The FCC opened the 6 GHz band to a new class of very low power devices that will operate alongside other WiFi-enabled devices. The rules voted 5-0 on Thursday will spur an ecosystem of cutting-edge applications, including wearable technologies and augmented and virtual reality, that will help businesses, enhance learning opportunities, advance healthcare opportunities, and bring new entertainment experiences, according to the agency.
The 6 GHz band is important for next generation WiFi operations. The FCC, in recent years, expanded unlicensed use in 1,200 MHz between 5.925 and 7.125 GHz.
During the vote, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said: “In 2020, the FCC took a historic step to advance U.S. leadership in wireless. Back then, we led the world in opening up the full 6GHz band for next-generation unlicensed use. By doing so, we effectively increased the amount of mid-band spectrum available for WiFi by almost a factor of five. By acting early, the 2020 decision ensured that Americans and the business based on our shores would benefit from this — the results speak for themselves as consumers are benefiting from better, faster WiFi, 5G services in their home.”
That FCC decision has helped usher in WiFi 6E, set the stage for upcoming WiFi 7—the next generation of WiFi—and played a major role in the growth of the Internet of Things. The new rules build off this success to allow for other types of operations in the band.
Recognizing the need to provide even more flexibility and foster unlicensed innovation, the Commission established new rules that permit devices that operate at very low power (VLP) across short distances and provide very high connection speeds, which it says is ideal for high-data rate cutting-edge applications. These include advanced augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), wearable sensors and technologies, and a variety of IoT devices. The new rules limit these devices to very low power levels and subject them to other technical and operational requirements that will permit these devices to operate across the U.S. while protecting incumbent licensed services that operate in the 6 GHz band.
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said: “Wearable devices stand at the very leading edge of wireless innovation. They can power applications for everyday users, educators, medical professionals and, yes, gamers, too. But in 2023, consumers don’t want and shouldn’t have to put up with devices that are wired, clunky, or sluggish, or that overheat and need to constantly recharge. With VLP, they can benefit from products that are more capable, sleeker, and more power efficient, and that cost less to make and just plain work better.”
Specifically, the new rules authorize VLP operations in the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 portions of the 6 GHz band, totaling 850 MHz of spectrum. Operations at power levels significantly lower than other unlicensed 6 GHz devices could occur anywhere, indoors or outdoors, without any need for a frequency coordination system.
The Commission also proposed expanding operation of the very low power unlicensed devices to the remainder of the 6 GHz band and permitting VLP devices more operational flexibility through higher power levels subject to a geofencing system that provides interference protection to licensed incumbent operations.
WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries, praised the FCC’s unanimous vote, saying unlicensed wireless communications touch billions of people daily. “Opening up the 6 GHz band for commercial use domestically will only add to that, especially with the roll-out later this year of 850 MHz within the band for standard power, outdoor use,” said WISPA VP Policy Louis Peraertz. “As to the latter, the importance of this aspect of the 6 GHz band cannot be overstated. Small rural ISPs eagerly await this new capacity and will rapidly employ it to further bridge the digital divide in hard-to-reach and serve communities across America.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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