May 2023 | Technical Report TR-23-567
An Analysis of Aggregate CBRS SAS Data from April 2021 to January 2023
Cite This Publication
Douglas Boulware, Anthony Romaniello, Rebecca L. Dorch, and Michael G. Cotton, “An Analysis of Aggregate CBRS SAS Data from April 2021 to January 2023,” Technical Report TR-23-567, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, May 2023.
Douglas Boulware, Anthony Romaniello 
, 
, Rebecca L. Dorch, and Michael G. Cotton 
Abstract: This report presents an analysis of aggregate Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Spectrum Access System (SAS) data reported quarterly from April 1, 2021, to January 1, 2023. The data provide valuable insights into the growth of CBRS, the impact of dynamic spectrum sharing, the role of General Authorized Access (GAA) spectrum usage, and CBRS’s role in rural wireless connectivity. CBRS deployments grew at a steady rate with a mean quarterly increase of 12.0% and a total increase of 121% over the 21-month analysis period. On January 1, 2023, there were 128,351 active CBSDs (i.e., 45% of the total number of CBSDs) in Dynamic Protection Area (DPA)–impacted counties. The number of CBSDs with Priority Access License (PAL) grants grew consistently with a mean increase of 17% per quarter, but GAA CBSDs dominated deployments. On January 1, 2023, four out of five active CBSDs were GAA-only, 85% of the active grants were GAA, and 66.7% of the 56,529 CBSDs with a PAL also had at least one active GAA grant. Finally, on January 1, 2023, more than 70% of all active CBSDs were deployed in rural census blocks.
Keywords: spectrum utilization; spectrum management; spectrum sharing; Spectrum Access System (SAS); Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSD); Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS); 5G; rural connectivity; 3550–3700 MHz
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For technical information concerning this report, contact:
Douglas Boulware
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
(720) 552-7610
dboulware@ntia.gov
Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.
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