Southern Co. asked the FCC not to act now on revised 6 GHz rules, while others sought changes proposed in an April Further NPRM, in filings posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to make clear Wednesday whether there will be a vote at the Dec. 10 commissioners' meeting (see 2011130045). “Take additional time to fully evaluate and consider” concerns that have been raised “before adopting any further rules on unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band,” Southern said in calls with aides to Pai and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The Open Technology Institute at New America told acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology that the FCC should act. “We urged the Commission to act on Verizon’s Petition for Reconsideration requesting higher power for unlicensed standard-power 6 GHz access points already subject to [automated frequency coordination] control,” Verizon said of a call with OET.
An order allowing very-low-power (VLP) devices to use the 6 GHz band appears to be in doubt for the Dec. 10 FCC meeting. More will be known soon. Chairman Ajit Pai is to offer his blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with draft items to circulate Thursday. Wi-Fi advocates reported numerous calls, particularly with Office of Engineering and Technology staff, in recent days to discuss the rule changes, teed up in an April Further NPRM (see 2004230059). Incumbents hope for a delay.
An order allowing very-low-power (VLP) devices to use the 6 GHz band appears to be in doubt for the Dec. 10 FCC meeting. More will be known soon. Chairman Ajit Pai is to offer his blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with draft items to circulate Thursday. Wi-Fi advocates reported numerous calls, particularly with Office of Engineering and Technology staff, in recent days to discuss the rule changes, teed up in an April Further NPRM (see 2004230059). Incumbents hope for a delay.
More than 20 industry groups urged the Bureau of Industry and Security to be cautious as it considers controls over foundational technologies (see 2008260045), saying the wrong approach could stifle innovation, damage U.S. competitiveness and lead to costly shifts in global supply chains. The groups said any new controls should only be imposed after a calculated process with significant input from industry, and should include license exceptions and exclusions.
An order allowing very-low-power (VLP) devices to use the 6 GHz band appears to be in doubt for the Dec. 10 FCC meeting. More will be known soon. Chairman Ajit Pai is to offer his blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with draft items to circulate Thursday. Wi-Fi advocates reported numerous calls, particularly with Office of Engineering and Technology staff, in recent days to discuss the rule changes, teed up in an April Further NPRM (see 2004230059). Incumbents hope for a delay.
Incompas CEO Chip Pickering is hopeful this Congress enacts FY 2021 funding and a COVID-19 aid bill, despite partisan rancor. Group officials told a Thursday webinar they’re monitoring whether the Senate confirms FCC nominee Nathan Simington, plus the impact of a change to a majority-Democrat commission after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Facebook v. Duguid, to be argued before the Supreme Court Dec. 8 (19-511), could provide long-awaited clarity on the definition of what constitutes an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, experts told us. Consumer groups hope the court will do nothing to narrow the definition. In September, the administration supported Facebook in what lawyers on both sides say was an unusual brief.
Facebook v. Duguid, to be argued before the Supreme Court Dec. 8 (19-511), could provide long-awaited clarity on the definition of what constitutes an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, experts told us. Consumer groups hope the court will do nothing to narrow the definition. In September, the administration supported Facebook in what lawyers on both sides say was an unusual brief.
State and local governments want to reset relationships with the FCC under President-elect Joe Biden in 2021, said officials from NARUC, NATOA and the National Association of State Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) in interviews this week. A new FCC means “new beginnings” and a chance to build bridges, said NARUC President Paul Kjellander, elected association head Tuesday (see 2011100060).
Apple representatives urged approval of revised 6 GHz rules allowing very-low-power devices at 14 dBm effective isotropic radiated power, in a call with FCC Chief Technology Officer Monisha Ghosh. “This power level is essential to ensuring that VLP devices are functional in typical high body loss cases,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. “Allowing 6 GHz mobile standard-power access points in the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 bands controlled by Automatic Frequency Coordination systems will provide significant benefits while protecting incumbents.” Verizon asked aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks to act on its petition for reconsideration seeking higher power for unlicensed standard-power 6 GHz access points subject to AFC control (see 2011030021). Southern Co. raised 6 GHz interference concerns. A recent cable industry study “underestimates the number of Very Low Power devices, their transmissions, and a variety of other link budget parameters to falsely support the claims that licensed fixed microwave systems would be protected from harmful interference,” the utility said. NAB raised concerns about proposed test procedures for unlicensed devices in the band, speaking with Office of Engineering and Technology staff. It’s “unclear what division of OET was making final determinations on those procedures, which is troubling given that the Laboratory Division’s draft publication appears to include arbitrary requirements that are not found in the Commission’s order in this proceeding and will fail to protect licensed users of the band,” NAB said. The FCC didn't comment.