Media Contact:
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.govFor Immediate Release
FCC ADOPTS NEW RULES FOR THE 6 GHz BAND, UNLEASHING
1,200 MEGAHERTZ OF SPECTRUM FOR UNLICENSED USECommission Provides a Boost to Wi-Fi and Other Unlicensed Uses
While Protecting Incumbent Services in the BandWASHINGTON, April 23, 2020—
The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules that make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz) available
for unlicensed use. These new rules will usher in Wi-Fi 6, the next generation of Wi-Fi, and
play a major role in the growth of the Internet of Things. Wi-Fi 6 will be over two-and-a-half
times faster than the current standard and will offer better performance for American
consumers. Opening the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use will also increase the amount of
spectrum available for Wi-Fi by nearly a factor of five and help improve rural connectivity.
The 6 GHz band is currently populated by, among others, microwave services that are used to
support utilities, public safety, and wireless backhaul. Unlicensed devices will share this
spectrum with incumbent licensed services under rules crafted to protect those licensed
services and enable both unlicensed and licensed operations to thrive throughout the band.
The Report and Order authorizes indoor low-power operations over the full 1,200 megahertz
and standard-power devices in 850 megahertz in the 6 GHz band. An automated frequency
coordination system will prevent standard power access points from operating where they
could cause interference to incumbent services.
The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a proposal to permit very low power
devices to operate across the 6 GHz band to support high data rate applications
including high-performance, wearable, augmented-reality and virtual-reality devices. The
notice also seeks comment on increasing the power at which low-power indoor access points
may operate.
Unlicensed devices that employ Wi-Fi and other unlicensed standards have become
indispensable for providing low-cost wireless connectivity in countless products used by
American consumers. In making broad swaths of the 6 GHz spectrum available for unlicensed
use, the FCC envisions new innovative technologies and services that will deliver new devices
and applications to American consumers and advance the Commission’s goal of making
broadband connectivity available to all Americans, especially those in rural and underserved
areas.
Action by the Commission April 23, 2020 by Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FCC 20-51). Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel, and
Starks approving and issuing separate statements.
ET Docket No. 18-295; GN Docket No. 17-183
REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING LINKhttps://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-51A1.pdf ###
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www.fcc.govThis is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.
Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
