FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Marco Rubio United States Senate 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Rubio: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter supporting our efforts to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views ofthe importance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Starting with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31, 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for further review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group's progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shared use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing and analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex undertaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also cun·ently considering. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of fmiher expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring innovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Cory Booker United States Senate 141 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Booker: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter suppmiing our effmis to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views of the importance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Starting with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31 , 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for further review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group ' s progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department ofTranspmtation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shared use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing and analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex undertaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also currently considering. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of further expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring innovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any fmiher assistance. jx Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON O FFI C E OF THE C H A IRMAN The Honorable Anna Eshoo U.S. House ofRepresentatives 241 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Eshoo: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter supporting our efforts to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views of the impmiance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Starting with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31, 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for fmiher review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group ' s progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shared use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing and analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex unde1iaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also currently considering. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of further expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring innovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, ~ Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Darrell Issa U.S. House of Representatives 234 7 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Issa: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter supporting our efforts to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views of the importance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Stmiing with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31 , 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for fwiher review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group ' s progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shm·ed use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing m1d analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex undertaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also currently considering. Neve1iheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of further expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring iru1ovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Bob Latta U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2448 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Latta: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter supporting our efforts to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views of the importance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Starting with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31 , 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for further review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group's progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shared use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing and analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex undertaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also currently considering. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of further expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring innovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 7f:t;41 Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Doris Matsui U.S. House of Representatives 2434 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Matsui: October 17, 2014 Thank you for your letter supporting our efforts to free up spectrum in the upper 5 GHz band. I share your views of the importance of meeting the demand for spectrum, including unlicensed spectrum. We will include your letter in the record of our rulemaking proceeding. Starting with Chairman Genachowski, the Commission has prioritized the 5 GHz rulemaking and focused significant resources on this proceeding in order to make this band available for shared, unlicensed use to the maximum extent possible. Our March 31, 2014, Order revised our Part 15 rules to permit expanded unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band, and we designated the very issues that you raise for further review and consideration. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) specialized "Tiger Team" is actively reviewing two leading proposals submitted by the Wi-Fi industry to address interference issues within the upper 5 GHz band. Commission staff has encouraged and monitored the group's progress. At the same time, the Commission continues to work collaboratively with other federal stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to encourage the development of viable solutions to protect incumbent users from harmful interference, while maximizing the potential shared use of this spectrum. We are hopeful that these efforts will lead to testing and analysis that will inform our decision-making process. The shared use of the 5 GHz band is a highly complex undertaking, as evinced by the seven Petitions for Reconsideration of our initial Order, which we are also currently considering. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to move as expeditiously as possible to achieve our goal of further expanding Wi-Fi use and spurring innovation and economic development. Please let me know if I can be of any fmiher assistance. Sincere~,~~~ ~-;1~.1- Tom Wheeler