NTIA likes CBRS, plays up rural angle in recent report

NTIA’s latest report on citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) showcases its evolution as a key enabler of broadband access and spectrum efficiency . The analysis, spanning April 2021 to July 2024, underscores significant milestones and trends that impact both federal stakeholders and public interests:

1. CBRS Expansion: Active devices (CBSDs) surged 208%, from 129,782 to 400,403. Rural deployments doubled, making up 67.5% of installations, boosting connectivity in underserved areas.
2. Dynamic Spectrum Use: CBRS’s spectrum-sharing framework proved effective, with dynamic protection areas supporting 280% growth in impacted counties. Such mechanisms avoided spectrum exclusion zones, enabling balanced coexistence with incumbents.
3. Technology Mix: 5G NR technology adoption grew to 11.9% of active devices, reflecting the platform’s role in advancing next-gen wireless services.
4. Access Tier Dominance: General Authorized Access (GAA) devices dominated, representing 71.4% of all active deployments, highlighting affordable spectrum access for smaller operators.

CBRS also played a role in bridging the digital divide, with mean channel utilization rising from 5.4 to 10.2 channels per county. Notably, urban and rural deployments both increased but rural areas experienced greater proportional growth.