The Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) remains concerned about harmful interference in the 6 GHz band and asked the FCC to take steps asked for by APCO and others (see 2304030032) to protect band incumbents, said a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. “In MCCA member cities,” the band “supports radio towers, emergency communications centers, and cross-jurisdictional communications,” MCCA said: “Given the importance of these functions, the FCC must ensure that the operations of public safety entities and other incumbent users of the 6 GHz band are adequately protected from potential interference stemming from unlicensed use of the spectrum.”

Encina Communications updated the FCC on the company’s proposal to use Part 101 frequency coordination procedures as an alternative to automated frequency coordination (AFC) in the 6 GHz band (see 2208150040), in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. Last July the FCC issued an experimental license to Encina to operate an outdoor unlicensed standard power access point network in the 6 GHz band, requiring coordination with band incumbents, the filing said. “In contrast to the lack of consensus and the timing uncertainty surrounding the development of an AFC system, there is unanimous agreement by fixed services operators that Rule 101.103(d), which was first adopted by the FCC in and is grounded it decades of practical experience, can successfully be used to accomplish prior coordination,” Encina said: Because the rule “requires that each and every network operating in a licensed band must be coordinated prior to operation, the experimental licensed network has shown that Rule 101.103(d) can be used to coordinate unlicensed networks in any and all locations nationwide.”

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition said issues raised by APCO last year on alleged interference to Miami-Dade County’s operations in the 6 GHz band (see 2211220044) demonstrate the need for additional protection for band incumbents. “The Miami-Dade interference illustrates the ineffectiveness of existing interference detection and remediation options for licensees,” the coalition said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. Interference first impacted the licensee in November 2020 and continues, the coalition said: “It took the licensee and its vendor nearly a year at significant expense to pinpoint the interference. Once identified, it took a further nine months for the Commission to formally warn one of the offending operators.” FWCC said two other operators apparently still haven't received formal warning letters.

Apple, Google and Meta told FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff the results of recent field tests of the potential interference from 6 GHz very-low-power (VLP) transmitters on a fixed-service receiver. The companies are among those that want the FCC to authorize additional VLP operations in the band, as proposed in a 2020 Further NPRM (see 2211230034). “Using a drone to create an impracticable scenario, the FS receiver was only affected when the VLP device was very close to the FS beam centerline,” the companies said, posted Wednesday in docket 19-295. Tests were performed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego.

Expect significant consumer confusion about the two emerging Wi-Fi 7 variants -- one with 6 GHz compatibility, one without, ABI Research said Tuesday. It said some ISPs plan to deploy Wi-Fi 7 equipment that supports the legacy 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz spectrums only because large numbers of 6 GHz-enabled devices won't be available to consumers until later in the decade. It said the emergence of the Wi-Fi 7 standard and new Wi-Fi consumer premises equipment product types should drive big growth in CPE equipment shipments in coming years -- from 266.9 million in 2022 to 397.4 million by 2028.

Electric utility representatives met virtually with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology about a recent Pacific Gas & Electric study on the interference threat from unlicensed operations in the 6 GHz band (see 2304260037). “Protecting existing 6 GHz networks remains a vital issue for electric companies because 6 GHz communications networks are particularly necessary for the safety of electric company personnel and to maintain the backbone of electric companies’ operations not only day-to-day, but also during emergencies and disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. Among those on the call were representatives of the Edison Electric Institute, the Utilities Technology Council and PG&E.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is looking at unlicensed spectrum within higher bands, including 6 GHz, the group told the FCC. “We have started this effort with the intention of utilizing a low-power, narrowband frequency hopper (with channel bandwidths [less than] 20 MHz) that can use these bands effectively as possible while coexisting with other technologies using this spectrum,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. The SIG raised concerns about the FCC’s longstanding NPRM on very-low power (VLP) operations in 6 GHz. “Wideband regulations, as proposed in the current NPRM aren’t appropriate for Bluetooth (and other narrowband/low-power wireless) operations,” the group said. The Bluetooth proponents urged the FCC to complete work on the current NPRM then issue a second NPRM on rules for narrowband/VLP operations in the band.

The 6 GHz networks that critical infrastructure operations have relied on for years will now start facing interference from unlicensed use in the band, said Viasat Global Enterprise and Mobility Chief Commercial Officer Brendan Sullivan in a Utilities Technology Council webinar Tuesday. "This has been a good frequency for people to use" for point-to-point microwave links, but even relatively low-powered unlicensed use can create substantial interference, he said. UTC was among utility groups that unsuccessfully challenged the FCC's 6 GHz order before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2007270067).

Wi-Fi Alliance President Kevin Robinson urged the FCC to act on the 6 GHz and other proceedings on unlicensed spectrum, in a meeting with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. In 6 GHz, the FCC should “promptly resolve the remand from the Court of Appeals and adopt its proposals in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,” the alliance said, posted Friday in docket 18-295. The commission should authorize automated frequency coordination systems “once test plans and test factors are finalized,” the alliance said: It's also important for the FCC to “advocate in international fora, including the World Radiocommunication Conference, for the ability of individual administrations to designate the use of the 6425-7125 GHz band consistent with their national priorities.”

Lobbying continued up to the sunshine notice period on the FCC’s proposed draft on the lower and upper 12 GHz bands, set for an FCC commissioner vote Thursday (see 2304270077). Representatives of Intelsat, SES Americom and New Skies Satellites met with staff for all four commissioners seeking revisions. The satellite operators asked for language in the NPRM “to more accurately reflect current and immediately deployable potential future satellite use of the 12.7-13.25 GHz band.” They warned “continued erosion of access to spectrum for satellite services -- particularly when demand is increasing rapidly -- will impede the United States competitiveness in the global space economy,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-443. CTIA representatives met with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, also on the upper part of the band. CTIA supports “proposals to allocate flexible, exclusive-use licenses in the 13 GHz band, and enable providers to transmit at high power levels, which would be key to unlocking the benefits of the … band,” the group said. Doing so is important to a spectrum pipeline, CTIA said. CTIA also expressed support for requiring broadcast auxiliary service licensees “to certify the accuracy of their licenses and confirm whether their facilities are operating as authorized, and suggested extending this requirement to Cable Television Relay Service licensees in order to further efforts to free up the band for more efficient and intensive use.” Go Long Wireless President Tim Meyer spoke with aides to the four commissioners about “the promise of fixed wireless in the 12.2-.12.7 GHz Band.” Go Long “has been working for some time on deployment options, including the development of proprietary, two-way radio equipment” and “appreciates and looks forward to the opportunity to comment on the issues posed in the Further Notice portion,” the company said. The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance asked for tweaks, including “crisper” language on unlicensed use of the spectrum “to make it consistent” with the commission’s 2020 6 GHz order.