Author Archives: Federated Wireless

With This Is Spinal Tap II set to hit screens this fall, I can’t help but think of what’s arguably the most quoted line from the original film. Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) proudly shows off his guitar amps to director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), pointing out that his volume knobs go to eleven, not ten.

That line came to mind recently as I was thinking about a new FCC action and a related enhancement in our AFC system — a development in the 6 GHz band that feels like turning things up a notch.

Low Power Indoor and Possible Coverage Gaps

We’ve heard from users that coverage in 6 GHz under Low Power Indoor (LPI) operation can be inconsistent, especially when new Wi-Fi 6E devices are retrofitted into networks originally designed for 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Coverage differences between legacy bands and 6 GHz with LPI can create real challenges, especially in large or complex indoor spaces.

As client devices move around, they often either:

• Hand off between 5.8 GHz and 6 GHz (in a “down-over-up” sequence), or
• Stay on 6 GHz until they can connect to the next access point.

Neither scenario is ideal. The result? Dropped connections, latency issues, and a less-than-ideal user experience, particularly in environments like arenas, warehouses, and factory floors, where reliable connectivity really matters.

What’s Changed: Building Entry Loss and Standard Power Indoors

Here’s where the FCC’s recent action makes a difference. While Standard Power Wi-Fi devices have always been permitted indoors under AFC (Automated Frequency Coordination) control, there was a catch: AFC systems weren’t allowed to account for Building Entry Loss (BEL) — the signal loss that naturally occurs when transmissions pass from inside a building to the outside, and vice versa.

Because of that, indoor Standard Power devices were treated like they were outdoors and at an elevated location, leading to overly restrictive power limits and reduced spectrum availability. In some scenarios, indoor Standard Power devices could be subject to unexpectedly low power limits, which undermined the original intent of enabling higher-performance operation.

With the FCC’s updated rules, AFC systems can now account for up to 6 dB of building entry loss (BEL) when determining safe frequencies and power levels for indoor Standard Power (SP) operation. This change enables higher transmit power and access to more bandwidth — up to 36 dBm EIRP (4 watts), compared to just 30 dBm (1 watt) under Low Power Indoor (LPI) rules — and a significantly higher power spectral density limit of 23 dBm/MHz for SP versus 5 dBm/MHz for LPI.

In practical terms, that means better coverage, stronger signals, and fewer dropped connections indoors.

Where It Really Makes a Difference

This change is especially useful in large, open indoor spaces, where low power just isn’t enough — such as:

• Arenas and stadiums
• Warehouses and fulfillment centers
• Manufacturing facilities

In these types of environments, Standard Power operation can close coverage gaps, improve reliability, and support the high-performance applications that enterprises increasingly rely on.

Federated Wireless’ Role

At Federated Wireless, we’ve been working with shared spectrum and AFC technology since the early days of the 6 GHz band. We’ve collaborated with partners across the industry to shape these capabilities, and I’m glad to share that support for indoor Standard Power with BEL will be available in our AFC system later this month.

Adding BEL to the growing list of recent advancements—including Standard Power operation, wider channel availability, Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, and expanding device support—is transforming 6 GHz Wi-Fi into a powerful foundation for enterprise connectivity and large-scale indoor/outdoor deployments. Enhancing AFC functionality to fully unlock this potential is part of our continued commitment to enabling smarter, more efficient spectrum use. We see this as a meaningful step in making 6 GHz Wi-Fi more practical and effective. It’s all part of our ongoing effort to enable smarter, more efficient use of spectrum through innovation and real-world solutions.

And like Nigel said — these go to eleven.

 

 

In recent weeks, mysterious drone sightings have raised alarms across the United States, particularly along the East Coast. Reports of unauthorized drones near airports, critical infrastructure, and even high-profile events have prompted calls for action.  Stewart International Airport in New York temporarily shut down its runways after a drone was spotted in the area, causing significant disruptions. Similarly, multiple drones have been reported over New Jersey’s Naval Weapons Station Earle, raising security concerns. These incidents have taken on a life of their own, fueling intense speculation and even outlandish claims. Some accuse the government of a cover up, while others suggest extraterrestrial involvement, turning social media into a frenzy of conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, frustrated onlookers have proposed extreme solutions like deploying bird-hunting falcons or outfitting commercial jets with anti-drone lasers.

Amid the chaos, one persistent suggestion stands out: “Just shoot them down.” However, the U.S. military has explained that this approach is neither simple nor feasible due to safety risks, legal constraints, and the potential for unintended consequences. The reality is that the situation has become so bizarre that it’s capturing the attention—and imagination—of people nationwide. While we ultimately expect a reasonable and rational explanation for these drone incursions, the frenzy highlights a glaring need for smarter, more proactive solutions that can help us get to the bottom of such incidents faster.

The Growing Importance—and Potential Risks—of Drones

Drones are here to stay, providing immense value for our future. From delivering medical supplies and supporting emergency response to transforming industrial inspections, drones offer innovation that touches almost every sector. However, these benefits come with risks. Unauthorized or improperly managed drones can disrupt critical infrastructure, airports, and national security operations. The recent events highlight just how essential it is to enforce secure, controlled drone usage while enabling innovation

Wireless connectivity is at the core of every drone operation. Drones primarily rely on unlicensed spectrum bands, such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, for command, control, and data transmission. Unlike licensed spectrum, unlicensed bands are open to anyone without the need for individual licenses. This accessibility enables consumers to use wireless connected products, like drones, without regulatory hurdles.  The key advantages of unlicensed spectrum—low-cost access and fast product development—have fueled innovation, allowing new services and technologies to enter the market quickly. However, while these bands are widely available, they lack the robust security measures.  Unlicensed connectivity is ideal for simple, low-risk devices like smart appliances and wearables. But drones are far more complex. They are sophisticated systems capable of causing significant harm—whether through accidents, negligence, or malicious intent. And as generative AI continues to enhance drone capabilities, these risks will multiply exponentially, amplifying the need for more secure and reliable spectrum solutions.

Managing Spectrum Access: A Smarter, Scalable Solution

So, how do we encourage innovation while protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure? The answer lies in managing the airwaves that act as the nerve center controlling drones. Managed spectrum access provides proven guardrails for spectrum usage, ensuring that only authorized devices can operate. By enforcing compliance and enabling anomaly detection, we can manage disruptions effectively and eliminate problems caused by compliant drones. This proactive approach not only complements other network infrastructure techniques but also allows targeted, heavy-duty security measures to focus solely on rogue drones.

The solution is already here, built on proven systems that power the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) ecosystem. Over seven years of innovation and public-private collaboration have produced a coordinated shared spectrum system, driven by the CBRS Spectrum Access System (SAS). The same technology can be extended to drone operations to provide robust, scalable security.

The CBRS SAS provides dynamic, real-time spectrum management and includes critical features uniquely suited to secure drone operations:

• Device Registration and Authentication: Every drone must register and authenticate before accessing spectrum, creating a digital fingerprint for easy identification and oversight.
• Dynamic Revocation of Spectrum Access: If a drone violates regulations, behaves suspiciously, or causes interference, its spectrum access can be revoked instantly—grounding it without physical intervention.
• Anomaly Handling: Managed spectrum ensures effective disruption management. By removing uncertainties in spectrum access, anomalies caused by rogue drones can be rapidly identified and mitigated.

The FCC’s Recent Action on Drone Spectrum: Progress Made, But Faster Action Needed

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently took a significant step with its recent Report and Order on drone operations in the 5 GHz band, establishing what they termed a Drone Frequency Management System (DFMS). While this is a positive step forward, it’s important to recognize that a DFMS is essentially a SAS by another name. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the FCC could accelerate progress by extending the use of existing, proven SAS technology—as seen in the CBRS ecosystem—to drone spectrum management. The technology already exists and has been tested at scale. What we need now is a faster path to implementation not reinventing the wheel.

I commend the FCC for the progress made with its recent Report and Order on drone operations in the 5 GHz band and the establishment of the Drone Frequency Management System (DFMS). This is a significant step forward for drone spectrum management. However, I am concerned that we may be creating unnecessary effort by reinventing the wheel when proven solutions already exist.

The functionality envisioned for the DFMS largely aligns with the capabilities of the Spectrum Access System (SAS), which has already been demonstrated at scale. At Federated Wireless, we’ve shown how managed spectrum solutions can extend to drone operations through our collaboration with AURA Network Systems. Together, we’ve advanced managed spectrum access to support critical Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, ensuring reliable, scalable, and secure drone communications.

These efforts highlight how spectrum access guardrails enable safe and seamless drone operations, even in complex environments. With managed spectrum access, compliance becomes the baseline, allowing government agencies to focus resources on addressing credible threats. At the same time, it ensures that legitimate drone traffic can scale efficiently while maintaining operational security. Without automated spectrum management, achieving this scale simply wouldn’t be possible.

By building on proven SAS technology, we can accelerate progress, avoid duplicative efforts, and create a clear path forward for drone operations. Combining managed spectrum access with advancements in AI and automation will unlock the full potential of drone ecosystems while ensuring security, safety, and scalability.

Targeted Solutions and a Secure, Scalable Future for Drone Operations

Implementing managed spectrum access as the first line of defense allows more intensive countermeasures—such as jammers or physical interdiction—to be reserved for rogue drones that intentionally bypass safeguards. This targeted approach improves response times, minimizes disruptions, and conserves public resources.

Transitioning to a managed spectrum framework will require close collaboration among regulators, industry stakeholders, and technology leaders, but the foundation is already in place. The success of CBRS and proven solutions like the SAS framework demonstrate that this vision is not only achievable but ready for deployment. Managed spectrum access ensures efficient, fair, and optimized use of airwaves, enabling scalability without compromising security.

By creating automated guardrails for compliant drones, we can reduce risks, facilitate innovation, and build a secure, resilient drone ecosystem. It’s time to rethink how we secure the skies—not with reactive measures like jammers or shoot-down orders, but with smarter spectrum management. The FCC’s recent actions are a step in the right direction, but we must avoid reinventing the wheel.

The tools we need are already here. The proven success of CBRS and managed spectrum access shows that we can secure drone operations safely, responsibly, and at scale. By moving faster and paving the way for commercial solutions to reach the market, we can unlock a safer, more innovative airspace for everyone. The path forward is clear—let’s take the next step.