Policy: Rubio pushes for unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum; Chinese firm fined $34.9M

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio continued to push for freeing up wireless spectrum, announcing the Wi-Fi Innovation Act he introduced in concert with Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The bill calls for the Federal Communications Commission to test the feasibility of using the upper 5 GHz spectrum band for unlicensed use.
Specifically, the act directs the FCC to move on seeking comments and conducting testing on the feasibility of using the 5850-5925 MHz band for unlicensed use; pushes the need for sharing spectrum in the 5 GHz band; and establishes a “study to examine Wi-Fi deployment in low-income communities and the barriers preventing deployment of wireless networks in low-income neighborhoods.”
“To meet the demands of our time, action must be taken to ensure spectrum is utilized effectively and efficiently,” explained Rubio. “This bill requires the FCC to conduct testing that would provide more spectrum to the public and ultimately put the resource to better use, while recognizing the future needs and important work being done in intelligent transportation. I am pleased that Senator Booker has joined me in this effort to foster the innovation and economic growth needed to make this century another American century.”
The FCC, which for years has been attempting to open up the 5 GHz band for expanded unlicensed use, earlier this year adopted a Report and Order that modified rules for unlicensed spectrum use that it said will streamline the use of spectrum in the 5 GHz band. Unlicensed spectrum uses are currently tied to 555 megahertz in the 5 GHz band, though there are limitations for indoor use only. The Wi-Fi usage in that band is typically signified by the 802.11a standard. The FCC said the modified rules will remove the indoor-only restriction and provide more access in the 5.15-5.25 GHz band and allow the Wi-Fi industry greater leeway in implementing the 802.11ac standard, which accesses both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Rubio earlier this month introduced the Wireless Innovation Act, calling for the federal government to reallocate spectrum assets used by federal agencies for commercial use. The legislation requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to identify and reallocate 200 megahertz of spectrum for mobile use, including 140 megahertz for licensed, 40 megahertz for shared and 20 megahertz for unlicensed use, with those spectrum assets to be auctioned off beginning in 2018.
The legislation also “incentivizes” federal agencies to participate in reallocation efforts by allowing portions of the proceedings to “be made available for advance planning and enhanced efficiency, including research and development and cost and technical assessments on future reallocation of additional spectrum.” Rubio’s legislation also looks to promote the secondary spectrum market by speeding up the Federal Communication Commission review period for “routine license transfers.”
–The FCC late last week announced the appointment of Chris Helzer as the chief engineer for the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Helzer previously served as an engineer in the WTB’s Broadband Division, and prior to that worked 19 years in various engineering positions at Wireless Strategy, Nextel Communications and LLC International.
–Chinese electronics manufacturer and online retailer C.T.S. Technology was hit with a $34.9 million fine by the FCC for marketing 285 models of signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers over the past two years. It is against the law to market or for consumers to purchase and operate signal jammers.
The FCC claimed that C.T.S. misled U.S. consumers that its jammers were approved for use by the FCC. The FCC also said that the firm sold 10 illegal signal jamming devices to undercover FCC personnel.
“All companies, whether domestic or foreign, are banned from marketing illegal jammers in the U.S.,” said Travis LeBlanc, acting chief of the Enforcement Bureau. “Signal jammers present a direct danger to public safety, potentially blocking the communications of first responders. Operating a jammer is also illegal, and consumers who do so face significant civil and criminal penalties.”
The FCC earlier this year fined a Florida man $48,000 for using a cellphone jammer from his automobile that interfered with first-responder communications.
The use of jammers has been a contentious issue for regulators as previous rules have allowed the use of such device by law enforcement agencies in cases where an explosive device could be triggered by a cellphone or to interrupt communications for cellphones that are smuggled into prisons.
The issue was also brought up in the case of wireless signal repeaters sold by third parties that if not installed correctly could interfere with wireless communication signals generated by mobile operators. The FCC has since approved the use of signal boosters, though they have to conform to stringent regulations.
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