Pollen Mobile was among prominent wireless industry leaders that recently sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that called for the commission to apply a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) type framework to the lower 3 GHz band, writes Monica Alleven in a FierceWireless story.

Allen notes the letter to the FCC “spells out how successful the CBRS 3.5 GHz band has been in the U.S. and how it’s driving innovative uses of spectrum. For example, farms are using CBRS to increase yields, and schools and libraries are using it to close the digital divide.”

James Blackman, in an Enterprise IoT Insights article, called the letter “a forceful response to a controversial CTIA report” that “attacked the efficacy of spectrum sharing.” To demonstrate the flaws in CTIA’s position, Blackman shared that “new CBRS cell sites are going-in three times (300 percent) faster than the rate of public network expansion.”

Pollen believes the FCC’s bold move to make the 3.55 GHz band accessible without purchasing a spectrum license democratized a portion of the U.S. airwaves. It means that access is no longer restricted to the few corporations that can afford the multi-billion dollar prices required to win spectrum auctions.

Pollen leverages the CBRS 3.5 GHz band to deliver a decentralized wireless (DeWi) network that is owned and operated by its users. We developed the network to create connectivity in locations where people need it most. Pollen serves businesses, households and communities with a privacy focused, affordable open source mobile network.

The FCC can continue to promote wireless innovation that can address the internet connectivity needs of underserved communities by applying a CBRS-type framework to the lower 3 GHz band.

To learn how Pollen leverages the CBRS band, watch How Pollen Transformed Winery Dead Zones to Full Connectivity.

‍