6 GHz Information
Electric, water, and natural gas utilities, along with railroads and other critical infrastructure industries, use fixed wireless communications networks housed in the 6 GHz spectrum band. These networks run mission-critical systems essential to the reliable delivery of utility services.
In spite of significant concerns raised by utilities and other lifeline industries, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC, the Commission) in April 2020 expanded access to the 6 GHz band to non-critical commercial entities. Doing so may threaten the reliability of the crucial communications networks already licensed to operate in the band, including those owned and operated by critical infrastructure utilities.
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UPDATE:
Implementation of the National Spectrum Strategy
UTC Applauds Nominations of Rosenworcel as Chair, Sohn as Commissioner to FCC, Davidson to NTIA, December 29, 2021
UTC and incumbent stakeholders file Petition for Rulemaking, asking FCC to develop new rules for 6 GHz LPI devices, incl. cost reimbursement, December 7, 2021
UTC and incumbent stakeholders file Request for Stay, asking FCC to stop and stop and revoke LPI device certification, December 7, 2021
Utilities Brief FCC Acting Chair Rosenworcel Staff on Testing Report Demonstrating Interference in 6 GHz Spectrum Band, July 7, 2021
UTC Raises ‘Serious Concerns’ with New Data Finding Interference with Utility Communications Systems in 6 GHz Band, June 25, 2001, ex parte letter to FCC Office of Engineering and Technology
Southern Testing Confirms New 6 GHz-enabled Devices Will Interfere with Mission-Critical Utility, Public Safety Systems, June 24, 2021
- Ex-parte Letter Summarizing Testing Report
- Testing Results, prepared by Southern Company and Lockard & White
FCC ‘Failed’ to Mitigate Risks in April 2020 Order Permitting Unlicensed Use in 6 GHz Spectrum Band, Group Tells Federal Court, April 2, 2021
Device-to-Device Communications in 6 GHz Band Increases Interference Concerns, UTC-Led Coalition Says, March 23, 2021
UTC, Public Safety and Energy Organizations Request FCC to Ensure New 6 GHz Devices Protect Incumbent Users before Granting Additional Certifications, March 4, 2021
- Ex parte for Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel
- Ex parte for Commissioner Starks
- Ex Parte for Commissioner Carr
Energy, Public Safety Groups Urge FCC to Pause on Proposal to Permit Unlicensed 6 GHz Devices to Communicate with Each Other, Feb. 22, 2021
Public Safety, Critical Infrastructure Remind FCC of Congressional Testing Directive for New 6 GHz Devices, Jan. 26, 2021
Southern Company Files Amicus Brief Supporting Litigation Against FCC’s 6 GHz Order Permitting Unlicensed Use, Dec. 23, 2020
In Court Pleading, Public Safety, Critical-Infrastructure Industries Outline Challenge to FCC April 2020 6 GHz Order, Dec. 21, 2020
Energy Groups Petition Congress to Keep Language in 2021 Appropriations Bills Requiring the FCC to Report on 6 GHz Testing, Dec. 1, 2020
Utility Groups Urge FCC to Delay Decision on Expanding Access to Critical 6 GHz Spectrum Band, Ex parte notice, Nov. 17, 2020
UTC, Utility Groups Reiterate Need for Federal Court to Stay FCC’s Spectrum Plan, Sept. 18, 2020
Utilities Seek Court Stay of FCC’s April 2020 Rules Opening 6 GHz Spectrum Band, Stay Request filed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Sept. 8, 2020
Public Safety, Government, Energy Groups Send Open Letter to 6 GHz Multi-Stakeholder Group Seeking Commitment on Testing, Open Letter filed to the FCC, Aug. 24, 2020
Electric, Water Utilities File Further Evidence in Opposition to FCC’s Latest 6 GHz Proposal, Reply Comments filed in response to FCC Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, July 27, 2020
UTC, Electric Utility Groups Seek Court Review of FCC’s 6 GHz Rules, Petition for Review filed in U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, July 27, 2020
UTC Leads Energy Coalition in Opposition to FCC’s Proposal to Allow Unlicensed Devices to Operate at Higher Power in 6 GHz Band, Comments filed in response to FCC Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, June 29, 2020
UTC Supports Electric Utility Group’s Request that FCC Delay Implementation of 6 GHz Rules, Comments filed to the FCC, June 26, 2020
Sen. Lisa Murkowski Presses FCC to Delay 6 GHz Rulemaking Amid Pandemic, Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, April 15, 2020
In Meetings with FCC Officials, UTC, Broad Coalition Calls for Greater Protections of Existing 6 GHz Users, Ex parte notices for meetings during the week of April 13:
- Office of Chairman Pai
- Office of Commissioner O’Rielly
- Office of Commissioner Carr
- Office of Commissioner Rosenworcel
- Office of Commissioner Starks
UTC Joins Public Safety, Rail, Comms Sector in Urging the FCC to Do More to Protect Existing 6 GHz Users, Ex parte notice, April 15, 2020
Electric, Water, Nuclear, Gas Utilities Submit More Evidence Demonstrating Potential Interference from Unlicensed Use in 6 GHz Band, Ex parte notice, April 15
Southern Company Files Study Analyzing Interference Issues Stemming from FCC’s 6 GHz Proposal–Ex Parte notice, February 2020
UTC, Electric Industry Associations Review Critical-Infrastructure Analysis into Interference Concerns Related to 6 GHz Proposal–Ex Parte notice, Jan. 24, 2020
Critical Infrastructure Industries File ‘Impact of Proposed Wi-Fi Operations on Microwave Links at 6 GHz’ Study–Report filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Jan. 13, 2020
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ‘Strongly Urges’ FCC to Test Mitigation Measures in 6 GHz Proceeding–Letter from FERC Commissioners to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Dec. 18, 2019
Public Safety, Energy, Utility Groups Urges House Panel to Press FCC on 6 GHz Proposal–Statement for the Record, House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Dec. 5, 2019
Major Coalition of Public Safety, Government, Rail, and Energy Groups Push Against FCC’s 6 GHz Rulemaking–Letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, Nov. 8, 2019
12 Senators Push FCC to Protect Critical-Infrastructure Incumbents in 6 GHz Band–Letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, Nov. 5, 2019
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Report Language Urging the FCC to Protect Utility Incumbents in 6 GHz Band (see page 65), Passed out of Committee on Sept. 19, 2019
UTC Hosts Tour of Exelon Substation with Federal Communications Commission Officials to Demonstrate 6 GHz System, Ex parte, filed Sept. 13, 2019
Energy Department Urges FCC to Test Mitigation Measures in Controversial Spectrum Plan — Letter from Department of Energy Office of Electricity Assistant Secretary Bruce Walker, Sept. 3, 2019; Letter from Energy Department to Acting National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Diane Rinaldo; Letter from Energy Department to NTIA Deputy Associate Administrator of the Office of Spectrum Management Peter Tenhula
Electric Utility Groups Urge FERC to Intervene in Spectrum Proceeding — Joint Comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Aug. 22, 2019; UTC Files Supplemental Comments
Major Coalition of Energy, Water Utilities Urges Secretary of Energy Perry to Hold Session on FCC Proposal — Letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, July 16, 2019
Electric, Water Utilities Seek Holistic View of U.S. Spectrum Policies — Statement for the Record, House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on “Our Wireless Future,” July 16 2019
UTC CEO Seeks FERC Engagement with Federal Communications Commission on the 6 GHz Proceeding — Testimony before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, June 27, 2019
Sen. Murkowski Questions Whether FCC Leader Has Reached Out to FERC, Electric Industry Entities in 6 GHz Band Proceeding — Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, June 14, 2019
Five Major Electricity, Water Trade Associations Leaders Urge FCC to Protect CII Networks in 6 GHz Band — Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, May 15, 2019
13 Members of California’s Congressional Delegation Seek Protection of Utilities, CII in 6 GHz Band — Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, April 30, 2019
Sen. John Kennedy (La.) Urges FCC to Protect Incumbents in 6 GHz Proceeding–Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, April 1, 2019
Major Critical-Infrastructure Coalition Reiterates Opposition to FCC Plan in 6 GHz Proceeding–Reply Comments Submitted March 18, 2019
Major Critical-Infrastructure Coalition Pushes Back Against FCC 6 GHz Spectrum Band Proposal–Initial Comments Submitted Feb. 15, 2019
UTC Industry Intelligence
Resources
Articles
UTC publishes a weekly newsletter focused on key happenings inside the D.C. regulatory arena. Below are some of UTC Industry Intelligence articles dedicated to 6 GHz issues:
UTC public policy and spectrum experts have created the content below which included Issue Brief, FCC Comments and Reply Comments:
6 GHz has been the subject of many news articles from industry publications. Here are some of the most recent focused on this utility issue:
(15 February 2019) Spectrum and Utility Communications Networks: How Interference Threatens Reliability, a whitepaper authored by Red Rose Tele.Com, prepared for the Utilities Technology Council
(28 September 2018) Expanded Use of 6 GHz Band Poses Challenges for Utility, CII Networks, UTC Tells FCC
(16 August 2018) UTC Urges Senate Committee to Press FCC on Importance of Utility ICT Networks
(Oct. 24, 2018) Utility Dive: Utilities Worry FCC Plan to Open Wireless Spectrum Could Compromise Communications
(May 10, 2018) Fierce Wireless: Utilities to FCC: Don’t Mess with Our Spectrum
(April 18, 2018) Platts: Trade group eyes FERC, FCC collaboration to better address utility communications needs
UTC Industry Intelligence
Published weekly, UTC’s Industry Intelligence newsletter focuses on key happenings inside the D.C. regulatory arena. UTC public policy group published this to all members and now it is available online for all to read.
Click here to read the UTC Industry Intelligence newsletter.
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