The FCC just announced a major push to expand the available spectrum by freeing up 1,200 megahertz in the 6GHz band for unlicensed use.
This provides opportunities for greater broadband access in rural and underserved regions of the country as well as facilitating the roll out of 5G and the latest Wi-Fi technologies.
That’s good news for consumers who will have greater access to telehealth services, distance learning and the emerging Internet of Things. The current COVID-19 crisis is reshaping our lives and new norms for social distancing make the internet an even more valuable resource for consumers, teleworkers and businesses.
Making room for new internet providers and new technologies will turn this underused spectrum into a valuable and productive resource.
Spectrum policy has a contentious history in the United States, dating back to the early days of radio. A large part of the FCC’s mission has been to manage this scarce resource, which has been under government control since 1927.
As former FCC chief economist Tom Hazlett has discussed, federal control of the airwaves began as an experiment in central planning, and like other attempts at central planning, the results have been frustrating and inefficient. And as Hazlett concluded, “Spectrum allocation by political means is the devil’s playground.”
This devil’s playground historically favored politically connected incumbents at the expense of consumers and new technologies. Innovation came slowly in this regulated world, with new technologies simmering for years as politicians and regulators deliberated on their benefits (with ample input from industry lobbyists).
Ultimately, even the FCC acknowledged the mounting economic burden of its spectrum policies and began to implement a more market-based approach to spectrum allocation.
As important, in 1994 the commission introduced auctions as a means of ensuring that spectrum is allocated to its most valued use. While the timing and format for the auctions was not always ideal, the move to let bidders compete for spectrum helps drive more efficient outcomes.
Opening the 6GHz band to unlicensed uses also provides opportunities for more efficient uses of spectrum. But as in the past, incumbents wary of interlopers have raised concerns about the technical feasibility of FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s new proposal.
Currently, the 6GHz band is used by wireless carriers for mobile backhaul, as well as public utilities, public safety providers and electronic news gathering services. It is important to protect current users, and the new proposal includes requirements for automated frequency coordination to allow spectrum sharing while minimizing any interference problems.
The unlicensed use of the 6GHz band promises real benefits for consumers. In particular, this spectrum is ideal for Wi-Fi 6, the next generation of Wi-Fi technology. While Wi-Fi 6 may boost speeds, its real strength is in managing more connected devices efficiently, which is critical for the Internet of Things. Other emerging technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality, will also benefit from the new technology.
At the same time, access to this new spectrum will create opportunities for fixed wireless providers to expand broadband access to rural customers. These networks can be deployed more quickly and more cheaply than those of traditional providers, such as cable or satellite systems. This makes it possible to swiftly reach consumers in places where it is simply not cost-effective using other technologies such a building out cable or fiber networks.
Businesses will also benefit from access to the 6Ghz spectrum through new opportunities to adopt 5G technologies on a larger scale. For example, this allows the creation of fast wireless networks over ranges that are too costly for wired networks, better integrating operations at plants and large facilities.
Innovative new technologies with more users put increasing pressure on the demand for spectrum. The CORVID-19 pandemic has ramped up internet traffic, with schools, doctors, businesses and consumers becoming even more dependent on reliable internet access. To date, the internet in the United States has weathered the stress of increased demand. But that ability to cope relies on continued investments and efficient allocation of scarce spectrum resources.
The FCC’s draft rule to open the 6GHz band to unlicensed uses, which is scheduled for a vote on April 23, will improve Wi-Fi connections, facilitate new 5G service, and provide new opportunities to reach rural and underserved communities.
The new proposal represents an almost fivefold increase in the spectrum available for Wi-Fi, an important step for the next wave of innovation.
