USA - FCC Proposed Expanding 6 GHz Band Operations for Very Low Power Devices

In October, 2024, US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ​proposed new rules to expand very low power device operations in additional spectrum in the 6 GHz band alongside other Wi-Fi-enabled devices. 

The proposed Report and Order would, if adopted by a vote of the Commission, permit the very low power (VLP) class of unlicensed devices to operate across 350 megahertz of spectrum  in the U-NII-6 (6.425-6.525 GHz) and U-NII-8 (6.875-7.125 GHz) portions of the 6 GHz band at the same power levels and technical/operational protections as recently approved for the U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 GHz) and U-NII-7 (6.525-6.875 GHz) bands while protecting incumbent licensed services that operate in the 6 GHz band.  These VLP devices would have no restriction on locations where they may operate and would have no requirement to operate under the control of an automatic frequency coordination system.  

To ensure the risk of interference remains insignificant, the devices would be required to employ a contention-based protocol, implement transmit power control, and be prohibited from operating as part of a fixed outdoor infrastructure.