October 2015: FCC proposes new rules for wireless broadband in wireless frequencies above 24 GHz

Post date: Oct 27, 2015 2:14:1 AM

On October 22, 2015, the FCC announced steps to unlock the mobile broadband and unlicensed potential of spectrum at the frontier above 24 GHz. The FCC proposes to open up more than 10 GHz of spectrum between 27 GHz and 71 GHz for mobile broadband, with nearly 7 GHz reserved for unlicensed use under Part 15 rules. The significance of this is that now there is a huge swath of contiguous spectrum between 54 GHz and 71 GHz that will end up under Part 15 rules. This can become the next frontier 'WiFi' for the millimeter-wave spectrum with 17 GHz of unlicensed spectrum that will permit significant innovation and bring 10 Gbps wireless data links for indoor use within 2 - 4 years.

If you are wireless researcher, you should seriously consider filing comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking in these bands, as well as some other bands in the mm-wave spectrum that the FCC is seeking comments on. Comments made by NYU Wireless research team as well as by Akbar Sayeed from the University of Wisconsin feature prominently in the FCC NPRM, proving that input from the research community is actively heard by the FCC and greatly influences spectrum policy. Read the entire millimeter-wave NPRM, and file comments here for Docket 15-138.