Evaluating Spectrum Screens by Band Classifications October 24, 2023 22:30
Recently the FCC opened a comment period regarding an AT&T petition to establish a mid-band spectrum screen. I thought this would be a good opportunity to look at the spectrum screen components by band classification.
In the table below, we demonstrate how each of the Spectrum Screen values for Spektrum Metrics and the FCC roll up into each of the band classifications. As a reminder, Low Band spectrum is good for coverage, Lower Midband spectrum balances bandwidth with coverage, and Upper Midband spectrum emphasizes bandwidth with less coverage that Lower Midband spectrum.
In the far right column, we indicate what the FCC spectrum screen component would be for that particular band. The historical FCC guideline has been to establish a spectrum screen at 1/3 of the total allotted spectrum.
To evaluate each carrier's Spectrum Screen with these band classifications, we updated the Spectrum Screen modules in our Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool to detail the Spectrum Screen values for each county and each Cellular Market Area (CMA).
County Spectrum Screen:
CMA Market Spectrum Screen:
In the following 3 charts, we highlight each of the national carrier's Spectrum Screen values for the Top 50 CMA markets by band classification. You can visualize where the inputted FCC spectrum screen value from the table above would lie relative to each carrier's market values.
Low Band Spectrum Screen:
Lower Midband Spectrum Screen:
Upper Midband Spectrum Screen:
