FCC plans vote to allow higher-power Wi‑Fi devices in the 6 GHz band

Ars Technica
Ars Technica
9h ago
The FCC scheduled a January 29 vote to create a new class of higher-power, outdoor-capable unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz Wi‑Fi band and to seek comment on raising power for some indoor-only devices.
FCC plans vote to allow higher-power Wi‑Fi devices in the 6 GHz band
A What happened
The FCC scheduled a January 29 vote on an order to create geofenced variable power (GVP) unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band that can operate outdoors and at higher power than previously authorized devices. The FCC said GVP devices must use geofencing to avoid interference with fixed microwave links and radio astronomy observatories, and it set power limits of up to 11 dBm/MHz PSD and 24 dBm EIRP. The FCC also said it will seek comment on proposals to allow certain low-power indoor access points to operate with additional power under certain circumstances and to authorize low-power indoor access points on cruise ships. Consumer and public-interest advocates and the cable industry welcomed the plan, while a separate spectrum-auction mandate remains a potential threat to Wi‑Fi’s 6 GHz allocation.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Geofencing is central to the higher-power 6 GHz plan: The FCC plan ties higher-power, outdoor-capable 6 GHz unlicensed operations to geofencing and exclusion zones intended to protect incumbent licensed services, including fixed microwave links and radio astronomy observatories.

  • 2

    Advocates argue indoor-only power limits are overly restrictive: Michael Calabrese said indoor-only power limits are overly restrictive and said advocacy groups pushed for higher indoor power in an August 2023 letter, which he said the prior FCC did not complete.

  • 3

    Spectrum-auction requirements remain a potential constraint on 6 GHz Wi‑Fi: A July 2025 law requires the FCC to auction at least 800 MHz of spectrum, and some of that spectrum could come from the 6 GHz band currently allocated to Wi‑Fi, though Calabrese said reallocation now seems far less likely.

Takeaways

The FCC is moving toward authorizing higher-power 6 GHz Wi‑Fi devices and considering higher indoor power, while broader spectrum-auction requirements still leave some uncertainty over long-term 6 GHz availability.

Topics

World & Politics Policy & Regulation

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