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Anterix Announces FCC Adoption of 900 MHz Report and Order
Ruling Paves Way for Critical Private LTE Networks for Utilities and Enterprise WOODLAND PARK, N.J., May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anterix (NASDAQ: ATEX) today
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[{"type":"text","content":"Ruling Paves Way for Critical Private LTE Networks for Utilities and Enterprise\n\n\nWOODLAND PARK, N.J., May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anterix (NASDAQ: ATEX) today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (\"FCC\") has voted unanimously to adopt a Report and Order (\"R&O\"), \"Transitioning the 900 MHz Band to Enable Broadband Deployment.\" The R&O was adopted during the FCC's May 13 Open Meeting. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\"We applaud the FCC for this bold decision to repurpose under-utilized spectrum, unleashing the power of broadband for utilities and other enterprises to build private LTE communications networks,\" said Morgan O'Brien, CEO of Anterix. \"Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioners O'Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel and Starks, as well as the Commission staff, have done a tremendous job balancing the interests of incumbents in the 900 MHz band with the critical infrastructure sector's desire to leverage the band for private LTE broadband networks. For the utility sector, grid modernization has been a critical industry priority, but the scarcity of foundational spectrum to support necessary wireless broadband communications had constrained its efforts. This unanimous decision sends a strong signal that the FCC 'walks the walk' of revising its rules to clear scarce spectrum from inefficient technologies to make way for innovation, efficiency and competition.\" \nThe order makes available six of the 900 MHz band's ten megahertz for broadband services while retaining four megahertz to continue incumbent narrowband operations. The new regulatory framework will allow 900 MHz licensees, like Anterix, to obtain broadband licenses and includes operational and technical rules to minimize interference to narrowband operations. To facilitate a quick transition to broadband services, the FCC relies in part on a voluntary, market-driven process while providing a logical backstop to help prevent holdouts that would deny critical infrastructure and enterprise the benefits of broadband. \n\"This order comes at a vital time, as industry demand for private LTE networks is growing but low-band spectrum options to serve these critical needs are scarce,\" said Rob Schwartz, president of Anterix. \"The FCC has already granted six 900 MHz experimental licenses, involving eleven utilities and one large enterprise, and these pilots have dem...