FCC Consumer Inquiries and Complaints

FCC TICKET No. 5519752 Re: Powerline Interference

June 7, 2022

Complaint

1. COMPLAINT DISCOVERY

It appears that the interference to the California Amateur Radio Service Net is caused by a small cell radio frequency (RF) transmitter installed on PG&E’s power line by Comcast/Xfinity (without a permit) on Kendon Lane in Novato (see ATTACHMENT A). The transmitter is generating a harmful waveform on the power line, which is a violation of PG&E’s tariffs (Electric Rule No. 2), and FCC Rules, (FCC Part 15 regulations that govern license-free transmitters which prohibit interference to licensed users such as amateur radio operators.

The small cell equipment described herein is a 5G product produced by Airspan 5G CBRS (see ATTACHMENT B).

2. CARELESS DISREGARD FOR CUSTOMER AND GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY

It is very important to note that in addition to the interference problem, the harmful waveform can also cause PG&E transformers and related hardware to overheat and catch fire, and customer property (electronic devices and appliances) can also be damaged. In addition, if there is a power outage, customers served by the small cell transmitter will not have any service because there in is no battery back-up. Small cell installations should not be allowed any place in Marin County.

3. BAD FAITH

Comcast/Xfinity know that they are interfering with an emergency communications net that serves the public. However, they have informed their customer and the FCC that there is no problem, and they have not done anything wrong. Under the circumstances the FCC should order them to correct the problem and consider imposing a fine against them for the bad faith conduct.

Respectfully submitted, 6/7/2022

David Wilner, Novato, CA

P.S. Please see Attachment A and B

Attachment A

Attachment B

From https://www.airspan.com/5g-products/ and https://www.airspan.com/openrange-software/

5G Fully Virtualized Open RAN Product Portfolio

Airspan’s 5G solutions allow mobile operators to meet the wide range of challenges by providing the tools to fully exploit advanced technologies such as mmWave, Sub-6 GHz, Massive MIMO, and Open vRAN architectures. With a phased approach, operators can monetize their 5G assets and services by taking advantage of the extensive 4G device portfolio, ahead of the proliferation of 5G device ecosystems, to support deploying advanced 5G access solutions today. Airspan’s OpenRANGE Air5G mmWave and Sub-6 GHz platforms enable disruption of the economics of traditional network operators and lay the foundation for transformational 5G architectures. With over a million systems deployed globally, Airspan brings its proven disruptive economics to deliver fully virtualized 5G networks.

Airspan’s CBRS over 5G-NR, Sub-6 GHz network densification solutions contain a wide, award-winning and field proven product portfolio of indoor (CAT-A) and outdoor (CAT-B), compact Femto, Pico, Micro and Macro base stations—the perfect tool kit to exploit the full potential of 5G technologies, as well as a best-in-class, high-performance portfolio with max (certified) CAT-B EIRP products. Airspan’s end-to-end CBRS over 5G solutions are tailor-made, supporting private, high- capacity, and secure networks at any size. These networks address multiple segments that connect machines, sensors, cameras, digital signage, and offering triple play services. Airspan’s CBRS over 5G solutions are IOT’d with all SAS vendors.

Airspan’s OpenRANGE vRAN software

Airspan’s OpenRANGE vRAN software allows for modular, scalable architecture, which means deployment flexibility and cost savings.

  • Cloud-native, elastically scalable vRAN
  • Faster time-to-market with CI/CD modular micro-service architecture approach
  • Standards-based open interfaces
  • Scalable for multi-core architectures
  • CUPS architecture enables deployment flexibility and cost savings
  • Containerized solution for optimized resources (RAM and CPU provides lower latency, and faster deployment time compared to traditional VM’s)
  • Significant OpEx savings with support for energy savings, efficient maintenance, high availability, and real-time resource migration
  • High service availability with automatic VNF recovery

Airspan 5G CBRS

https://infohub.delltechnologies.com/l/reference-architecture-guide-dell-services-edge-1-2-1/airspan-5g-cbrs-2

Overview

CBRS is the 3550 MHz through 3700 MHZ spectrum band that is allocated for public use by the FCC. The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum), a multi-stakeholder group, has developed the underlying standards for this three-tiered access system. WInnForum defines the rules for using the 3.55 GHz – 3.70 GHz band (technology agnostic) in the United States. The CBRS band does not require spectrum licenses and reduces the cost of data transmissions using the shared spectrum. Airspan CBRS 5G NR-based solutions in the 3.5 GHz band enable both in-building and outdoor coverage and increase expansion capacity.

CBRS significantly lowers the barrier to entry for non-traditional wireless carriers while providing opportunities for operators to:

  • Set up private networks that are separated from licensed and expensive spectrum with performance that is significantly better than the Wi-Fi that is used today for this purpose.

With the option to use either Priority Access License (PAL) or General Authorized Access (GAA) spectrum, or both, network operators can have access to up to 150 MHz of spectrum for gigabit-level services.

Dynamic spectrum-sharing of the lightly licensed 3.5 GHz band aims to satisfy the growing demand for capacity and opens the market for new business opportunities and business models for newcomers and existing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) such as:

  • Private 5G NR networks
  • Neutral Host Networks (NHN)
  • Fixed-Wireless Internet Services
  • CBRS 5G mobile hotspots

Airspan 5G NR CBRS portfolio

The following figure shows the Airspan 5G NR CBRS portfolio:

TimelineDescription automatically generated
TimelineDescription automatically generated

Figure 7. Airspan 5G per product type