§1453 Unlicensed Use in the 5 Ghz Band

Summary

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must start a rulemaking no later than 1 year after February 22, 2012 to consider allowing unlicensed U‑NII devices to operate in the 5350–5470 MHz band. The FCC can only make that change if, after consulting the Assistant Secretary, it finds that licensed users will be protected by technical sharing solutions (including things like dynamic frequency selection) and that Federal users’ primary missions in that band will not be harmed. The Assistant Secretary, with the Department of Defense and other agencies, must study sharing technologies and risks for the 5350–5470 MHz and 5850–5925 MHz bands and send reports to the FCC and to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The report on 5350–5470 MHz is due not later than 8 months after February 22, 2012, and the report on 5850–5925 MHz is due not later than 18 months after February 22, 2012. 5350–5470 MHz band: frequencies from 5350 megahertz to 5470 megahertz. 5850–5925 MHz band: frequencies from 5850 megahertz to 5925 megahertz.