With CES next week, CTA urged the FCC Thursday to open the 6 GHz band for sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed devices. Amid moving to 5G, "demand for connected devices, higher-speed applications, and more data-intensive services" continues growing, CTA said in docket 18-295. “Consumers increasingly rely on devices that run on unlicensed spectrum.” Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to circulate a 6 GHz item, most likely for the March commissioners’ meeting (see 1912310039).

The Wi-Fi Alliance assured members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band won’t pose a threat to power companies. Last month, all three FERC commissioners wrote the FCC to express concerns (see 1912190082). “Wi-Fi Alliance recognizes the need for and supports rigorous protection of electric utilities and other critical incumbent operations in the 6 GHz band,” said a filing, posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. “To the contrary, there is no question that unlicensed devices operating in the 6 GHz band must protect existing operations. That is why Wi-Fi Alliance supports mandatory testing and certification of all [automated frequency coordination] systems prior to implementation in the 6 GHz frequency band.” The alliance proposed “a comprehensive set of regulatory parameters for AFC systems and recommended that AFC systems must demonstrate their ability to fully protect licensed incumbent fixed service links such as those used by electric utilities,” the group said: “One of the components of AFC certification will certainly be testing and evaluation -- processes the FCC has recently undertaken with respect to similar geo-location database-driven spectrum access solutions in the 3.5 GHz band.” Wi-Fi advocates see the 6 GHz band as critical to meeting growing demand for unlicensed spectrum (see 1906250015).

CES will give FCC Chairman Ajit Pai an opening to further lay out plans for commission action on the C band, industry officials said. It's the first CES since the broader launch of 5G in the U.S., and numerous federal policymakers are expected to speak. Most policymakers stayed home for the 2019 show because of the prolonged federal shutdown. Industry officials said 2020 is shaping up to be a big year for spectrum and 5G, and for Wi-Fi and unlicensed. Pai is expected to circulate a 6 GHz item, the key Wi-Fi band, most likely for the March meeting.

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition filed at the FCC a response to a question in a recent meeting with Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp and OET staff on FWCC concerns about uncontrolled radio LAN devices in the 6 GHz band. “During the meeting, a question arose regarding how the FWCC reached its determination that ‘every 10 dB of RLAN incursion into fade margin increases [fixed service] outage times tenfold,’” FWCC said in an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. It filed a response with technical data by telecom consultant George Kizer, also president of the National Spectrum Management Association.

CTIA and carriers are pushing the FCC to move some 6 GHz incumbents to spectrum above 7.125 GHz, but it’s unclear that approach will work. NTIA has been scoping the 7125-8400 MHz band since the summer (see 1908010065). NTIA officials now say they think federal agencies, particularly DOD, are active in the band and their systems would be difficult to relocate, said industry officials active in the proceeding. Some uses of the band are classified.

The NFL "uses [ultra-wideband] technology for a variety of services, including player safety and health, fan engagement, and broadcast enhancements,” said in a filing posted Friday on a meeting with Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and aides to the other commissioners on ultra-wideband in 6 GHz. NFL partner Zebra Technologies earlier filed (see 1912180063), in docket 18-295. The NFL considered "alternative technologies to meet their needs and that the level of accuracy and speed provided by UWB was unmatched." The league "urged the Commission to give close consideration to engineering solutions that can enable the Commission to expand spectrum for Wi-Fi services while also protecting current users.”

The FCC faces pushback from yet another federal agency on spectrum. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is concerned about an FCC proposal for sharing the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed. Industry officials said the commission is unlikely to change course. Wi-Fi advocates see the 6 GHz band as critical to meeting growing demand for unlicensed spectrum (see 1906250015), and the FCC is expected to take up a 6 GHz item early in the new year. The latest is that the Office of Engineering and Technology is reviewing the item and a vote is unlikely before the March meeting.

Zebra Technologies presented about its ultra-wideband technology that uses the 6 GHz band, in meetings with FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and aides to the other commissioners. The company discussed "the impact of the proposals outlined in the NPRM on the Dart technology and its uses, and suggested coexistence solutions that would continue to allow for unlicensed UWB technologies to successfully coexist with incumbent users and expand unlicensed Wi-Fi uses,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295.

Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, urged the FCC Wednesday to ensure automated frequency control is "proven effective before it is relied upon" for measuring and preventing interference as part of a proposal to share the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users. Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr are hopeful a 6 GHz proposal will come in Q1 (see 1912130012). The FCC should "condition any" 6 GHz sharing rulemaking "on a finding of no harmful interference" with incumbents "and specific requirements that will prevent harmful interference," Schatz said in a letter to Chairman Ajit Pai. "It would not be appropriate to consider relocation" of incumbents to 7 GHz because that "would be costly, difficult, and impractical." It's "unclear that there is sufficient additional room" on the 7 GHz band to accommodate 6 GHz incumbents given heavy use by federal users, Schatz said. The FCC is "reviewing" the letter, a spokesperson said. Others also acknowledge 6 GHz issues (see 1912180040) and have concerns (see 1912180063).

The Wireless Innovation Forum's new 6 GHz Band Multi-Stakeholder Committee said controversies remain, as does work to be done. Getting protections right is important, Wednesday's report said. “A number of licensed users occupy this spectrum, prominent occupants being users of fixed point-to-point links,” it said. “A large fraction of these links serves critical functions that must maintain a high level of availability.” The group filed in FCC docket 18-295 and discussed the report with retiring Chief Julius Knapp and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology. "WinnForum's 6 GHz Committee has accomplished the most important task for any co-existence analysis: Identify suitable protection criteria and propagation models used to predict compatibility," said Andrew Clegg of Google, WinnForum chief technical officer: "It's important that these considerations get buy-in from all stakeholders." Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii (see 1912180064) raised concerns, while Zebra also lobbied the FCC (see 1912180063).