Just when you thought you could use that fancy new Wi-Fi 6E router to send files around your home at blazing speeds, a group is warning that these new devices could potentially disrupt critical communications.
I had TWINS!!! – ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 Router
The National Spectrum Management Association (NSMA) has written a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stating that unlicensed use of the 6GHz band used by Wi-Fi 6E devices could disrupt communications channels used by first responders, emergency services, utilities and more.
“In some scenarios, authorities may need to knock on people’s doors and inform them that one or more of their Wi-Fi 6E devices are interfering with public safety communications and that they need to disable that device,” NSMA President Joseph Sandri explained to Lifewire in an email exchange. “In particularly severe cases, the homeowner could be held liable for the consequences of impacting mission-critical services if their Wi-Fi 6E system is not properly disabled.”
In April 2020, the FCC voted to allow license-free use of the 6GHz band, paving the way for Wi-Fi 6E devices, the first generation of Wi-Fi equipment to use the 6GHz band.
