Southern Co. raised concerns about the use of unlicensed very-low-power devices in the 6 GHz band, teed up for an FCC commissioner vote Thursday (see 2310160050), meeting with an aide to Commissioner Anna Gomez. “We discussed how Southern and other utilities use privately-owned and operated communications systems to ensure the efficient, safe, and reliable delivery of essential electric utility services to the public,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. The draft item makes clear the FCC “intends to rely primarily, if not exclusively, on computer models and simulations as the basis for its spectrum management decisions in this and in future proceedings,” the utility said: “Southern agrees that simulations can be effective analytical tools, provided they are transparent, are based on complete and accurate data, and provide consistent and reproducible results.”

Extreme Networks said its petition for a waiver of FCC rules for low-power indoor (LPI) devices for 6 GHz access points (APs), to be installed exclusively in indoor-only sports venues, has broad support in the industry. Other reply comments in docket 23-282 (see 2309180036) said the waiver should be rejected. The FCC will consider an order and Further NPRM Thursday on changes to 6 GHz rules (see 2310160050). “A broad array of stakeholders, representing a substantial majority of all commenters, expressed support for Extreme Networks’ request for a narrow waiver,” the company said. Approving the waiver “will not increase the risk of harmful interference to incumbent operations and will advance the goals” of the FCC’s 6 GHz order by “expanding Wi-Fi connectivity and reliable Wi-Fi-coverage in indoor arenas, which are among the most challenging broadband environments in the country,” Extreme said. AT&T said its concerns remain. Extreme seeks “an expansive waiver” of form-factor LPI devices. AT&T said. The rules were adopted as part of the 6 GHz order “to ensure that LPI devices can't be taken outdoors because the Commission’s interference analysis assumes -- and the protection of primary [fixed service] incumbents thus depends -- on emissions from LPI devices being attenuated by a substantial amount of building entry loss,” the carrier said: “AT&T’s concern -- echoed by other commenters -- is that by circumventing this protection, weatherproofed LPI APs might be operated outdoors.” Other 6 GHz incumbents also opposed the waiver. “The record fails to demonstrate that waiver relief is needed to serve the public interest, but rather is desired to reduce costs to the venues and to leapfrog the FCC’s process for approving standard power APs,” the incumbents said. The waiver would “dramatically increase the number of LPI APs, devices that operate outside the Automated Frequency Coordination process, even before the FCC has addressed multiple Incumbent field studies that have reported interference from LPI APs, and these weatherized devices could end up in the hands of consumers,” they said. The filing was signed by the Utilities Technology Council, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, APCO and the Enterprise Wireless Alliance. “Because the Extreme Waiver Request fails to meet any of the Commission’s standards for granting a waiver, the request must be denied,” the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition said: “Extreme’s request is a petition for rulemaking masquerading as a waiver request.”

With a vote scheduled for Thursday, FCC commissioners are expected to approve, largely as proposed, a draft order and Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band, though a few tweaks are possible. The Department of Transportation raised concerns last week about the out-of-band emission limits allowed by the FCC for very-low power (VLP) portable devices and mobile access points (see 2310110060). An FNPRM examines increasing the power at which low-power indoor (LPI) access points may operate.

With FCC commissioners set to vote Oct. 19, the Department of Transportation questioned whether the -27 dBm/MHz out-of-band emission limit allowed by the FCC for very-low power portable devices and mobile access points in the 6 GHz band will be harmful to cellular vehicle-to-everything operations in the adjacent 5.9 GHz band. The FCC’s draft order addresses the C-V2X concerns raised by DOT.

Comsearch became the latest to file a report at the FCC on lab tests of its 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system, posted Tuesday in docket 21-352. In August, the Office of Engineering and Technology launched a process for testing AFC systems (see 2308250061) and in 2022 provisionally approved 13 companies to be AFC operators (see 2211030066). “We note the report shows that the Comsearch … system passed all tests,” Comsearch said.

Tech companies said they met with staff for all FCC commissioners, except Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, to support the 6 GHz order teed up for a vote at the Oct. 19 meeting (see 2309280071). The proposed rule change “will enable American companies to build mobile devices that take advantage of the high speeds and low latencies made possible by 6 GHz unlicensed connectivity,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. Participating in the meetings were Apple, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Google and Qualcomm. The order permits use of very-low-power 6 GHz devices anywhere without location awareness or automated frequency control. Edison Electric Institute representatives, meanwhile, met with staff for all the commissioners, except Anna Gomez, on utilities’ general concern that “the proliferation of unlicensed devices will render the 6 GHz band unusable for its members.” EEI stressed its support for automated frequency coordination. “Electric companies do not compete with providers of unlicensed devices,” EEI said: “Electric companies operate 6 GHz communications networks to provide for the safety of electric company personnel and to maintain the backbone of electric companies’ operations during emergencies and disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.”

Federated Wireless filed a report at the FCC on lab tests of its 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system, a step toward full operation. In August, the Office of Engineering and Technology launched a process for testing AFC systems (see 2308250061) and last year provisionally approved 13 companies to be AFC operators (see 2211030066). The report “demonstrates that the Federated Wireless 6 GHz AFC system has successfully passed the lab test,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 21-352. The Wi-Fi Alliance also reported a successful test of its system.

Qualcomm, one of the first companies to open a portal for public tests of its 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system (see 2308300018), filed at the FCC a report on lab tests of its system. “The Report describes each test performed using WinnForum’s Test Harness,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-352.

The Wireless Broadband Alliance notified the FCC it’s opening a portal for public tests of its 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system (see 2308300018). The portal will be available Tuesday through Nov. 24, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-352.

A new paper by the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) urges regulators worldwide to take advantage of dynamic spectrum management systems (DSMS), like one being deployed in the U.S. in the 6 GHz band, and makes recommendations for faster adoption of sharing. “Regulators in a number of countries have authorized automated and even dynamic frequency coordination databases to manage assignments in shared bands,” the paper argues: “These dynamic spectrum management systems have proven they can protect incumbent operations, including military and public safety systems, from harmful interference.” Regulators should “work towards a dynamic shared access approach in any underutilized band (e.g., 6 GHz, 3.8-4.2 GHz) where coordinated sharing is appropriate and practical to implement,” DSA recommends. They should adopt clear rules “but not prescribe particular technologies or standards for DSMS,” the paper advises. Using a representative multistakeholder process “to develop and assist in implementing the DSMS can help to conserve agency resources and leverage industry expertise,” it said. Regulators should consider the adoption of best practices from industry or used elsewhere “particularly when that can speed time to market and promote harmonization regionally or globally,” the report says. Regulators should also “consider the benefits of certifying a private sector entity to manage the DSMS -- or, if demand justifies it, multiple and competing DSMS providers -- but always in strict adherence to agency rules.” Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, wrote the report.