FERC writes FCC re unlicensed 6 GHz rulemaking

U.S. electricity regulators have written a letter to the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, asking the FCC to consider how its proposed rulemaking regarding the unlicensed use of the 6 GHz spectrum band could affect electric reliability.

The Federal Communications Commission is the primary federal agency charged with implementing and enforcing America’s law and regulations regarding communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. In 2018, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band, proposing rules it said would "promote new opportunities for unlicensed use in portions of the 1200 megahertz of spectrum in the 5.925-7.125 GHz (6 GHz) band while ensuring that licensed services operating in the band continue to thrive."

But as noted in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's December 18, 2019 letter to the FCC, "Many electric utilities use the 6 GHz spectrum band to support their real-time operations, including supervisory control and data acquisition that is used to monitor and control generating units, transmission lines, and substation equipment as well as system protection." The Commission urged the FCC to consider requests from states and utilities for testing of an "Automated Frequency Coordination" system designed to guarantee that unlicensed devices do not interfere with incumbent users.

The FCC unlicensed use of the 6 GHz spectrum band rulemaking proceeding, Docket 18-295, remains pending.