6 GHz Spectrum Is Vital for Public Safety

Public safety agencies extensively use the 6 GHz band for mission critical systems that support operational needs, such as dispatching first responders and maintaining land mobile radio communications during incidents. In recent years, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules allowing widespread use of the band by unlicensed devices, such as Wi-Fi routers, posing growing risks of interference to public safety systems. As this use expands, APCO is working to ensure these lifesaving systems remain protected from interference. APCO has advocated that this sharing should only occur if appropriate measures are in place to effectively prevent, identify and eliminate interference to public safety systems.

APCO Issues Updated Technical Bulletin Regarding Potential Interference to 6 GHz Microwave Systems

Under rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission to expand unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band, the newly-permitted devices present an additional interference risk to public safety 6 GHz systems on top of previously-authorized devices. Despite cautions from APCO and others, the FCC did not require testing in advance, ensure effective measures are in place to prevent interference, or adopt measures to quickly detect, identify, and eliminate interference when it occurs.

To support public safety agencies using 6 GHz, APCO issued a Technical Bulletin, refreshing a related 2022 bulletin to provide information about the nature of the threat and recommendations for agencies to prepare for the increasingly uncertain spectrum environment.

Read the bulletin

Governmental Proceedings

2024
May 20, 2024 Ex Parte: 6 GHz, Wireless 9-1-1 Location Accuracy, Outage Notifications, NG9-1-1 (GN 17-183, ET 18-295, 04-35, PS 15-80, 07-114, PS 21-479)
April 26, 2024 APCO Reply Comments: 6 GHz (Second FNPRM) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
April 5, 2024 Ex Parte: Interference Reporting in AFC Systems (ET 21-352)
January 31, 2024 Ex Parte: 6 GHz, Wireless 9-1-1 Location Accuracy, Outage Notifications (Commissioner Gomez) (GN 17-183, ET 18-295, 04-35, PS 07-114, 15-80)
2023
September 7, 2023 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Joint Opposition to Extreme Networks Waiver Request (ET 23-282)
August 3, 2023 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Joint Letter Requesting Data from NSF Testing (GN 17-183, ET 18-295)
July 14, 2023 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc. Ex Parte (Chairwoman Rosenworcel) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
May 1, 2023 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte 6 GHz (Chair and Commissioners) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
April 5, 2023 Comments: Wi-Fi Alliance Waiver Request (23-107)
March 31, 2023 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Joint Letter Seeking Commission Action on 6 GHz (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
January 27, 2023 APCO, AT&T, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding Industry Standards for 6 GHz (ET 21-352, 18-295)
2022
December 7, 2022 Ex Parte: 6 GHz (Chair and Commissioners) (ET 18-295, 21-352, GN 17-183)
November 22, 2022 Ex Parte: 6 GHz Miami-Dade Interference (ET 21-352, ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
September 1, 2022 Technical Bulletin for Operators of 6 GHz Microwave Systems
September 1, 2022 Ex Parte: 6 GHz Multi-Stakeholder Group Report (ET 18-295, GN 17-183, ET 21-352)
June 21, 2022 NWCC Ex Parte: Regarding 6 GHz Request for Stay and Petition for Rulemaking (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
May 31, 2022 Ex Parte: AFC System Operator Applications (ET 21-352)
May 6, 2022 Ex Parte: Experimental STA Applications in the 6 GHz Band (OET) (PS 18-295)
2021
December 28, 2021 D.C. Circuit Court Order on Petition for Review of the 6 GHz Order
December 21, 2021 Comments: AFC System Operator Applications (ET 21-352)
December 20, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Request for Stay and Petition for Rulemaking (Starks) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
December 17, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Request for Stay and Petition for Rulemaking (Carr) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
December 17, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Request for Stay and Petition for Rulemaking (Simington) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
December 15, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Request for Stay and Petition for Rulemaking (Rosenworcel) ((ET 18-295, GN 17-183))
December 8, 2021 APCO, UTC, IAFC, NPSTC etc.: Petition for Rulemaking: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
December 8, 2021 APCO, UTC, IAFC, NPSTC etc.: Request for Stay: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
September 10, 2021 D.C. Circuit Court Grants APCO Motion to Divide Argument
September 7, 2021 APCO Reply in Support of Motion to Divide Argument
September 3, 2021 APCO Motion to Divide Argument
April 2, 2021 Joint Reply Brief by Petitioners
March 23, 2021 APCO, IAFC, NPSTC, UTC, etc.: Reply Comments Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (Client-to-Client Communications) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
March 4, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Interference Testing (Rosenworcel) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
March 4, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Interference Testing (Carr) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
March 4, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Ex Parte Regarding 6 GHz Interference Testing (Starks) (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
March 2, 2021 Initial Brief by Intervenors (Apple, Broadcom Inc., et al.)
February 23, 2021 Brief by Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. in Support of Respondents
February 23, 2021 Brief by Public Knowledge et al. in Support of Respondents
February 22, 2021 APCO, UTC, EEI, etc.: Joint Comments Regarding Client-to-Client Device Communications in the 6 GHz Band ((ET 18-295, GN 17-183))
February 22, 2021 Brief by Respondents Regarding 6 GHz Order (Revised)
February 16, 2021 Brief by Respondents Regarding 6 GHz Order
February 16, 2021 Ex Parte: Meeting with PSHSB on Open Public Safety Proceedings (2021) (ET 04-35, 18-295; GN 17-183; PS 07-114, 11-60, 13-75, 15-80, 15-91, 15-94; WP 07-100)
January 26, 2021 APCO, IAFC, NPSTC, UTC, etc.: Open Letter on 6 GHz Interference Testing
2020
December 23, 2020 Initial Brief by Joint Petitioners regarding 6 GHz Order (Revised)
December 18, 2020 Initial Brief by Joint Petitioners regarding 6 GHz Order
October 1, 2020 D.C. Circuit Court Denies Emergency Motion for Stay of the 6 GHz Order
September 18, 2020 APCO Reply in Support of Emergency Motion for Stay
September 4, 2020 Emergency Motion for Stay of the 6 GHz Order
August 13, 2020 FCC Order Denying Petitions for Stay ((ET 18-295, GN 17-183))
August 10, 2020 Reply to Oppositions to the Petitions for Reconsideration: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183, WP 07-100)
July 24, 2020 Petition for Review at D.C. Circuit regarding FCC 6 GHz Order
July 24, 2020 Withdrawal of Petition for Reconsideration: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
July 17, 2020 Ex Parte: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183, WP 07-100)
June 29, 2020 Comments: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
May 28, 2020 Petition for Reconsideration: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
May 28, 2020 Petition for Stay: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
April 23, 2020 FCC Order to Expand Unlicensed Use of 6 GHz ((ET 18-295, GN 17-183))
April 10, 2020 Ex Parte: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
2019
July 26, 2019 Ex Parte: Meetings with the FCC on 9-1-1 Location Accuracy, Improving Wireless Network Resiliency and Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (PS 07-114, 18-261, 17-239, 11-60, ET 18-295, GN 17-183, 11-117)
February 15, 2019 Comments: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band (ET 18-295, GN 17-183)
2018
October 23, 2018 FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Expand Unlicensed Use of 6 GHz ((ET 18-295, GN 17-183))
March 29, 2018 Ex Parte: Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz (GN 17-183)
2017
October 2, 2017 Comments: Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz (GN 17-183)