Two issues expected to be contentious at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference involve potential spectrum sharing in the 6 GHz and the UHF bands, speakers said Thursday at a European spectrum management conference. Agenda item (AI) 1.2 calls for identifying several bands, among them the 6425-7025 MHz band in Region 1, and the 7025-7125 MHz band globally, for mobile services. AI 1.5 considers potential sharing between users such as broadcasting services and mobile applications in the UHF 470-960 MHz band. Other keenly watched discussions include satellite and transport communications issues, they said. Agenda items are here.

The FCC remains concerned about receiver standards, Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale said at the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference Wednesday. Stockdale suggested the FCC do more to address the issue. Speakers on a second panel said Europe may not follow the U.S. in allocating the entire 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use, which the FCC did in April (see 2004230059).

Dedicating the lower 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band to Wi-Fi would be the “best course” for the spectrum, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told a Broadband India Forum webinar Friday, per prepared remarks. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly predicts summer action (see 2004300032). In response to the pandemic, the FCC approved special temporary authority for more than 150 broadband providers to use the band, Pai said: They report “it has enabled faster speeds, increased coverage, and expanded network bandwidth. Collectively, they show the promise of the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use.” Pai highlighted the 6 GHz Further NPRM, which looks at use of very-low-power devices (see 2004230059): “We don’t really know what this would lead to. And that’s kind of the point with unlicensed innovation.”

ARRL asked the FCC to exercise caution in adopting new RF rules. The FCC logged more than 120 comments in docket 19-226 in the last two days, many from those concerned about the health effects of RF exposure. Others questioned the need for further regulation (see 2006170032). The comments respond to a December NPRM and were due Wednesday (see 1912040036).

The FCC won’t extend the June 29 deadline for initial comments on the Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules, as requested by the Ultra Wide Band Alliance (see 2006120019). “The window originally provided for comments and reply comments is adequate to develop complete, fully supported comments and reply comments,” the Office of Engineering and Technology said in Tuesday's order in docket 18-295. OET noted many areas are returning to normal, “which should provide the ability to conduct most, if not all, tests that parties plan.”

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.