FCC Part 96

FCC Guidance, Notices, Orders, and Interpretive Materials for Citizens Broadband Radio Service

This chapter serves as the curated repository of key post-codification FCC documents that provide essential guidance, clarifications, and updates to the implementation of 47 CFR Part 96 – Citizens Broadband Radio Service. While the core regulatory text resides in the dedicated chapter “47 CFR Part 96,” this chapter collects the most significant FCC-issued Orders, Public Notices, Knowledge Database (KDB) entries, declaratory rulings, and other interpretive materials that directly affect CBRS operations, compliance, and spectrum management as of January 2026.

These documents are extracted from the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) releases, and related dockets. They are presented here for reference and ease of access, organized chronologically or thematically (e.g., by topic: protection zone reductions, transmit expiry extensions, equipment authorization, and CBRS 2.0 enhancements).

Key categories and representative documents typically included in this chapter:

• Equipment Authorization and Technical Guidance

  • KDB 940660 (latest revision, e.g., v03 or newer): Procedures for Part 96 CBRS device certification, out-of-band emission (OOBE) limits, measurement methods, and conditional certification requirements.

• Dynamic Protection Area (DPA) and Incumbent Protection Updates

  • DA-24-553 (2024): Adoption of new aggregate interference model for DPA neighborhood reductions, enabling significantly smaller protection zones and expanded usable coverage.
  • Related Public Notices on inland and offshore DPA activation/deactivation and coordination procedures.

• Transmit Expiry and Operational Flexibility

  • DA-23-867 (2023): Extension of CBSD transmit expiry timers and related operational clarifications to improve network reliability in intermittent environments.

• Priority Access License (PAL) and GAA Operations

  • Public Notices on annual FSS earth station registration and protection obligations (e.g., December 2025 reminder).
  • Declaratory rulings or Orders addressing PAL leasing, channel assignment, and coexistence in shared spectrum.

• CBRS 2.0 / Release 1+ Implementation Guidance

  • FCC statements and associated OET filings supporting WINNF/OnGo Release 1+ enhancements, including collaborative GAA interference mitigation, indoor/low-height CBSD propagation models, and reduced DPA interruptions.

Important Note
All content in this chapter is provided for informational and reference purposes only. Readers are strongly encouraged to consult the official versions directly on the FCC website (www.fcc.gov), ECFS docket search, or the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) for the most current text, amendments, and official status. The FCC’s interpretations and requirements are binding only as published in the Federal Register or through formal Orders. This curated collection does not constitute legal advice or replace direct review of primary sources.

This chapter is maintained to help practitioners, operators, and system integrators quickly access the evolving FCC guidance that shapes real-world CBRS deployment, certification, and spectrum sharing practices. New entries are added as significant FCC releases become available.