The Federal Communications Commission builds on the 6GHz band licensed rules by permitting very low power (VLP_ devices within the U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 MHz) and U-NII-7 (6.525-6.875 MHz) portions of the 6 GHz band. The Commission will limit the VLP devices to lower power levels and subject them to other technical and operational requirements that will promote these devices to operate across the United States while protecting incumbent licensed services that operate in the 6 GHz band from harmful interference. The Commission will also take action in a Memorandum Opinion and Order on Remand that addresses a remand from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concerning an issue raised by television broadcasters. The Commission has found that the broadcasters’ unsubstantiated claims of interference in the 2.4 GHz band do not warrant any changes to the 6 GHz rules. At this time, the Commission is limiting VLP devices to the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 bands because. The technical record has mainly focused on the potential for interference to fixed microwave links which are the predominate uses of these portions of the 6GHz band. The Commission plans on proposing to expand VLP device operation to the U-NII-6 and U-NII-8 portions of the band which supports mobile operations.

In making this decision to enable this new class of VLP unlicensed devices to operate in the 6 GHz and while protecting licensed incumbent operations from harmful interference. The Commission notes that this policy represents a careful balancing between enabling new services and protecting existing services. In considering the maximum power level for VLP devices, the Commission’s goal to balance competing factors can be achieved. The Commission aims to permit as much power as possible for these devices so that the maximum benefit can be derived from their operations while minimizing harmful interference. The Commission believes based on the technical record that it can permit at this time VLP devices to operate at up to -5 dBm/MHz power spectral density (PSD) and 14 dBm EIRP without presenting a significant risk of harmful interference to the licensed microwave incumbents that share the 6 GHz band.

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