Lobbying Continues for and Against FCC Approach on 6 GHz Order

The National Spectrum Management Association wants a more comprehensive survey of how 6 GHz is used before opening the swath for sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users, it told the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff. Commissioners vote April 23 (see 2004100047). “Especially during this time when the nation is heavily reliant on these exact mission-critical networks … it is a requirement that well-known, actual-deployment, spectrum management tests be conducted well prior to confirming rules,” the group said in a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. Comcast said the FCC is too conservative here, with the record showing low-power indoor use at radiated power spectral density of 8 dBm/MHz won't cause harmful interference. But it said “the Draft Order imposes a lower 5 dBm/MHz PSD limit based solely on an unsupported assertion that an 8 dBm/MHz limit would result in a ‘materially higher risk of harmful interference.’” The cable provider spoke with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. AT&T said the agency goes too far and should require automated frequency control for all unlicensed devices. Allowing “low power indoor devices to operate without such a capability would be reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful,” AT&T told aides to O’Rielly and Starks (see here and here). Tech companies sought clarity. “Clarify that client device and subordinate access point power limits are based on the regulatory limits of the access point to which they are associated to align them with the text of the order and avoid creating an incentive to increase the power of access point transmissions,” they said: “Limiting client device power based on the actual transmit power of the associated access point would encourage access points to use maximum power.” Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook and Google were among filing signers. Broadcom separately sought additional OET clarity.