AT&T supports concerns raised by Southern Co., CTIA and others (see 2011170040) on the potential for harmful interference from uncontrolled very-low-power devices fixed service microwave systems in the 6 GHz band, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai indicated Wednesday he won't seek a Dec. 10 vote (see 2011180065).

5G security is the major focus of the FCC’s Dec. 10 meeting, Ajit Pai said Wednesday. The chairman released a skinny agenda by recent standards and won't further liberalize rules for Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band, which had looked more in doubt in recent days (see 2011130045). Like the 5.9 GHz order, 6 GHz has been controversial and faced opposition from incumbents unhappy with the April order opening the band. December will also feature an order on ATSC 3.0 datacasting.

The FCC on Wednesday approved 5-0 opening 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi, while allocating 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything, as expected (see 2011170058). Commissioners overruled the Department of Transportation, which asked that the band be preserved for safety applications. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said the order was tweaked to speed use of the spectrum for C-V2X, and he would have preferred to see more changes. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks voted to concur. Wi-Fi advocates said the FCC appeared to approve a change they sought that will make it easier to convert routers to use the spectrum.

Southern Co. asked the FCC not to act now on revised 6 GHz rules, while others sought changes proposed in an April Further NPRM, in filings posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to make clear Wednesday whether there will be a vote at the Dec. 10 commissioners' meeting (see 2011130045). “Take additional time to fully evaluate and consider” concerns that have been raised “before adopting any further rules on unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band,” Southern said in calls with aides to Pai and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The Open Technology Institute at New America told acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology that the FCC should act. “We urged the Commission to act on Verizon’s Petition for Reconsideration requesting higher power for unlicensed standard-power 6 GHz access points already subject to [automated frequency coordination] control,” Verizon said of a call with OET.

Despite opposition from the Department of Transportation, ITS America and others, FCC members are expected to approve an order Wednesday that reallocates the 5.9 GHz band for sharing with Wi-Fi and vehicle-to-everything technologies. A few tweaks are expected. It's unclear how the FCC will address 5G Automotive Association and automaker complaints that they face delays deploying cellular V2X because of a transition of “indeterminate length” in the draft rules. Commissioners were waiting for a revised draft with final changes Tuesday.

5G security is the major focus of the FCC’s Dec. 10 meeting, Chairman Ajit Pai blogged. Pai didn’t propose an expected order further liberalizing rules for Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band, which had looked more in doubt in recent days (see our report here).

A field test by CTIA and Southern Co. found interference is an issue for unlicensed low-power indoor and very-low-power outdoor use of the 6 GHz band, CTIA said in an FCC filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. The test focused on a 6 GHz link between Fortson and Columbus, Georgia. Because commercial devices aren’t available, “the testing emulated unlicensed devices by using a vector signal generator, with programmable power levels, modulation, channel size, and duty cycle to replicate the expected radio transmissions of an unlicensed 6 GHz device,” CTIA said: The tests found a device can “reduce the microwave link fade margin by a considerable amount, by 3 to 4 dB in indoor tests, and 5 to 11 dB outdoors.” Commissioners could take up a further 6 GHz order in December (see 2011130045).

Don’t adopt the exclusion zones proposed by NTIA in the 5.9 GHz band (see 2010260024) but instead seek comments in a Further NPRM, the Wireless ISP Association said in calls with FCC commissioner aides. “In addition to seeking comment on NTIA’s recommendation, the Commission also should seek comment on alternative means to protect federal radiolocation facilities from harmful interference, such as automated frequency coordination that has been approved for the adjacent 6 GHz band,” WISPA said, posted Friday in docket 19-138. WISPA indicated in filings that it met with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks.

An order allowing very-low-power (VLP) devices to use the 6 GHz band appears to be in doubt for the Dec. 10 FCC meeting. More will be known soon. Chairman Ajit Pai is to offer his blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with draft items to circulate Thursday. Wi-Fi advocates reported numerous calls, particularly with Office of Engineering and Technology staff, in recent days to discuss the rule changes, teed up in an April Further NPRM (see 2004230059). Incumbents hope for a delay.

Facebook representatives spoke with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on revised 6 GHz rules, widely expected to get a commissioner vote Dec. 10 (see 2010190040). The company wants to allow very-low-power devices to operate across the band at power levels of at least 14 dBm, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. “VLP devices are poised to offer exciting applications and yet-to-be-imagined advancements in such areas as healthcare, augmented reality/virtual reality, automotive, and fitness,” Facebook said. “Anything lower would result in dropped connections, high latency, and battery drain.”