The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken action to stimulate the further development of advanced wireless broadband devices and services.
Under a Second Report and Order issued in mid-November, the FCC has adopted new rules that:
- Make available an additional 1700 megahertz of millimeter wave (mmW) spectrum for terrestrial 5G wireless use;
- Maintain the unlicensed use of the 64-71 GH band;
- Modify its Part 15 rules to allow unlicensed operation in the 57-71 GH band on board most aircraft during flight; and
- Declines to cap the amount of spectrum in the 24 GHz and 47 GHz bands that a bidder can acquire in a spectrum auction.
In the same action, the Commission has also proposed to:
- Allow more flexible fixed-satellite service (FSS) use of the 24.75-25.25 GHz band;
- Eliminate the cap on the amount of spectrum in the 28, 37, and 39 GHz bands that can be acquired by a single bidder at auction; and
- Invite comments on other options for terrestrial mmW licenses to meet performance obligations that could accommodate IoT deployments and other innovative services.
Read the complete text of the Commission’s Second Report and Order.
