Wi-Fi Advocates Support Extreme Networks' Waiver Request

wants to protect the APs with a waterproof enclosure “to protect the devices from beverage spills and during venue washing,” said a July waiver request (see 2308010074). The Utilities Technology Council, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, APCO and the Enterprise Wireless Alliance opposed the waiver (see 2309080045). “Extreme Networks has clearly demonstrated ‘good cause’ and that the public interest will be served by waiving what we believe is the least important of the multiple form factor requirements that govern the authorization of low-power, indoor-only access points,” Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute at New America said in a filing posted Monday in docket 23-282. “The waiver is necessary for sports fans to benefit from the full capacity, low latency and higher quality that next generation Wi-Fi 7 makes possible, as well as for lower costs, greater spectrum efficiency, and more competition in the market for indoor venue connectivity solutions. Extreme Networks’ proposal also eliminates the risk that granting the waiver would result in its devices being used outdoors,” the public interest groups said. The Commission was clear that the prohibition on weatherized indoor access point devices is a means to an end -- ensuring that devices remain indoors -- not an end itself,” the Wi-Fi Alliance said. “This limited waiver is necessary to avoid frustrating the enormous public interest benefits that access to next generation Wi-Fi 7 across the full 1,200 MHz of the band can bring to the fan experience at indoor arenas,” the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance said. “Without a waiver, venue operators would have to limit deployment of Indoor Access Points to areas where spills are unlikely, severely diminishing coverage when data demands are increasing,” NCTA said: “Extreme has shown that special circumstances exist that warrant a deviation from the general rule, as the Extreme Waiver Request clearly delineates the measures it will take to ensure that the Sports Venue Indoor Access Points will operate indoors without causing risk of harmful interference.” Cisco Systems has “partnerships” with numerous sports venue customers where it has also deployed its Wi-Fi networking equipment, the company said. “Permitting the certification and sale of 6 GHz-capable low-power indoor access points using a waterproof enclosure, subject to the conditions outlined in Extreme’s waiver request, will serve the public interest by expanding the availability of 6 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and encouraging development of the 6 GHz ecosystem, while protecting against harmful interference to incumbent operations,” Cisco said.