No Consensus Emerges as FCC Wraps Comment Cycle on 6 GHz
Disagreements continued as the FCC took replies on a Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band, approved 5-0 in April (see 2004230059). Wi-Fi proponents lined up against groups like NAB and APCO, concerned about protecting existing spectrum use (see 2006300042). Replies were due Monday in docket 18-295 on proposals to permit very low-power devices to operate across 6 GHz, increase the power at which low-power indoor (LPI) access points may operate and other changes. NAB and electric utilities went to court (see 2007270067).
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“The Commission should refrain from authorizing any further unlicensed operations in the 6 GHz band at this time,” said comments led by the Utilities Technology Council. “Empirical data and real-world experience” remains “insufficient” to support any of the changes proposed, the utilities said. The American Public Power Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Gas Association and American Water Works Association signed.
But Wi-Fi advocates were hoping for quick action. “The record supports adoption of the proposals in the Further Notice, which would allow Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies to expand broadband connectivity while protecting 6 GHz incumbent operations,” the Wi-Fi Alliance said. The alliance said the FCC addressed objections. “Some commenting parties … try to exploit the Further Notice to challenge the Commission’s prior decisions,” the group said: “Incumbent microwave licensees continue to assert that their operations will suffer harmful interference and demand that no further use of the 6 GHz band be permitted -- even actions that are no more impactful than those already authorized.”
“A wide array of commenters support the proposals in the FNPRM and recognize the importance of adopting these proposals quickly to promote connectivity and support next-generation technologies,” said Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm and other tech companies.
“No party advocating for higher power indoor operation or low power outdoor operation without automatic frequency coordination (AFC) has provided information or evidence remotely sufficient information to justify any changes,” NAB warned: “Wait for devices to actually be deployed in the market and for stakeholders to gain a better sense of whether the Commission's existing rules will actually work.”
AT&T said the FCC “inadvisably proposes significant expansions." And “undermining all of the proposals is the failure to examine their potential interference effects on a combined basis,” AT&T said: “Instead, each of the proposals is purportedly justified independently, and allegedly shown as not individually causing noise in excess of the harmful interference threshold of Fixed Service systems.”
Los Angeles said it makes extensive use of the 6 GHz band. “The Commission must recognize the risks generated by the FNPRM and be cautious,” the city said: “The record reveals genuine concerns expressed by incumbents in the band that there is insufficient engineering evidence, and that a workable system for resolving interference is not in place.” The American Trucking Associations said it supports objections based on the potential threat to adjacent vehicle-to-everything operations in the 5.9 GHz band.
“It remains premature to move forward with the proposals in this proceeding when incumbent licensees continue to have significant concerns -- that remain unaddressed by the FCC -- that opening the 6 GHz band to unlicensed operations will threaten the integrity of mission-critical,” the Edison Electric Institute said.
There's “clear support” for changes including authorizing LPI devices at a power spectral density of 8 dBm/MHz across the band, the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition said. “With the right set of rules the Commission can ensure the 6 GHz band is used to its fullest potential, creating both the world’s most robust 5G wireless ecosystem and helping to bridge the digital divide.” New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, the American Library Association, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, Next Century Cities, Tribal Digital Village Network and Common Cause were among signers.
Despite “widespread support for authorizing LPI operations “from a diverse group of stakeholders” and the other proposed changes, opponents of the April order continue to object, NCTA said. The concerns raised “are substantiated only by technical studies that the Commission considered and found to be unreliable prior to adopting the 6 GHz Order or that suffer from the same flaws,” NCTA said: “Deferring the adoption of the well-vetted 8 dBm/MHz LPI power limit … would unacceptably delay consumer access to the full benefits of 6 GHz-capable Wi-Fi 6” and “other advanced high-speed, data-intensive applications that depend on next-generation Wi-Fi, and cost effective coverage and throughput.”