UTC
represents
critical
electricity,
water, and gas
utilities who
own and operate
their own
telecommunications
systems.
Utilities rely
on their
networks so they
can update,
modernize,
repair, and
restore their
services that
provide
essential energy
and water
resources. The
Edison Electric
Institute joined
in the comments
as well.
The FCC is
inquiring
whether it
should expand
use of the
5.925-6.425 and
6.425-7.125
bands—collectively
referred to as
the "6-GHz
bands"—to new
entrants and
devices. The
inquiry comes
after several of
the agency's
bureaus in
January granted
a waiver
permitting the
operation of
50,000 satellite
earth stations
by a company
called Higher
Ground without
any prior
coordination
with utilities
and others who
operate mission
critical
microwave
systems
throughout the 6
GHz band.
UTC and
others have
asked the
commission to
reconsider the
Higher Ground
order as it is
contrary to the
record,
evidenced by the
near universal
opposition due
to interference
concerns.
In its
comments on the
6-GHz inquiry,
UTC noted that
electric and
water utilities,
along with
pipelines and
other critical
infrastructure
providers, use
the 6 GHz
microwave
systems to
support voice
and data
communications
in their service
territories.
These industries
use this band
when safety
personnel are
updating,
modernizing,
repairing, and
restoring their
infrastructure.
"[T]he
critical nature
of the traffic
carried over
these networks
must be
underscored,"
the comments
said. "These
microwave
systems serve as
the primary
telecommunications
backbone for
utility
networks, and
carry numerous
applications as
services."
Energy and
water providers
have few
alternatives to
operating in the
6 GHz band, the
groups said.
This is
particularly
critical as
utilities deploy
new technologies
that will offer
more interaction
with their
customers.
"In order to
support
increasing
demand from
smart grid and
other
applications,
utilities need
to be able to
expand capacity
in the 6 GHz
band by using
wider channels,
and utilities
are concerned
that congestion
and interference
from new
entrants would
make it more
difficult for
utilities to
increase
capacity of
their existing
system,"
according to the
comments.
Meanwhile,
the FCC's
inquiry also
sought feedback
on expanded use
of the 3.7-4.2
GHz band
(collectively
referred to as
the 4 GHz band).
UTC offered its
support for this
proposal. The 4
GHz band "could
serve to support
a variety of
broadband
communications
applications,"
the groups said.
