FEDE R A L C O MMUNIC ATI O NS C O MM ISSION WA S HING T O N OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan U.S. House of Representatives 2446 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Lujan: February 28, 2014 Thank you for your letter encouraging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to promptly examine the possible expansion of unlicensed Wi-Fi access in the 5 GHz band. I share your recognition ofthe importance of making available more unlicensed spectrum, and I agree that we need to continue our collaborative efforts with government agencies and private stakeholders to resolve technical issues related to this band. The FCC is committed to realizing the tremendous promise the 5 GHz band offers for unlicensed use, but we also remain obligated to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, pursuant to the FCC's rules. Our staff has been working with all of the stakeholders to resolve the technical challenges associated with increasing the utility ofthis spectrum, while also protecting incumbent, licensed users. Following the release ofNTIA 's January 2013 initial study evaluating the 5350-54 70 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, on February 20, 2013, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on how to increase the utility of the existing Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-Nll) 5 GHz bands, as well as the technical feasibility of allowing operation ofU-NII devices in the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands. Based on the comments received in response to the NPRM and the continuing collaborative efforts of the various stakeholders, we are considering acting in the near-term to enhance the utility of the spectrum that is already avai lable for unlicensed U-NII use, while deferring final consideration of the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, pending ongoing technical analyses. With respect to the 5850-5925 MHz band in particular, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has established the 802.11 DSRC Coexistence Tiger Team, which is comprised of an international group of distinguished technical experts who were responsible for developing the initial Wi-Fi and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standards used for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Because the IEEE initially designed this family of standards, we believe that the Tiger Team is well-suited for finding technical solutions to the spectrum sharing issues in this band. On February 7, 2014, the TigerTcam filed a letter with the FCC noting positive collaboration with the participants, and anticipating initial results Page 2- The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan from simulations by mid-20 14. Prototype tests are slated to begin later in the year, and the Tiger Team plans to explore additional coexistence techniques throughout the year. We believe that it is important to allow all stakeholders the opportunity to develop and test technical solutions prior to adopting final rules. The FCC is coordinating closely with NTIA to monitor and evaluate the Tiger Team' s work, and the FCC will include the resulting analyses as part of the record in our proceeding. Our goal is to reach an expeditious resolution to these complex matters that best provides for effective utilization of the spectrum. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be included in the record of the 5 GHz Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and considered during the FCC's review. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. cc: The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation The Honorable Lawrence E. Strickling Sincerely, Tom Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information National Telecommunications and Information Administration U.S. Department of Commerce FE DER AL C O MMUNICATIONS C OMM ISSIO N WA S HINGTO N OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Anna Eshoo Ranking Member February 28, 2014 Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce U.S. House of Representatives 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Eshoo: Thank you for your letter encouraging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to promptly examine the possible expansion of unlicensed Wi-Fi access in the 5 GHz band. I share your recognition of the importance of making available more unlicensed spectrum, and I agree that we need to continue our collaborative efforts with government agencies and private stakeholders to resolve technical issues related to this band. The FCC is committed to realizing the tremendous promise the 5 GHz band offers for unlicensed use, but we also remain obligated to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, pursuant to the FCC's rules. Our staff has been working with all of the stakeholders to resolve the technical challenges associated with increasing the utility of this spectrum, while also protecting incumbent, licensed users. Following the release ofNTIA's January 2013 initial study evaluating the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, on February 20, 2013, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on how to increase the utility of the existing Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) 5 GHz bands, as well as the technical feasibility of allowing operation ofU-NII devices in the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands. Based on the comments received in response to the NPRM and the continuing collaborative efforts of the various stakeholders, we are considering acting in the near-term to enhance the utility of the spectrum that is already available for unlicensed U-Nil use, while deferring final consideration of the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, pending ongoing technical analyses. With respect to the 5850-5925 MHz band in particular, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has established the 802.11 DSRC Coexistence Tiger Team, which is comprised of an international group of distinguished technical experts who were responsible for developing the initial Wi-Fi and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standards Page 2-The Honorable Anna Eshoo used for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Because the IEEE initially designed this family of standards, we believe that the Tiger Team is well-suited for finding technical solutions to the spectrum sharing issues in this band. On February 7, 2014, the Tiger Team filed a letter with the FCC noting positive collaboration with the participants, and anticipating initial results from simulations by mid-20 14. Prototype tests are slated to begin later in the year, and the Tiger Team plans to explore additional coexistence techniques throughout the year. We believe that it is important to allow all stakeholders the opportunity to develop and test technical solutions prior to adopting final rules. The FCC is coordinating closely with NTIA to monitor and evaluate the Tiger Team' s work, and the FCC will include the resulting analyses as part of the record in our proceeding. Our goal is to reach an expeditious resolution to these complex matters that best provides for effective utilization of the spectrum. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be included in the record of the 5 GHz Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and considered during the FCC's review. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. cc: The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation The Honorable Lawrence E. Strickling Tom Wheeler Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information National Telecommunications and Information Administration U.S. Department of Commerce FEDER A L C O MMUNICATI O N S C O MMISS IO N W AS H I N G T ON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Doris Matsui U.S. House of Representatives 2434 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Matsui: February 28, 2014 Thank you for your letter encouraging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTlA) to promptly examine the possible expansion of unlicensed Wi-Fi access in the 5 GHz band. I share your recognition of the importance of making available more unlicensed spectrum, and I agree that we need to continue our collaborative efforts with government agencies and private stakeholders to resolve technical issues related to this band. The FCC is committed to realizing the tremendous promise the 5 GHz band offers for unlicensed use, but we also remain obligated to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, pursuant to the FCC' s rules. Our staff has been working with all of the stakeholders to resolve the technical challenges associated with increasing the utility of this spectrum, while also protecting incumbent, licensed users. Following the release ofNTIA's January 2013 initial study evaluating the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, on February 20, 2013, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Ru/emaking (NPRM) seeking comment on how to increase the utility of the existing Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NIT) 5 GHz bands, as well as the technical feasibility of allowing operation of U-NIT devices in the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands. Based on the comments received in response to the NPRM and the continuing collaborative efforts of the various stakeholders, we are considering acting in the near-term to enhance the utility of the spectrum that is already available for unlicensed U-NII use, while deferring final consideration of the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands, pending ongoing technical analyses. With respect to the 5850-5925 MHz band in particular, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has established the 802.11 DSRC Coexistence Tiger Team, which is comprised of an international group of distinguished technical experts who were responsible for developing the initial Wi-Fi and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standards used for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Because the IEEE initially designed this family of standards, we believe that the Tiger Team is well-suited for finding technical solutions to the spectrum sharing issues in this band. On February 7, 2014, the Tiger Team filed a letter Page 2-The Honorable Doris Matsui with the FCC noting positive collaboration with the participants, and anticipating initial results from simulations by mid-2014. Prototype tests are slated to begin later in the year, and the Tiger Team plans to explore additional coexistence techniques throughout the year. We believe that it is important to allow all stakeholders the opportunity to develop and test technical solutions prior to adopting final rules. The FCC is coordinating closely with NTIA to monitor and evaluate the Tiger Team's work, and the FCC will include the resulting analyses as part of the record in our proceeding. Our goal is to reach an expeditious resolution to these complex matters that best provides for effective utilization of the spectrum. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be included in the record of the 5 GHz Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and considered during the FCC's review. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. cc: The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation The Honorable Lawrence E. Strickling Sincerely, --:;;.;-1/(t Tom Wheeler Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information National Telecommunications and Information Administration U.S. Department of Commerce