Today the FCC proposed to increase the power levels permitted for unlicensed point-to-point communications in the 57-64 GHz band.
The proposed limit for average power is 82 dBm (up from 40 dBm) minus 2 dB for every dB the antenna gain is below 51 dBi. Peak power limits are 3 dB higher.
Even before the proposed change, the unlicensed power limits and available bandwidths in this band are the highest anywhere in the spectrum. Yet use of the band to date has been relatively sparse. In part this is because atmospheric oxygen absorbs energy at these frequencies, so that communicating in the band is somewhat like shining a flashlight through a fog. The proposed power increase should help to make use of the band more practical.
The change in power limits applies only to transmitters located outdoors or whose beam is directed outdoors, as through a window.
Also, the FCC proposes to drop its transmitter identification requirement for indoor transmitters with outdoor-directed beams. The requirement was eliminated as to outdoor transmitters several years ago.
Comments are replies are due 90 and 120 days, respectively, after publication in the Federal Register. That should happen later this month.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is at this link.
