Media Contact: 
Cecilia Sulhoff, (202) 418-0587
cecilia.sulhoff@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC IMPROVES RULES FOR WIRELESS SIGNAL BOOSTERS
Action Enhances Consumers’ Ability to Fill Wireless Coverage Gaps Using Affordable 
Devices
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today took 
steps to provide increased flexibility in the use of consumer signal boosters and proposed 
additional actions to further enhance the usefulness and effectiveness of these boosters.
Consumer signal boosters are devices that extend and improve wireless service without special 
engineering or professional installation.  The boosters are designed to be used “out of the box” 
to improve wireless coverage within a limited area such as a home, boat, office, or recreational 
vehicle.  
Boosters can be “wideband,” i.e., able to operate on the frequencies and in the market areas of 
multiple licensees, or “provider-specific,” i.e., operating only on the frequencies and in the 
market areas of the licensee(s) specified during the certification of the device. 
The rules adopted today eliminate the current personal use restriction on provider-specific 
boosters so that businesses, public safety entities, educational institutions, and other enterprise 
users and their customers can also benefit from the use of boosters.
The Commission also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to explore ways to 
allow additional flexibility in the use of consumer signal boosters, including seeking input on 
removing unnecessary barriers to embedding boosters within vehicles.  It proposes to eliminate 
the personal use restriction on wideband boosters and to authorize non-subscribers to operate 
both types of consumer signal boosters, and seeks comment on whether to expand consumer 
signal booster operations to additional spectrum bands.  
These changes will provide consumers, including small businesses, with additional options to 
improve wireless coverage in an effective, affordable way. 
Action by the Commission March 22, 2018 by Second Report and Order and Second Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 18-35).  Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn, 
O’Rielly, Carr and Rosenworcel approving and issuing separate statements.
WT Docket No. 10-4
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).