FCC Establishes Process for Approving 6 GHz AFC Operators

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology launched a process for testing the automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to 6 GHz band spectrum by standard-power unlicensed devices. The public notice came later than expected, with some experts saying last year they thought testing could be completed early this year (see 2211040055). Canada regulators approved Qualcomm last week as the first 6 GHz AFC operator there (see 2308230060).

"I was delighted to read the public notice,” Christopher Szymanski, director-product marketing for Broadcom’s Wireless Communications and Connectivity Division, told us Friday. “With guidance for certifying standard power devices already published, this PN documents the crucial last step in releasing standard power 6 GHz Wi-Fi devices in the U.S. market,” he said: “I expect to see AFC operators approved before the end of the year, setting the stage for a vibrant Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem when the Wi-Fi Alliance announces the Wi-Fi 7 certification launch."

“We continue to analyze the full implications of this public notice, but we are concerned by the amount of deference given to the AFC applicants to resolve key issues that are of vital importance to incumbent licensees,” emailed Enterprise Wireless Alliance CEO Robin Cohen. “In testing the AFC’s functionality, allowing AFC applicants themselves to decide whether a challenge is valid, and if they determine it may be valid, how they will address it, gives a great deal discretion to the AFC applicants,” she said: “We also have questions regarding the transparency of the testing process and whether all interested parties will be able to access data from all involved in the testing to fully understand and validate the outcomes.” On interference with incumbent licensees, the notice “offers only encouragements and suggestions for actions by AFC operators and no concrete directives or solutions,” she said.

Last year, OET provisionally approved 13 companies to be AFC operators (see 2211030066). “AFC system applicants may commence testing their AFC systems,” said the notice in Friday’s Daily Digest.

As directed by the 2020 6 GHz order, “OET requires that the conditionally approved AFC systems undergo rigorous testing, both in a controlled environment and through a demonstration project before we will approve them for commercial operations,” the notice said. This controlled environment testing “shall consist of testing conducted by a third-party test lab using a set of tests to be specified by OET,” OET said: “OET now provides details regarding the required lab testing and the public trial.”

OET signed off on a test plan from the Wi-Fi Alliance and on test vector inputs and corresponding test vector outputs proposed by the alliance and the Wireless Innovation Forum (see 2306220063). “OET finds that this test plan is appropriate for lab testing AFC systems,” the notice said: “The test plan focuses on the main function of the AFC systems, which is protecting incumbent fixed service stations and radio astronomy observatories.” Test labs “can now use the Wi-Fi Alliance test plan with these test vectors to examine AFC system operations.”

OET said it will authorize as test labs those that have been approved through the WinnForum’s Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device testing and certification program. OET will also allow testing by other labs to be accredited by the forum. “A task group of industry stakeholders operating independently of WinnForum and not including representatives of the candidate test labs will review the application to ensure all requirements are satisfied to conduct the lab testing,” the notice said.

Public Trials

OET is also requiring public trials, which can be conducted at the same time as the lab tests. “During this public trial period each AFC system applicant will be required to make their AFC system available on the Internet to provide any interested member of the public an opportunity to test the AFC system functionality,” the notice said. OET noted it previously indicated it was considering requiring AFC system applicants to do an AFC system integration test. AT&T and APCO were among 6 GHz incumbents that sought additional tests, OET said.

“OET is not convinced that additional testing beyond the lab testing and public trial we are requiring is needed,” the notice said. “OET also sees no reason for additional involvement by the incumbents in the testing process. Because the lab testing will be performed by an independent test lab that is either FCC recognized or has undergone a rigorous approval process by the WinnForum, OET has confidence that the testing will be done in a thorough and accurate manner.” The WinnForum Friday applauded release of the notice.

The start of testing is especially important before the World Radiocommunication Conference, which will consider an agenda item on whether to identify the upper 700 MHz of the band for international mobile telecommunications rather than unlicensed use, emailed Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America. “Moving ahead with the testing and certification of AFCs is a key milestone that paves the path for Americans access everywhere to GB-fast next-generation Wi-Fi,” Calabrese emailed: “While low-power, indoor-only use of Wi-Fi across the entire 6 GHz band is already being incorporated in routers and boosting connectivity, the rapid certification of AFCs that enable Wi-Fi to operate anywhere at full power will bring enormous benefits to consumers, schools, libraries and other venues where wider-area coverage is needed.”

Other band incumbents, who have reservations about any steps that would mean more use of 6 GHz for Wi-Fi, didn’t immediately comment Friday. Southern Co., which opposes changes proposed in a 2020 Further NPRM (see 2004230059), expressed cautious optimism about the benefits of AFC in a filing last week in docket 18-295. AFC systems must be “rigorously tested before deployment through a transparent process that enables meaningful participation by all interested stakeholders,” Southern said: “For example, the Commission should provide at least 60 days for stakeholders and other members of the public to be able to test the functionality of an AFC applicant’s system.”