Utility industry representatives said today they are willing to share spectrum with other users, but they stressed that such sharing for critical applications would likely work only with other critical infrastructure industry (CII) entities and public safety agencies, although they expressed frustration at their likely ability to access the planned nationwide public safety broadband network being overseen by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

During a spectrum session at the Critical Infrastructure Communications Policy Summit, which was organized by the Utilities Telecom Council and the Department of Energy, utility representatives said they realize that it is unlikely they will get the exclusive dedicated spectrum that they want and said that they are more willing than they were in the past to discuss sharing opportunities. But they stressed that any sharing must ensure priority access and reliability for SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and other critical systems.

“We’re really coming at this from a very methodical standpoint,” said Brett Kilbourne, UTC’s vice president-government and industry affairs and deputy general counsel. “All critical infrastructure sectors … are coming together around this issue.”

Matt Schnell, telecommunications O&M supervisor for the Nebraska Public Power District, said that his utility shares spectrum with public safety entities in a statewide land mobile radio system. Also, under development is a statewide public safety microwave system to which the Nebraska Public Power District is contributing assets, he said.

He said he originally thought that FirstNet would present a good opportunity for utilities to get access to spectrum, but now he thinks it is “maybe not such a great opportunity for utilities.” He complained that FirstNet appears most interested in covering the major cities in Nebraska than the most rural areas that utilities need to also reach. He also questioned whether utilities would get priority access on the system. In addition, he said of FirstNet, “It looks like it’s a ways off yet. We need spectrum now.”

There is also hope that utilities will be able to share the 406-420 megahertz band in Nebraska with federal agencies, Mr. Schnell said.

Ron Taylor, senior principal engineer for the Salt River Project in Phoenix, also stressed the need for additional spectrum today. He cited the problem of operations on many different bands, including unlicensed spectrum, but added that the most critical applications need to be “on private systems and off of unlicensed spectrum.”

He said the Salt River Project piloted use of some 3.65 gigahertz band equipment but was left “underimpressed,” saying the spectrum does not propagate well through trees and into buildings. He also noted that much of the spectrum is used by wireless Internet service providers.

Mr. Taylor also said that his employer purchased upper 700 MHz band spectrum, but that action was taken “on faith” due to the lack of much equipment.

“We’re still hoping to share with public safety, but it’s getting so aggravating,” Mr. Taylor added of FirstNet. “It’s not moving as fast as we all hoped it would move.”

Kathleen Nelson, senior telecommunications engineer at Great River Energy in Minnesota, suggested that utilities and other CII entities have kept their systems running without adequate spectrum by using “bubble gum and duct tape.”

“At some point, though, there’s going to be a tipping point, and we’re not going to be able to do what we need to do with what we have,” Ms. Nelson added.

Regarding FirstNet, she said utilities would like to partner with them, but she said that if it decides that utilities aren’t first responders, “that’s a non-starter.”

FirstNet’s preliminary interpretation is that utilities should be treated as public safety entities.

Ms. Nelson said her cooperative-owned entity leased 700 MHz band spectrum for about a decade, but the service provider is no longer operating. She said work is underway with the WiMax Forum to try to encourage the development of equipment for the band. Ms. Nelson also said that the 3.5 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands don’t have good propagation in rural areas like hers. “We’re trying to do well with what’s there, but we need a long-term solution,” she said, adding that sharing with non-critical applications doesn’t make sense. Ms. Nelson also suggested that the federal government adopt different policies to encourage the use of spectrum in rural areas.

Michael Quinn, VP and chief technology officer for Texas-based Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, complained that the FCC’ 3.5 GHz band order amounts to “a five-year eviction notice” for incumbents such as utilities in the 3.65 GHz band.

Mr. Kilbourne said utilities are excited about the potential opportunities to share the 4.9 GHz band with public safety agencies. He also pointed to the need of utilities to continue to have access to the 5.8 GHz band.

Julie Knapp, chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology, said he was “encouraged” by the various bands that utilities are using or are exploring using. He noted that the FCC has moved for years away from giving dedicated spectrum to particular users in favor of sharing frequencies.

He pointed to the 3.5 GHz band, saying that he hopes utilities will “look at it as an opportunity,” saying that companies will be able to bid on licenses for small market areas that will provide them “the certainty of protection.” Mr. Knapp also noted that the FCC is still considering next steps in its 4.9 GHz band proceeding.

The circulation to FCC Commissioners of a further notice of proposed rulemaking in the 4.9 GHz band proceeding is expected before the end of the year, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Deputy Chief David Furth told the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) during a meeting yesterday (TRDaily, Sept. 15).

In response to Mr. Quinn’s comment, he said the FCC in its 3.5 GHz band order did not issue “an eviction notice” to incumbents such as utilities. “We’re reorganizing the spectrum in a way that will give you more,” he added, noting the additional 100 MHz.

“In any change, there’s always some pain involved, but we’ve tried to minimize that for a long-term gain,” Mr. Knapp added. He also said that he doesn’t “think there’s a one-band solution here” for utilities and other CII entities.

Mr. Quinn replied that it isn’t cost effective for utilities to have to bid for spectrum in auctions. Mr. Quinn also mentioned a 900 MHz band realignment plan that has been proposed by the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and Pacific DataVision, Inc., (d/b/a pdvWireless). The plan has drawn considerable criticism from utilities, oil and gas interests, and railroads. “I think utilities need to seriously take a hard look at it,” he said. For Oncor, he is looking at 900 MHz and the 4.9 GHz band, he said. After that, “I’m not sure what I’m looking at next,” he added.- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily