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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a public consultation to request comments on their proposal to allocate additional portions of the spectrum for unlicensed use in the 5925 – 7125 MHz band.
Background:
Unlicensed operations relying on Wi-Fi and other technical standards have become highly popular among consumers seeking to connect wirelessly to the Internet using countless devices—and have become a critical component of the mobile wireless ecosystem. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to allow unlicensed use in the 5.925-7.125 GHz (6 GHz) band while ensuring that the licensed services operating in the spectrum continue to thrive. Expanding use of this spectrum will advance the Commission’s efforts to make broadband connectivity available to all Americans, especially those in rural and underserved areas.
What the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Would Do:
– Propose to allow unlicensed devices to operate under the Commission’s Part 15 rules only in locations and frequencies where they would not cause harmful interference to the licensed services in the band.
– Propose rules for two types of unlicensed devices tailored to protect incumbent services that operate in distinct parts of the 6 GHz band:
– In the 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.525-6.875 GHz sub-bands, unlicensed devices would only be
allowed to transmit under the control of an automated frequency control (AFC) system.
* These frequencies are heavily used by point-to-point microwave links and some fixed satellite systems. The AFC system would identify frequencies on which unlicensed devices could operate without causing harmful interference to fixed point-to-point microwave receivers.
– In the 6.425-6.525 GHz and 6.875-7.125 GHz sub-bands, unlicensed devices would be restricted to indoor use and would operate at lower power without an AFC system.
* These frequencies are used for mobile services, such as the Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Cable Television Relay Service, as well as fixed and fixed satellite services. The itinerant nature of the mobile services makes the use of an AFC system impractical.
* The combination of lower power and indoor operations would protect licensed services operating on these frequencies from harmful interference.
For more information please read: FACT SHEET Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band