WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) a non-profit international industry association dedicated to driving the future of radio communications and systems worldwide, today announced that Nokia has been approved as the first Certified Professional Installer (CPI) Training Program Administrator for the new Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band. CPIs are required by the FCC and are responsible for assuring that the registration data entered into the Spectrum Access System (SAS) for certain types of CBRS devices is accurate and the device valid to be registered and request a spectrum grant to operate.
“We are very pleased to be selected by WInnForum as the first accredited CPI Training Program Administrator. This achievement is yet another testament of our contribution to commercialization of CBRS – an innovative way to use spectrum efficiently,” said Chris Stark, Nokia Head of Strategy and Business Development for North America.
The CBRS band provides for sophisticated multi-tier spectrum sharing with protected incumbents. To provide this protection, all Category B devices and certain Category A devices must be installed by a CPI to lawfully operate. To meet the FCC Part 96 rules, CPIs must be trained and certified. The WInnForum’s CPI Accreditation Standard (WINNF-TS-0247-V1.0.0) provides a working outline of how certification for CPIs will be achieved, including Training Programmer Administrator responsibilities, CPI responsibilities, and CPI database information.
“The members of the Wireless Innovation Forum are excited to have Nokia join the growing list of organizations that have been designated 'WInnForum CBRS Approved,'" said Lee Pucker, CEO of the Wireless Innovation Forum. “Through these accreditations, the Forum is developing a rich ecosystem of companies supporting the Initial Commercial Deployment (ICD) anticipated for early next year."
A complete description of CPI requirements can be found in the CBRS Operational and Functional Requirements document (WINNF-TS-0112-V1.6.0). Approved CPI Training Program Administrators develop the CPI Training Program to meet these requirements, administer the curriculum and certification test, and maintain certification records. CPI Training Program Administrators can be found here: https://cbrs.wirelessinnovation.org/cpi-program-administrator. More CPI approvals are underway and will be announced and available on the CPI web site shortly.
Operating as a multi-stakeholder group as defined by the FCC in the Report and Orders and Part 96 to create the technical rules and industry standardized interfaces for the band, WInnForum has created a number of CBRS reports and specifications which are available at https://cbrs.wirelessinnovation.org. In addition to certifying the CPI Training Program Administrators, the WInnForum also has a program for the approval for of CBRS PKI Root Certificate of Authority Operators (http://www.cbrs.wirelessinnovation.org/cbrs-root-ca-operator).
The spectrum sharing community benefits from participation of a broad-based stakeholder group that includes wireless carriers and operators, network equipment manufacturers, SAS and ESC Administrators, satellite operators, existing 3650-3700 MHz band licensees, and other parties with an interest in the CBRS band. A complete listing of the reports, recommendations and specifications produced by WInnForum members can be found here: https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/reports-recommendations-and-specifications.
Supported by platinum sponsors Indra, Motorola Solutions, and Thales, WInnForum has several working groups focusing on projects related to SCA and Spectrum Innovation. Visit http://www.WirelessInnovation.org to learn more. Individuals or organizations wishing to participate in WInnForum Working Groups should contact Lee Pucker at Lee.Pucker@WirelessInnovation.org.
About the Wireless Innovation Forum
Established in 1996, The Wireless Innovation Forum (SDR Forum Version 2.0) is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation dedicated to advocating for spectrum innovation, and advancing radio technologies that support essential or critical communications worldwide. Members bring a broad base of experience in Software Defined Radio (SDR), Cognitive Radio (CR) and Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technologies in diverse markets and at all levels of the wireless value chain to address emerging wireless communications requirements. To learn more about The Wireless Innovation Forum, its meetings and membership benefits, visit www.WirelessInnovation.org.
