Methodology - National Spectrum Strategy 37 GHz Spectrum Sharing Report
Developing a National Spectrum Strategy
To better understand the requirements necessary to support co-equal sharing in the Lower 37 GHz band, we coordinated with various stakeholders, including DoD subject-matter experts, other Federal spectrum users, the FCC, and the commercial wireless industry. Key DoD stakeholders whose expertise contributed to these findings include the Military Departments, the DoD Chief Information Officer, Joint Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, and the Defense Information Systems Agency. Insights from the DoD 5G and Future Generation Cross Functional Team provided important context relative to warfighter requirements to innovate for 5G and beyond. Since the release of the NSS I-Plan in March 2024, DoD informal outreach to the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) on the state of advanced wireless technology and commercial deployment plans also inforn1ed these findings. We also received input from the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) and the newly formed ISAC.
U.S. policymakers have recognized the unique sharing opportunity of this spectrum range. A 2016 FCC Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) described a "new paradigm for Federal and non-Federal sharing in the 37 GHz band, with the goal of fully developing a powerful new model for efficiently sharing high-frequency spectrum [that] can be applied to other such bands in the future."6 In general, the Lower 37 GHz band has the potential to meet several short range/line-of-sight use cases.
The Lower 37 GHz band is part of the 37-38.6 GHz spectrum range, all of which is allocated to the fixed and mobile services on a primary basis for Federal and non-Federal use.7 Portions of the 37-38.6 GHz band are also allocated to the Space Research Service (SRS) (space-to-Earth) on a primary basis for Federal use (37-38 GHz) and to the Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) (space-to-Earth) on a primary basis for non-Federal use. Use of the PSS downlink allocation is subject to the soft-segmentation plan in the FCC's V-Band Second Report and Order.8 In addition, the 37-38.6 GHz band is adjacent to the 36-37 GHz band, where passive sensors in the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) and SRS are located.9
| Federal Table | Non-Federal Table | FCC Rule Part |
|---|---|---|
37-38 US151 | 37-37.5 US151 | Upper Microwave Flexible Use (30) |
| 37.5-38 FIXED FIXED-SATELLITE ( space-to-Earth) NG63 MOBILE except aeronautical mobile US151 | Satellite Communications (25) Upper Microwave Flexible Use (30) | |
| 38-38.6 FIXED MOBILE | 38-39.5 FIXED FIXED-SATELLITE ( space-to-Earth) NG63 MOBILE NG 175 | |
| 38.6-39.5 |
6 See FCC, Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz For Mobile Radio Services, GN Docket No. 14-177, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 8014, 8057-8060 at para. 2 (2016) (“First R&O”).
7 See U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations, 47 CFR. § 2.106.
8 See 47 CFR § 2.106; FCC, Allocation and Designation of Spectrum for Fixed-Satellite Services in the 37.5-38.5 GHz, 40.5-41.5 GHz and 48.2-50.2 GHz Frequency Bands; Allocation of Spectrum to Upgrade Fixed and Mobile Allocations in the 40.5-42.5 GHz Frequency Band; Allocation of Spectrum in the 46.9-47.0 GHz Frequency Band for Wireless Services; and Allocation of Spectrum in the 37.0-38.0 GHz and 40.0-40.5 GHz for Government Operations, Second Report and Order, 18 FCC Rcd 25428, 25438 at para. 24 (2003).
9 See First R&O at para. 103.