STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JESSICA ROSENWORCEL

Re:	Modernizing and Expanding Access to the 70/80/90 GHz Bands, WT Docket No. 20-133; Amendment of Part 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Use of Microwave for Wireless Backhaul and Other Uses and to Provide Additional Flexibility to Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Operational Fixed Microwave Licensees, WT Docket No. 10-153; Aeronet Global Communications Inc. Petitions for Rulemaking to Amend the Commission’s Allocation and Service Rules for the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz Bands to Authorize Aviation and Maritime Scheduled Dynamic Datalinks, RM-11824, RM-11825; and Requests of Aviat Networks and CBF Networks, Inc. d/b/a Fastback Networks for Waiver of Certain Antenna Requirements in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz Bands, WT Docket No. 15-244 (Terminated)

These days Americans aren’t doing much flying—but we certainly are thinking about life after lockdown.  It’s too early to say how this virus will change travel but it’s fair to say that many of us hope to safely return to the skies soon.  When we do, one feature Americans want to see is the ability to reliably connect to the internet at 35,000 feet.  

As many travelers know, the demand for in-flight internet can outpace what airlines can provide.  That means high prices and choppy connections when too many passengers on board are competing for the same signals.  

The good news is that next-generation, high-throughput satellites are being launched to meet this demand.  Also good news is the rulemaking we start today.  It proposes targeted changes to antenna standards and other technical policies governing the 70, 80, and 90 GHz bands that could open up competition for gigabit-speed internet service in the air.

In addition, this rulemaking explores how we can use these airwaves for wireless backhaul, including terrestrial 5G deployments.  This is not easy, given that fiber remains the gold standard for maintaining the speed and latency requirements of 5G end-to-end.  But I look forward to the record that develops and the innovative ways we can use these airwaves both up in skies and down on the ground.