FCC Approves Google, Sony Plans to Oversee Airwaves Sharing

The Federal Communications Commission has moved closer to certifying companies that want to coordinate spectrum use between the U.S. military and private sector on airwaves seen as important for 5G wireless development.

The FCC Sept. 16 approved proposals by Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Sony Inc., and three other companies to start deploying spectrum-sharing operations on the 3.5 GHz band, also known as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The other companies are Amdocs Inc., CommScope, and Federated Wireless Inc.

U.S. Defense Department radars currently use the spectrum. But companies such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. see the airwaves as ideal ...