Panasonic had a call with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology officials on a report that argues the 5.9 GHz band should be reallocated for vehicle-to-everything communications, with no allocation for Wi-Fi (see 2010070050). That's per a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-138.
Tech companies spoke with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr on their quest for further changes to 6 GHz rules, the subject of a Further NPRM (see 2007280033). “We discussed the importance of Commission rules that ensure 6 GHz devices meet consumers’ expectations by enabling mobile use -- including both mobile [automatic frequency coordination]-controlled devices as well as very-low-power devices,” said a filing by Apple, Google, Facebook and other tech companies posted Friday in docket 18-295: “Mobile AFC-controlled devices would not add any significant new complexity to the AFC, and could leverage capabilities commonly found in mobile devices today.”
RKF Engineering's statistical Monte Carlo analysis demonstrates very-low-power unlicensed devices at 14 dBm “will not create harmful interference to licensed services” in the 6 GHz band, tech companies told the FCC. “RKF’s study contained sensitivity analysis across multiple factors, including the number of active VLP devices,” said Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Microsoft, NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. Commissioners are expected to consider rules in November (see 2008200040), responding to an April Further NPRM (see 2004230059).
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology extended through March 31 a waiver of the push notification requirement for fixed and mode II personal/portable TV white space devices, set to expire Sept. 30, said an order in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The original waiver was approved in an August 2015 order on Part 15 rules.
Tesla's request to market a sensing device for the 60-64 GHz band at higher power than specified in FCC rules for applications including child safety systems and seat belt reminders (see 2008200027) got general support in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 20-264. Commenters also supported an Infineon Technologies waiver request, with the same deadlines, in docket 20-263, for in-vehicle child safety systems that operate in the 57-64 GHz band at higher power. “Granting Tesla’s request … will be in the best interest of the public by creating significant safety and security benefits through advanced vehicle safety applications” and won’t pose interference risks, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said. “Children unknowingly left in or independently accessing ‘hot cars’ result in tragic, yet preventable, fatalities,” said Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety. Infineon's waiver would “accelerate the advancement and availability of such devices” and “will not increase the potential for interference to other spectrum users,” Tesla said. ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems said "the Commission should encourage the development and deployment of in-cabin technologies such as the chip technology proposed by Infineon."
Texas Instruments supported Tesla's request to market a sensing device for the 60-64 GHz band at higher power than specified in FCC rules. The carmaker said the technology is intended for applications including child safety systems and seat belt reminders (see 2008200027). A waiver “will create substantial benefits to the public by enabling the inclusion of technology that will enhance passenger safety and vehicle security” and “will not cause harmful interference in the band,” TI said in a filing posted Friday in docket 20-264. Comments are due Sept. 21.
Wi-Fi advocates offered a compromise on 5.9 GHz unlicensed, proposing a more-conservative out-of-band emissions limit at the edge. They suggest -9 dBm/MHz at the 5925 MHz band edge for indoor and outdoor unlicensed operations, with -7 dBm/MHz in the remainder. “This limit will advance the Commission’s goal of ‘optimiz[ing]' the use of spectrum resources in the 5.9 GHz band by enabling valuable additions and enhancements to the unlicensed ecosystem,’” said Broadcom, CableLabs, Facebook and NCTA in a filing posted Monday in docket 19-138. Automakers discussed the band with acting Chief Ronald Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology, urging protections for vehicle-to-everything technologies. Representatives of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Toyota, Honda, General Motors and Volkswagen were among those on the call.
Tests show Wi-Fi in part of 5.9 GHz would interfere with intelligent transportation systems, said a Ford Motor report filed at the FCC. “A single device running popular Wi-Fi applications can create interference conditions for the ITS safety applications even in low duty-cycle scenarios,” said the report, posted Tuesday in docket 19-138. “Wi-Fi usage at scale presents persistent levels of harmful interference.” The FCC is expected to reallocate the band in coming months, with 45 MHz set aside for unlicensed use (see 2004300032).
Valeo North America's waiver request to market short-range motion sensing devices for 57-64 GHz at higher power than specified in rules (see 2005070051) points to the need for the FCC to focus on the 60 GHz band, Facebook, Google, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung and others filed, posted Thursday in docket 20-121. “A long-term solution is needed to allow for technological innovation while ensuring reasonable coexistence of all technologies operating pursuant to the Commission’s 60 GHz unlicensed rules.”
Groups asked the FCC to quickly approve additional rule changes proposed in a Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band (see 2006300042). Very-low power “devices with sufficient power to be fully functional will prove central to the entire 5G wireless ecosystem,” the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition filed in docket 18-295: “Widespread access everywhere to untethered, solar- or battery-powered VLP devices will facilitate not only Wi-Fi 6 networks, but will also make 5G mobile networks far more valuable.” New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports and the Consumer Federation of America were among the groups on the filing.