The Ultra Wide Band Alliance asked for a 30-day extension of the June 29 deadline for initial comments on the FCC Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules approved by commissioners 5-0 in April (see 2004230059). Granting the request “will permit the development of a more complete record in this proceeding, which will allow the Commission to have a better basis on which to consider how to proceed with proposing rules that will make critical mid-band spectrum available for terrestrial wireless use,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295.

COVID-19 is slowing development of 5G standards by all standard-setting groups, and the problem is getting worse, Technological Advisory Council members said at the group’s quarterly meeting Thursday, held virtually by the FCC. TAC heard from other working groups, in the early stages of preparing reports to the commission.

Adopt standards by the IEEE rather than the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety said in RF comments posted Monday in docket 19-226. The FCC proposed to adopt limits "similar to the ICNIRP 2010 guidelines at frequencies between 3 kHz and 10 MHz,” the committee said. “Such a proposal lacks clear and compelling scientific justification,” it said: “Unlike the ICNIRP guidelines, the IEEE standard provides correspondence between external exposure limits and internal dose limits, such that compliance can be conducted accurately with a straightforward environmental measurement. The Commission’s proposed approach, lacking this correspondence, may likely impose restrictions that could unnecessarily burden operators in this spectrum.” The committee also recommended a “more conservative curve for localized exposure limits” above 6 GHz. The comments respond to a December NPRM (see 1912040036).

Qualcomm launched a flagship portfolio of mobile connectivity systems Thursday designed to make use of fast connection speeds made possible by Wi-Fi 6 and audio advances in Bluetooth 5.2. The SoCs could be in the market by year-end or early 2021, Rahul Patel, senior vice president-connectivity and networking, told us. When the FCC opened the 5.9-7.1 GHz band in the U.S. for unlicensed wireless communication, “Wi-Fi became a big beneficiary,” Patel said, saying wireless speeds will now approach those of wired networks. That will enable low latency experiences not possible before for virtual reality head-mounted displays and 4K video streaming. The 1200 MHz of additional spectrum more than doubles the number of pathways available for sending and receiving data, Qualcomm said. Patel attributed VR’s slow start to the inability to connect to far distances with low latency: That’s being addressed with 5G on the phone side and Wi-Fi 6 in homes, "allowing you to experience the kind of low latency that makes these experiences worthwhile.” Reacting to the announcement, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly tweeted that "6 GHz innovation is going to be revolutionary." It's "great news for future of wireless connectivity!"

APCO petitioned for reconsideration Thursday of the FCC's 6 GHz order (see 2004230059), as expected (see 2005270044). The agency “failed its purpose of promoting public safety,” APCO said: “Interference to public safety communications is certain to arise from the approach to expanding unlicensed use of the band. Other than acknowledging that incumbent use includes public safety communications, the Order ignores public safety’s reliance on the 6 GHz band and fails to consider that interference will result in irreparable harm.” APCO asked to revise rules to require automated frequency control for all shared use, indoors and outdoors and “evaluate the impacts to public safety in the cost/benefit analysis.” The group asked for stay until the recon petition is addressed. “Public safety agencies extensively use the 6 GHz band for mission critical systems,” blogged Director-Government Relations Jeff Cohen.

Comments are due June 29, replies July 27 in response to the FCC's Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules approved by commissioners 5-0 in April (see 2004230059), says Thursday's Federal Register.

Petitions for reconsideration, and possibly a legal appeal, are expected to the FCC’s 6 GHz order. APCO appears the most likely to file a recon petition and maybe take the agency to court, industry officials said. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said during a Lincoln webinar he expects some to challenge.

An order FCC commissioners approved 5-0 in April (see 2004230059), allocating 1,200 MHz for sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use in 6 GHz, takes effect July 27, said Tuesday's Federal Register.

Ultra-high band spectrum remains a “wild, wonderful and challenging” world, said Ted Rappaport, director-NYU Wireless at New York University School of Engineering, during a National Science Foundation webinar Wednesday. The FCC tapped Rappaport to speak on the importance of spectrum above 95 GHz before a vote last year approving the spectrum horizons order (see 1903150054). Some are looking to spectrum as high as 700 GHz, he said. Commissioners will consider an NPRM on the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands at their June 9 meeting (see 2005190058).

Commissioners will act at their June 9 meeting on CTIA and Wireless Infrastructure Association proposals for more changes to wireless infrastructure rules designed to accelerate siting of towers and other 5G facilities, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday. The move was expected, as is a fight from local and state governments (see 2005110029). Pai will also ask commissioners to approve auction procedures for Phase I of the FCC's 10-year, $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and proposed an NPRM on the use of very high-band spectrum. ATSC 3.0 also is on the agenda (see 2005180066).