The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment Friday on a request by ContiTech USA for a waiver of rules for the 76-81 GHz bands for industrial applications. The bureau also created a new docket, 22-260. ContiTech’s conveyor radar was developed for use in automobiles for collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, the bureau said: “ContiTech seeks permission to use its radars to support mining, milling, and tunneling operations. … The radars would be placed above a conveyor belt to monitor weight changes, energy consumption, and provide safety information.” Comments are due Aug. 8, replies Sept. 6.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology asked for comments by Aug. 4, replies by Aug. 6, on an April waiver request by Schlage for an ultra-wideband device it hopes to sell for security use to be mounted on building entryways (see 2207050065). “Schlage describes how it intends to use an impulse radio UWB system to enable peer-to-peer communications between a UWB-enabled access door lock/reader installed on a residential entranceway and a UWB-enabled mobile phone,” said a notice in docket 22-248 listed in Wednesday’s Daily Digest. Although the system is “designed to use 2.4 GHz Bluetooth technology for the phone to discover the reader and engage in data exchange activities (which is not subject to the waiver), the reader will then operate as a UWB device to track the location and movement of the phone’s user and determine whether there is a proof of presence, and an intent to enter the secured area,” OET said.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to start drafting an order on key issues raised in a Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band, industry officials were told. Commissioners approved the FNPRM 5-0 in April 2020 (see 2004230059) and final comments have been in since July 2020 (see 2007280033).

The Open Technology Institute at New America encouraged the FCC to complete a Further NPRM on authorizing very-low power devices and higher power for indoor-only use in the 6 GHz band, in a call with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The group asked “about the status of the 6 GHz proceeding and reiterated the strong support of the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC) for rapidly making the benefits of the Commission’s historic April 2020 Report and Order fully available to consumers,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. OTI asked the FCC to conditionally approve automated frequency control systems for use in the band.

The House Appropriations Committee expects the FCC to "take further action to help eliminate the potential for future interagency spectrum disputes" beyond a coordination agreement between commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson (see 2202150001), the panel said in a report accompanying the Financial Services Subcommittee's FY 2023 bill. The underlying measure (see 2203280069), set for a Friday committee vote, would give the FCC $390 million, up 2.3% from what Congress appropriated in the FY 2022 omnibus appropriations package President Joe Biden signed in March (see 2203150076). The bill would give the FTC $490 million in FY23, up 30% from FY22. The markup begins at 9 a.m. in 1100 Longworth.

The Wi-Fi Alliance briefed FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff on upcoming documents needed for the use of standard power devices in the 6 GHz band, controlled by an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system. The documents are: AFC System to AFC Device/Interface Specification, v1.2.3; AFC System Under Test Compliance Test Plan, v1.1.5; and AFC Device Under Test Compliance Test Plan, v1.2, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. “In each case, the specifications remain in development,” the alliance said: The group “continues to work with 6 GHz stakeholders and industry experts to finalize these specifications following resolution of the remaining outstanding issues while taking into account comments received.” The alliance expressed hope that “even in their current preliminary form, these specifications will allow OET to initiate the AFC systems testing process, and thereby expedite introduction of robust and ubiquitous 6 GHz connectivity.”

The National Wireless Communications Council supported a December petition by APCO, the Utilities Technology Council and others asking the FCC to stop certifying low-power indoor devices in the 6 GHz band because of the alleged interference risk (see 2112080058). “Given that hundreds of millions of 6 GHz LPI devices are expected to be in use this year, and there will be no way to quickly shut down these devices if they do in fact cause harmful interference to these vital fixed communications links, it is necessary for the Commission to revisit the 6 GHz rules to ensure unlicensed 6 GHz devices will not cause harmful interference to licensed microwave systems,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295.

Two top litigators in the FCC Office of General Counsel think the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s December decision upholding the FCC’s 6 GHz order (see 2112280047) and a decision by the same court remanding the FCC’s 2019 RF rules to the agency for further work (see 2108130073) were the two most important recent court decisions affecting the FCC. The two spoke during an FCBA webinar Friday. A top administrative law expert said the Chevron doctrine is in doubt, but still not dead.

NAB urged the FCC to reserve 55 MHz of spectrum for licensed mobile operations, including electronic newsgathering (ENG), as part of the agency’s response to U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s remand of part of the FCC’s 6 GHz order. Wi-Fi advocates said the FCC should address the court’s concerns and move on to a further liberalization of the rules (see 2204080042). Replies were posted Thursday and Friday in docket 18-295. The court otherwise upheld the order, which opened the band for sharing with Wi-Fi (see 2112280047).

The FCC’s newly reconstituted Technology Advisory Council met for the second time Thursday, dedicated to exploring 6G, as directed by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She and TAC members said 5G is still in early stages, but it’s not too early to focus on the next generation of wireless. TAC heard updates from its working groups on the work they have done so far during a virtual meeting.