Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band; Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz

Document 2026-03744 is a Final Rule published by the Federal Communications Commission in the Federal Register on February 25, 2026, with an effective date of April 27, 2026. In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts rules allowing unlicensed geofenced variable power (GVP) devices to operate in the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 portions of the 6 GHz band (5.925-7.125 GHz) at up to 11 dBm/MHz EIRP power spectral density and 24 dBm EIRP. GVP devices must use geofencing systems to prevent harmful interference to licensed microwave links and radio astronomy observatories. The geofencing systems will calculate exclusion zones where GVP devices cannot operate on specified frequencies. Each GVP access point must have a geolocation capability to determine its location and avoid operating on prohibited frequencies within the exclusion zones. Client devices must operate 6 dB below the access point's authorized power. These rules permit the GVP devices to operate at higher power than very lower power 6 GHz band unlicensed devices. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03744/unlicensed-use-of-the-6-ghz-band-expanding-flexible-use-in-mid-band-spectrum-between-37-and-24-ghz.

No. Document 2026-03744 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.