Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band, 31997-32002 [2020-11320]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 103 (Thursday, May 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31997-32002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11320]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 103 / Thursday, May 28, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 31997]]



FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 15

[ET Docket No. 18-295, GN Docket No. 17-183; FCC 20-51; FRS 16739]


Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission proposes to expand unlicensed 
use of the 5.925-7.125 GHz band (6 GHz band) while protecting the 
incumbent licensed services that operate in this spectrum. The proposed 
rules would allow a new class of unlicensed devices to operate 
throughout the entire 6 GHz band at power levels that are low enough to 
prevent the occurrence of harmful interference to licensed services. 
The Commission seeks comment on permitting unlicensed access points 
that are restricted to indoor operation in the 6 GHz band to operate at 
a power spectral density of 8 dBm/MHz with a maximum permissible 
equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of 33 dBm, an increase 
of 3 dB over the current rules. The Commission also seeks comment on 
permitting access points that operate under the control of an automated 
frequency coordination (AFC) system in the 5.925-6.425 GHz and 5.512-
6.875 GHz sub-bands to be used for mobile applications. In addition, 
the document seeks comment on allowing access points that operate under 
AFC control to transmit with more power than the 36 dBm EIRP currently 
permitted.

DATES: Comments are due June 29, 2020. Reply comments are due July 27, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and 
reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section of 
this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic 
Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in 
Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
     Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the 
Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. 
This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety 
of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC 
Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-
Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy.
     During the time the Commission's building is closed to the 
general public and until further notice, if more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the caption of a proceeding, paper filers 
need not submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number; an original and one copy are sufficient.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Oros, Office of Engineering 
and Technology, 202-418-0636, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, ET Docket No. 18-295, GN Docket No. 17-183, FCC 
20-51, adopted April 23, 2020, and released April 24, 2020. The full 
text of this document is available for inspection and copying during 
normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 
12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be 
downloaded at: https://www.fcc.gov/edocs/search-results?t=advanced&fccNo=18-147. People with Disabilities: To request 
materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, 
large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to 
[email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

Synopsis

    1. Discussion. The Commission proposes rules to expand unlicensed 
use of the 5.925-7.125 GHz band (6 GHz band). These proposals build 
upon the rules the Commission adopted for unlicensed use of the 6 GHz 
band in a Report and Order adopted on April 23, 2020, FCC 20-51 (85 FR 
31390, May 26, 2020). In those rules the Commission permitted standard-
power access points to operate under the control of an automated 
frequency coordination (AFC) system in the 5.925-6.425 GHz and 5.512-
6.875 GHz sub-bands. Those rules also permitted low-power access points 
to operate indoors throughout the entire 6 GHz band. In this further 
notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM), the Commission seeks comment on 
options for further expanding unlicensed operations in the 6 GHz band. 
First, the Commission proposes to authorize operations that are not 
limited to indoor use--and, thus, must be very low power to protect 
incumbents. Second, the Commission seeks comment on increasing the 
power spectral density EIRP for low-power indoor operations from 5 dBm/
MHz to 8 dBm/MHz. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on 
permitting mobile AFC controlled standard-power access point operation 
and on whether to allow higher power levels for AFC controlled standard 
power access points used in fixed point-to-point applications
    2. Very Low Power Operation. Apple, Broadcom et al. have requested 
that the Commission permit very low-power unlicensed devices to operate 
in portions of the 6 GHz band with no requirements that the devices be 
kept indoors or be under the control of an AFC system. Apple, Broadcom 
et al. claim that this device class will be critical for supporting 
indoor and outdoor portable use cases such as wearable peripherals 
including augmented reality/virtual reality and other personal-area-
network applications as well as in-vehicle applications. Apple, 
Broadcom et al. have requested that these very low-

[[Page 31998]]

power devices be permitted to transmit with 14 dBm EIRP and -8 dBm/MHz 
power spectral density EIRP.
    3. The Commission proposes to permit very low power devices to 
operate across the entirety of the 6 GH band, both indoors and 
outdoors, without using an AFC. This would make a contiguous 1200-
megahertz spectrum block available for new and innovative high-speed, 
short range devices. The Commission seeks comment on this proposal. 
What are the benefits that these devices can bring to the American 
public? What use cases are envisioned for these devices? What form 
factors will be most useful for performing everyday activities? Will 
very low power functionality be built into existing devices such as 
cell phones or will they be standalone devices? What data rates are 
necessary to enable the enhanced applications envisioned for these 
devices? Over what distances will transmissions to very low power 
devices be necessary? Where are these devices most anticipated to be 
used and for what applications? The answers to these questions will 
drive additional comment and decisions on these devices as the 
fundamental decision that must be determined is how much power can 
these very lower power devices be permitted so that the potential of 
causing harmful interference to incumbent 6 GHz band users is 
minimized.
    4. The Commission seeks comment on the appropriate power level for 
very low power unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band. In examining what 
power levels the Commission should authorize, there are many factors 
that need to be considered, including body loss (as many use cases will 
be for body worn devices), use of transmit power control, antenna type 
and radiation pattern, use of a contention-based protocol and projected 
activity factor. As a threshold matter, similar to the requirements for 
low power indoor devices, the Commission proposes to require that 6 GHz 
band very low power unlicensed devices incorporate an integrated 
antenna. The Commission seeks comment on these proposals. Using an 
integrated antenna will ensure that users are unable to swap out the 
antenna for a higher gain antenna that could increase the potential for 
interference. The Commission assumes that the antennas will be 
omnidirectional and have minimum gain. Is that a good assumption? Are 
there other antennas anticipated for these devices?
    5. As the Commission has found for indoor low power devices, should 
the Commission require a contention-based protocol that requires 
devices to sense or listen to the spectrum prior to transmitting to 
ensure all unlicensed devices have an equal opportunity to transmit as 
well as to protect incumbent users? Commenters should address whether 
protocols such as Wi-Fi's current carrier sense multiple access with 
collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) would be used or are there other 
protocols that may work here too. Apple, Broadcom et al. contend that 
such a protocol will protect mobile Broadcast Auxiliary Service 
Incumbents in the U-NII-6 and U-NII-8 bands. The Commission seeks 
comment on the viability of relying on a contention-based protocol to 
protect these uses. Can this protocol also be used to protect Fixed 
Service microwave incumbents? What sensing levels are necessary to 
reliably detect incumbent services to protect them? Wideband and 
ultrawideband unlicensed devices operate in the 6 GHz band. Can the 
contention-based protocol be used to enable co-existence between 
various unlicensed device types? Commenters should provide detailed 
technical information on the contention-based protocol and how it can 
be used to protect existing 6 GHz band users (and whether a requirement 
to include a contention-based protocol would materially affect the 
spectrum very low power devices could use as well as the relevant power 
levels in order to protect incumbent services).
    6. In determining the proper power level for very low power 
unlicensed devices using 160-megahertz channels, the Commission first 
notes that it authorized low power indoor devices to operate with 5 
dBm/MHz power spectral density (PSD) EIRP and a maximum 27 dBm EIRP. 
This decision is based on an extensive record replete with multiple 
studies--both Monte Carlo and static link budgets. A major contributing 
factor to those analyses was consideration of building entry loss and 
the effect such propagation loss would have on protecting incumbent 
licensees from harmful interference. Building attenuation is a function 
of building construction type (traditional or thermally efficient) and 
the elevation angle of the signal path at the building fa[ccedil]ade. 
Because the major difference between low power indoor unlicensed 
devices and very low power unlicensed devices is that, for the latter 
devices, outdoor use would not be subject to building entry loss, how 
should the Commission evaluate the interference potential of these 
devices as many may be operating outdoors? Can the analyses performed 
for indoor low power devices inform how the Commission proceeds here? 
The Commission notes that for many anticipated use cases, use will 
occur near the ground and in the presence of buildings and other 
objects further subjecting potentially interfering emissions to clutter 
losses. Accounting for clutter losses would infer that more power could 
be permitted without increasing the potential for harmful interference. 
How should the Commission account for clutter losses? What types of 
clutter losses would affect low power device signals? Because clutter 
losses, like building attenuation, is statistical, the Commission seeks 
information on clutter loss statistical distributions that would be 
appropriate to use in any analyses. What information is available? What 
are the minimum, maximum, and mean values that can be expected for 
various locations? How have these distributions been validated? 
Commenters should provide detailed information and reference material 
to support their claims regarding appropriate clutter losses to 
consider.
    7. Other factors that must be considered when evaluating very low 
power unlicensed devices is body loss and transmit power control. The 
Commission anticipates that most of the devices contemplated for such 
operation will be body worn and subject to such losses. In their 
filings with technical analyses, Apple, Broadcom et al. assume that 
there will be at least 18 dB signal attenuation from body loss and 
transmit power control. Is this assumption realistic? The Commission 
seeks comment on the correct value to consider for body loss and 
transmit power control for these devices. Commenters should provide 
detailed technical analysis supporting the value(s) they believe the 
Commission should rely on to determine the maximum power level for very 
low power devices.
    8. The Commission also asks commenters to address some specific 
technical solutions and use situations that it believes are likely to 
arise through typical operation. First, cell phones typically employ 
proximity or other sensors to determine if they are close to a body to 
adjust power to meet the Commission's radio frequency (RF) exposure 
rules. Could such a sensor be used in conjunction with these very low 
power devices as a way of adjusting their power based on how much body 
loss might be expected? How would such a system work to both ensure the 
ability of devices to close their links as well as avoiding causing 
harmful interference to incumbent licensees? Should such sensors be 
required on

[[Page 31999]]

these devices? If so, what parameters are essential and what algorithms 
would ensure proper power level tuning? How would interference to 
incumbent operations be protected when a very low power unlicensed 
device must use higher power when facing maximum body loss in the 
direction of its intended receiver, but no similar losses in other 
directions? For example, a cell phone in a backpack may be transmitting 
to a body worn device where the intended signal encounters a person's 
full mass in that intended direction, but no losses in other 
directions. Is this a reasonable scenario? What are the potential 
consequences of such operation?
    9. Alternatively, in use cases where an unlicensed device may not 
encounter much body loss, how would transmit power control be 
implemented to protect incumbent licensees? For example, if a device is 
mounted on a bicycle handlebar and communicating with a body worn 
device, there would be no body loss and little clutter. The Commission 
seeks comment on other use cases and whether proximity sensors could be 
used and how transmit power control would provide sufficient power for 
the application and at the same time protect incumbent licensees. How 
does the expected geometry between these unlicensed devices, which 
presumably will generally be used close to the ground and fixed service 
microwave links which are generally high off the ground and employ 
directional antennas affect the power level the Commission can allow? 
What about the interaction for Broadcast Auxiliary Services?
    10. The Commission seeks comment on how all these factors should be 
considered in analyses and the various technical solutions can work 
together to authorize very low power unlicensed devices across the 6 
GHz band. The Commission seeks comment on the appropriate factors that 
should be incorporated into a link budget. The Commission also seeks 
comment on the appropriate way to model the potential interactions 
between unlicensed devices and incumbent operations. Should the 
Commission rely on Monte Carlo analysis, link budget analysis, link-
level simulations that take into account detailed physical layer 
implementations of unlicensed devices as well as incumbent devices, or 
a combination of these methods? Regardless of which type of analysis 
commenters submit, all assumptions should be fully explained and 
supported and all methodologies explained in detail. The Commission 
also seeks comment on what technological measures can be incorporated 
into a very low-power device to support the operations at the requested 
power limits and mitigate the potential for harmful interference to 
incumbent services?
    11. In contemplating the various factors discussed, the Commission 
seeks comment on what power level the Commission should authorize for 
very low power unlicensed devices across the 6 GHz band. In this 
regard, the Commission notes that, similar to the rules the Commission 
adopted for indoor low power devices in a Report and Order adopted on 
April 23, 2020, FCC 20-51 (85 FR 31390, May 26, 2020), the Commission 
anticipates requiring devices to meet a power spectral density 
requirement, which inherently places a maximum on radiated power. Do 
commenters support this approach? Apple, Broadcom et al. contend that 
14 dBm EIRP and -8 dBm/MHZ PSD EIRP is necessary to enable the 
applications they anticipate for these devices. The Commission seeks 
comment on the power level and other technical or operational rules the 
Commission should consider to maximize the utility of the 6 GHz band 
and protect incumbent licensees. The Commission encourages commenters 
to also conduct testing and measurements of protype devices to support 
whatever rules they advocate for. Such testing can be done under an 
experimental license to the extent needed. What technical measures will 
be effective in meeting the Commission's goals of balancing new devices 
against the need to protect incumbent licensees?
    12. Power Spectral Density Increase for Low Power Indoor Operation. 
The Commission seeks comment in this FNPRM on whether to allow low 
power indoor devices to operate at a higher power spectral density of 8 
dBm/MHz with a maximum permissible EIRP of 33 dBm when a device uses a 
bandwidth of 320 megahertz in the U-NII-5 through U-NII-8 bands. The 
Commission adopts 5 dBm/MHz in the Report and Order considering the 
analyses in the record based on limited measurements, Monte Carlo 
simulations and static link budgets, none of which fully capture a 
future deployment scenario involving a very large number of unlicensed 
devices operating in a complex interference environment. Analyses that 
can incorporate realistic environments, including accurate link-level 
and system level simulations or measurements which take into account 
the physical layer characteristics of both unlicensed and incumbent 
devices would be more convincing in determining whether a higher PSD 
such as 8 dBm/MHz should be adopted. For devices operating with 
bandwidths other than 320 megahertz, the maximum allowable total power 
would scale accordingly (e.g., 30 dBm with a bandwidth of 160 
megahertz, 27 dBm with a bandwidth of 80 megahertz, 24 dBm with a 
bandwidth of 40 megahertz, and 21 dBm with a bandwidth of 20 
megahertz). The Commission believes that these rules would be useful 
for many indoor devices that require high data rate transmissions such 
as indoor access points communicating with clients like high-
performance video game controllers, and wearable video augmented 
reality and virtual reality devices.
    13. Would the proposed power levels be useful for low power indoor 
devices? What are the specific benefits to consumers and users of 
unlicensed operations of a higher power spectral density limit? Are the 
proposed power limits appropriate for preventing interference to 
authorized users in the U-NII-5 through U-NII-8 bands? Do the mobile 
uses of these bands present challenges to adjusting the power limits? 
Should the Commission adopt any other requirements in addition to power 
density and total EIRP limits to protect services in these bands? The 
Commission seeks specific comment on how a higher power spectral 
density limit would impact the analysis of Examples 1B, 4, and 5 from 
the AT&T study submitted to the Commission on November 12, 2019 in ET 
Docket No. 18-295, as well as how common those scenarios are. 
Proponents of low-power indoor operations have convincingly shown that 
even in these examples the likelihood of harmful interference to fixed 
microwave services will be insignificant with a power spectral density 
limit of 5 dBm/MHz. Is the risk materially higher at 8 dBm/MHz? Is so, 
is such risk still low (or even insignificant)? And how common are such 
scenarios? The Commission seeks specific comment from fixed service 
incumbents on what fraction of their operations do each of these 
scenarios represent. And is the Commission correct to surmise that 
these are worst case scenarios (as would be suggested by the incentives 
of those introducing these scenarios into the record) or do they 
actually represent a significant number of operations? Finally, the 
Commission seeks comment on the benefits and costs of the proposal. How 
should the Commission quantify the potential economic benefits of 
authorizing higher power spectral density for low power indoor devices 
and the potential cost to incumbent operations should interference 
occur?
    14. Mobile Standard-Power Access Point Operation. The Commission 
seeks

[[Page 32000]]

comment on whether to allow standard-power access points, under AFC 
control, to be used in mobile applications under rules similar to those 
for personal/portable white space devices. Such usage would expand the 
area over which unlicensed 6 GHz devices can operate to deliver 
additional benefits to the American public. Mobile use at higher power 
levels than what the Commission is proposing, or very low power 
unlicensed devices could also enable new innovative applications. The 
Commission seeks comment on what benefits such usage could provide. 
What new applications are envisioned for higher power mobile operation?
    15. The white space device rules limit personal/portable devices to 
a lower power level than fixed white space devices. Under the rules a 
personal/portable white space device must determine its geographic 
coordinates using an incorporated geo-location capability prior to its 
initial service transmission, each time the device is activated from a 
power-off condition, and at least once every 60 seconds while in 
operation. In addition, it must access a database to obtain a list of 
available channels for its location and must access the database for an 
updated channel list if it changes location by more than 100 meters 
from the location at which it last obtained its channel list. Also, a 
personal/portable white space device must re-check its location and 
access the database daily to verify that the operating channel(s) 
continue to be available. Further, it may load channel availability 
information for multiple locations, (i.e., in the vicinity of its 
current location) and use that information to define a geographic area 
within which it can operate on the same available channels at all 
locations.
    16. The Commission seeks comment on whether the Commission should 
allow mobile standard-power access point operation in the 6 GHz band, 
and if so, what technical requirements should apply? Are the personal/
portable white space device rules an appropriate model to follow in 
developing rules for mobile standard-power access points? Which of 
those rules could be adopted for 6 GHz standard-power devices? Which of 
the white space rules would need to be modified for devices operating 
in the 6 GHz band? What other changes or requirements would be needed? 
Should the Commission define a separate device category for mobile 
standard-power devices? If so, how should these differ from fixed 
standard-power access points? For example, the Commission believes such 
devices would need an integrated geolocation capability and have an 
integrated connectorized antenna. The Commission seeks comment on these 
requirements and any others that need to be placed on these devices.
    17. What power limit would be appropriate for mobile standard-power 
access points? Could mobile standard-power access points operate at the 
same power as fixed devices or should they have a lower maximum power? 
How should the protection distances be calculated for mobile devices? 
What factors need to be considered to ensure that incumbent operations 
are protected from harmful interference? How often would mobile devices 
need to update their position? Should it be the same requirement as for 
white space devices which require updates every 60 seconds or when the 
location changes by more than 100 meters? Or, are other requirements 
more appropriate? Should the Commission allow devices to preload a list 
of cleared channels over an area (e.g., create a geo-fenced area) and 
operate without updating location with the AFC system so long as they 
stay within the cleared area? Should mobile operation be permitted in 
both the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 bands?
    18. What effect would permitting mobile standard-power access point 
operation have on the AFC? Would allowing standard-power access points 
to operate while in motion make the AFC system overly complicated as it 
would need to continuously update available frequency lists for such 
devices? Would mobile applications add substantial congestion to links 
connecting devices to the AFC system as a moving device may need to be 
in near constant contact with the database, potentially degrading the 
quality of service for the expected predominant fixed access point use? 
Would the added complexity of mobile operation delay the AFC system 
development and prevent the American public from reaping the benefits 
of expanded unlicensed use soon? What costs would be involved with 
adding this capability? And, what additional requirements would be 
needed for 6 GHz unlicensed devices? Would additional information need 
to be communicated to the AFC system to identify whether a device is 
fixed or mobile? Would fixed devices need to be updated to send 
additional data too? How would this impact development of devices and 
the timeline for getting them into the marketplace? Are there 
additional security concerns associated with mobile operation? What are 
the costs that might be involved with permitting mobile standard-power 
device operation?
    19. The Commission seeks comment on all technical and operational 
aspects associated with mobile standard-power device operation. 
Commenters should provide detailed technical analysis to support 
comments advocating technical limits and methods of protecting 
incumbent users from harmful interference. In addition, commenters 
should provide detailed support for any operational rules they believe 
could be adopted to expand 6 GHz unlicensed use to mobile standard-
power operations while protecting incumbent operations from harmful 
interference.
    20. Higher Power Limits and Antenna Directivity for Standard-Power 
Access Points. The Commission also seeks comment on whether to allow 
standard-power access points used in fixed point-to-point applications 
to operate at power levels greater than 36 dBm EIRP. In the Report and 
Order, the Commission limits standard power access points to a maximum 
36 dBm EIRP power level to limit the range at which harmful 
interference could potentially occur. That approach deviates from the 
U-NII-1 and U-NII-3 band rules which permit higher power point-to-point 
operations, because of the different incumbent licensee environment in 
the 6 GHz band as compared to 5 GHz. To explore whether similar 
flexibility can be permitted in the 6 GHz band, the Commission seeks 
comment on whether to allow power levels greater than 36 dBm EIRP for 
standard-power access points operating in the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 bands 
when configured as point-to-point links. As a threshold matter, the 
Commission believes that any flexibility provided for higher power 
should be used for targeted applications that would benefit from point-
to-point operations, such as backhaul and not for point-to-multipoint 
use or as a scheme for providing more wide area service through 
multiple antennas aimed to cover larger areas. Thus, if the Commission 
allows higher power for point-to-point links, the Commission seeks 
comment on replicating the U-NII-1 and U-NII-3 band requirement on such 
links that would exclude the use of point-to-multipoint systems, 
omnidirectional applications, and multiple collocated transmitters 
transmitting the same information.
    21. The Commission seeks comment on the appropriate technical 
parameters and limits that would be associated with 6 GHz point-to-
point operation. How would the Commission ensure that incumbent 
operations will be protected from unlicensed devices operating at 
higher power levels? For example, should there be a limit on the 
maximum

[[Page 32001]]

conducted transmitter power as is done in other U-NII bands to 
encourage parties to use higher gain, highly directional antennas? If 
so, what is the appropriate power limit? Should there be specific 
antenna requirements for standard-power access points operating at 
power levels above 36 dBm EIRP, such as a minimum gain or maximum 
beamwidth requirement? To limit the maximum EIRP and thus the distance 
over which stations could be potentially affected, the U-NII-1 band 
requires a 1 dB reduction in maximum conducted output power and maximum 
power spectral density for each 1 dB of antenna gain in excess of 23 
dBi. Would a similar requirement be needed for the 6 GHz band? If so, 
what should be the antenna gain threshold for triggering the power 
reduction? Are any other requirements necessary to protect incumbent 
services? What modifications to the AFC system would be required to 
accommodate higher power point-to-point operations? Would any 
corresponding changes be needed for standard-power access points 
related to the information they exchange with the AFC? If so, how 
quickly could changes be made to the AFC and equipment? What costs are 
involved?
    22. Regarding unlicensed point-to-point applications in the 6 GHz 
band, the Commission also seeks comment on whether the AFC system 
should be permitted to take the directivity of a standard-power access 
point's antenna into account when determining the available frequencies 
and power levels at a location, rather than assuming an omnidirectional 
antenna. The directional pattern of an access point's antenna could 
affect the identification of available frequencies at a location, 
because when the transmit antenna points away from a microwave 
receiver, the effect would be that the access point has a lower EIRP in 
the direction of the receiver. Under such situations, the required 
separation distance between the access point and microwave receiver 
would be shorter, which could increase the number of locations where a 
device could operate. Would taking access point transmit antenna 
directivity into account result in any significant increase in the 
amount of spectrum available to unlicensed devices?
    23. If the AFC system considers access point transmit antenna 
directivity, how would the Commission assure the accuracy of antenna 
pattern and orientation information? Would the Commission need to rely 
on a professional installer requirement as the Commission does for 
certain stations in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service? If so, how 
would such a requirement be implemented? Are there other ways to ensure 
reporting accuracy of this information? How could this information be 
supplied to the AFC system? Should there be an automated system, or 
could the Commission allow for a manual system or both? Should the 
Commission require the AFC system to store detailed information, such 
as the antenna gain at one-degree intervals, or could the Commission 
define several simpler generic antenna patterns that approximate 
commonly used antennas? What other criteria would the Commission need 
to specify to ensure that incumbent services are protected? Would the 
benefits of such an approach outweigh the increased costs and 
complexity of the AFC system and the risk that inaccurate antenna 
pattern information might result in harmful interference to incumbent 
services? If the Commission were to permit a change, what specific 
changes are needed to the AFC system? Are corresponding changes needed 
to the standard-power access points' software or hardware? How long 
would it take to make such changes? What costs would be associated with 
such changes?
    24. Procedural Matters. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis. This 
document does not contain new or modified information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new 
or modified information collection burden for small business concerns 
with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork 
Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
    25. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. As required by the 
RFA, the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities of the proposals addressed in this 
FNPRM. The Full IRFA is found in Appendix C at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs/search-results?t=advanced&fccNo=18-147. Written public comments 
are requested on the IRFA. These comments must be filed in accordance 
with the same filing deadlines for comments on the FNPRM, and they 
should have a separate and distinct heading designating them as 
responses to the IRFA. The Commission's Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, will send a copy of this 
FNPRM, including the IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration, in accordance with the RFA.
    26. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).
    27. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex 
parte submissions will be publicly available online via ECFS. These 
documents will also be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, which is 
located in Room CY-A257 at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20554. The Reference Information Center is open to the 
public Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 
from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
    28. Ex Parte Presentations. The proceedings shall be treated as 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceedings in accordance with the Commission's 
ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy 
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule Sec.  1.1206(b). In proceedings governed 
by rule Sec.  1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a 
method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and 
memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments 
thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system

[[Page 32002]]

available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format 
(e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in these 
proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte 
rules.

Ordering Clauses

    29. It is ordered, pursuant to the authority found in Sections 
4(i), 201, 302, and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. 154(i), 201, 302a, 303, and Sec.  1.411 of the Commission's 
Rules, 47 CFR 1.411, that this FNPRM is hereby adopted.
    30. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this FNPRM, including the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration.
    31. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this FNPRM, including the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis, to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant 
to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Federal Communications Commission.
Cecilia Sigmund,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-11320 Filed 5-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P