“They have done the hard work….this is a wonderful association full of companies who have met consumer demand,” exclaimed FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly at ACA Connects Summit 26. O’Rielly was speaking of ACA Connects members and their construction of broadband networks in rural America. In the above interview, O’Rielly makes an impassioned defense of capitalism as the best way to create products and services that consumers want.

He also briefly discusses the 6 GHz band (5925 to 7125 MHz) as an unlicensed complement to existing Wi-Fi. He explains that this effort is closely linked to the FCC’s proceeding on C-Band (3.7 to 4.2 GHz). Viodi previously reported on these efforts (Satellite Texting Without a Subscription) and the opportunity for spectrum management using a combination of geolocation and database of known licensed transmitters to eliminate interference between unlicensed and licensed uses.

The comment period for the 6 GHz proceeding ended last month and the comments range from full support with some caveats (e.g. several commentators, such as NCTA, suggests that Automatic Frequency Coordination (PDF) not be required for indoor units) to extreme caution (e.g. the Engineers for the Integrity of Broadcast Auxiliary Services Spectrum-EIBASS- express concern about interference to the 6.5 and 7 GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Service (PDF)).

Now that the comment period is over and with all four FCC Commissioners (there were only four at the time) in favor of the 6 GHz Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF), the only thing holding up the release of the 6 GHz band might be determining what happens with the 3.7 GHz band.

ACA Connects Summit coverage brought to you by ACA Connects and ViodiTV.