FCC 6 GHz Proceeding March 18, 2020 OET Docket No. 18-295 GN - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FCC 6 GHz Proceeding

March 18, 2020 OET Docket No. 18-295 GN Docket No. 17-183

The “Innovation Band”

• Unlicensed spectrum is the fuel that powers innovation and tech entrepreneurship in

the 21st century.

– AR/VR, Drones, Telehealth, Connected Vehicles, AI – Over 75 billion connected IoT devices worldwide by 2025, a five-fold increase over a 10-year period.

• Unlicensed spectrum generates $62 billion per year for the U.S. economy (CTA,

2014) and $2 trillion globally (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2018).

• CTA supports Chairman Pai’s proposal to make 1200 megahertz of spectrum available

for unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band.

• Unlicensed spectrum is especially important in light of current events (e.g., home Wi-

Fi use).

Winning the Race to 5G

• Not an either/or proposition between licensed and unlicensed.

– Support higher data rates – Support more devices

• Unlicensed and licensed services can coexist in the band without harmful

interference

– Apple, Broadcom, Cisco et al. Ex Parte – March 10, 2020 – Apple, Facebook, Google Ex Parte – March 9, 2020 – Comcast Ex Parte – March 5, 2020

VLP Devices

• FCC has the potential to enable new markets provided the technical specifications are

suitable.

• The FCC should permit VLP devices to operate at 14 dBm EIRP, which is -8 dBm/MHz

radiated power spectral density in a 160-megahertz channel.

• VLP needs its own rules to enable new markets for consumer body-worn technologies
• VLP use cases are different than LPI.

– Mobile AR/VR, UHD Video Streaming, High Speed Tethering, In-Vehicle Entertainment – VLP needs different rules to enable these applications

Market Example – Wireless Headphones

What happens when you untether?

20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Shift from Wired to Wireless Earbuds

Units Sales (1,000s)

Wired Earbuds Wireless Earbuds

Consistent w/Int’l Approach

• Recent EU reports found no harmful interference at 14 dBm.
• ECC Report 316:

https://www.cept.org/files/9522/Draft%20ECC%20Report%20316.docx

• Ofcom consultation on improving spectrum access for WiFi in the 5 GHz

and 6 GHz bands: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and- statements/category-2/improving-spectrum-access-for-wi-fi

Takeaways

• Risks inherent in setting the wrong value:

– Failure to enable new markets and products – Inconsistencies between U.S. and international approaches – Losing U.S. lead in unlicensed and innovative consumer devices

Wrap Up

Brian Markwalter, Senior VP, Research & Standards Mike Bergman, VP Technology & Standards Jamie Susskind, VP Policy & Regulatory Affairs