Rosenworcel Proposes Long-Awaited Rules for 12 GHz, 60 GHz Bands
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is proposing a bifurcated approach on the 12 GHz band for the commissioners' May 18 open meeting, dedicating the band's lower section, for now, to satellite broadband and the upper part to mobile broadband. The order involves some of the most hotly contested spectrum before the agency. The decision is in line with advocacy from SpaceX and others that said the upper 12 GHz band, which some refer to as 13 GHz, makes more sense as a target for wireless broadband than the lower 12 GHz (see 2210130063). Industry officials said the FCC may ask questions about fixed-wireless in the lower band. The FCC will also take on 60 GHz and robocalls.
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“We’re optimizing a massive swath of spectrum for services from 6G to satellite,” Rosenworcel wrote Wednesday, noting “a pair of separate proceedings” looking at the two spectrum ranges. “To resolve these questions, the Commission will vote on an Order that would preserve the 12.2-12.7 GHz band as a home for next-generation satellite broadband operations by rejecting proposals to introduce ubiquitous, high-power mobile operations in the band,” she said: “At the same time, we propose further investigation of expanded terrestrial fixed use or unlicensed use in this 500 megahertz band. Moving up to the 12.7-13.25 GHz band, we propose repurposing some or all 550 megahertz of this spectrum for new mobile broadband or other expanded use.”
“RS Access has worked closely with the Commission for the past four years to develop the technical record and evidence needed to reach this milestone,” emailed Noah Campbell, CEO of RS Access and a leading member of the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition. The announcement “brings us one step closer to modernizing long-outdated rules that will vastly expand the 12 GHz bands' potential,” he said: The actions “are perfectly timed to unlock the band as billions of federal dollars are set to change the broadband landscape through the BEAD program.” Campbell said the company will review the FCC’s proposed rules “in the coming days” and is “committed to our ongoing advocacy to unleash the 12 GHz band's full potential.”
The FCC will also consider rules for the 60 GHz band, the topic of a July 2021 Further NPRM (see 2107130066). Numerous groups and companies have been at the FCC since to press for action.
“State-of-the-art radar technology is fostering a wave of new innovations, but the FCC’s restrictive technical rules for the 60 GHz band have been holding back some of this activity,” Rosenworcel said: “The Commission will vote on rules to expand the permissible uses for short-range radars in this band, while making sure new operations can coexist with other services already making use of this spectrum. These changes would facilitate advances in everything from augmented reality to drones to healthcare monitoring.”
Robocalls are also back in the FCC's sights. The FCC "remains committed to taking every practical measure to give consumers meaningful relief," Rosenworcel said, saying the agency is "ramping up" its approach to combating robocalls. Commissioners will consider an item that would extend "several call blocking requirements" to include providers not currently covered, she said. The item would also seek comment on other anti-robocall tools, including "analytics-based blocking, do-not-originate lists, call labeling, and increased forfeitures."