Month: April 2020

The FCC invites interested parties to comment on the 3.7 GHz Transition Preliminary Cost Category Schedule of Potential Expenses and Estimated Costs (Cost Catalog). Comments are due by May 12, 2020. See Public Notice and preliminary cost catalog for full details.

Update: This order was published in the Federal Register on June 11, 2020. See Public Notice: June 23, 2020 for full details.

The FCC revises the technical rules governing the Low Power FM (LPFM) service. Specifically adopted these main proposals: (1) expanding the permissible use of directional antennas; (2) permitting waivers of protections of Television Channel 6 by reserved channel LPFM, FM, Class D, and FM translator stations; (3) expanding the definition of minor change applications for LPFM stations; and (4) allowing LPFM stations to own boosters. These changes are designed to provide LPFM stations with greater flexibility, to improve their service, and to remove regulatory burdens. See Report and Order for full details.

The FCC has adopted rules that make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz) available for unlicensed use.These new rules will usher in Wi-Fi 6, the next generation of Wi-Fi, and play a major role in the growth of the Internet of Things. Wi-Fi 6 will be over two-and-a-half times faster than the current standard and will offer better performance for American consumers. Opening the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use will also increase the amount of spectrum available for Wi-Fi by nearly a factor of five and help improve rural connectivity.

The 6 GHz band is currently populated by, among others, microwave services that are used to support utilities, public safety, and wireless backhaul. Unlicensed devices will share this spectrum with incumbent licensed services under rules crafted to protect those licensed services and enable both unlicensed and licensed operations to thrive throughout the band. See News Release and Report and Order for full details.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai circulated draft rules permitting unlicensed devices to operate in the 6 GHz band. The proposed rules would make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum available for unlicensed use. Unlicensed devices would share this spectrum with incumbent licensed services under rules that are crafted to protect those licensed services and to enable both unlicensed and licensed operations to thrive throughout the band. The Chairman’s draft rules will be voted on by the Commission at the FCC’s Open Meeting on April 23. See Press Release for full details.

The FCC adopted a NPRM seeking comment on proposed technical rule changes to facilitate the use of the next generation television broadcast standard, also known as ATSC 3.0. The proposed rules would permit greater flexibility for broadcasters to use distributed transmission systems (DTS) as they deploy ATSC 3.0 in their networks. DTS employs two or more transmission sites located around a station’s service area, each using the same RF channel and synchronized to manage self-interference. DTS can permit broadcast signals to serve hard-to-reach viewers, improve indoor and mobile reception, and more efficiently use TV spectrum. See Press Release for full details.