central planning with deregulation and best-use spectrum practices in the United States. China\u2019s network is built by state-controlled telecom companies and massive government subsidies<\/a>. These subsidies hurt Chinese 5G by nursing profligate spending<\/a> that reduces profitability and consumer-focused service. In contrast, the FCC auctions flexible-use spectrum licenses to highest-bidder mobile carriers. These carriers bid the most because they generate large returns on investment by deploying efficient, quality, profitable 5G mobile service based on market forces. Carrier investment in the United States 5G networks mirrors consumer demand for 5G \u2013 deploying it where profitable. This is a focused, efficient approach that empowers customer and carrier control over networks while China\u2019s approach is more like throwing darts while blindfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no central control over 5G in the United States. Private companies building investor-funded infrastructure is nothing like communism \u2013 which involves blessings from the Politburo, family connections, and a hefty dose of mass starvation, cannibalism, and murder<\/a>. Joseph Stalin wasn\u2019t 5G ready. Government planners micromanage China\u2019s networks in every single local government jurisdiction<\/a>. The FCC does the opposite. It eliminates costly requirements for deployment so carriers can plan and deploy their own networks quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these are\nthe drawbacks of 5G, then there are none.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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