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.
