Enabling higher-power outdoor operations through geofencing technology.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the Fourth Report and Order (FCC 26-1), expanding unlicensed operations within the 6 GHz frequency band. The regulation officially introduces Geofenced Variable Power (GVP) devices, a new equipment category that permits higher-power operations both indoors and outdoors.
The new rules, which take effect on April 27, 2026, offer a clear regulatory path for manufacturers developing next-generation Wi-Fi, IoT, and AR/VR technologies.
Technical Parameters for GVP Devices
Previously, 6 GHz development was largely restricted to Low Power Indoor (LPI) or Very Low Power (VLP) classifications. The GVP category bypasses these limitations by utilizing dynamic geofencing to protect incumbent licensed services, such as microwave links and radio astronomy observatories, from harmful interference.
The FCC outlines the following core operational requirements for the new category:
- Operating Bands: Authorized on an unlicensed basis in the U-NII-5 (5.925–6.425 GHz) and U-NII-7 (6.525–6.875 GHz) portions of the 6 GHz band.
- Maximum Power Limits: GVP access points are permitted to operate at up to 24 dBm EIRP and 11 dBm/MHz power spectral density (PSD).
- Client Device Limits: Client devices must operate at least 6 dB below the authorized power level of the controlling GVP access point (capped at 18 dBm EIRP).
New Certification Requirements
For ICT manufacturers, the GVP designation introduces specific testing and certification demands. To achieve FCC approval, devices must demonstrate absolute reliability in their geofencing capabilities.
Future compliance testing for GVP products will heavily focus on:
- Geolocation Accuracy: Verifying the device’s ability to precisely determine its physical location.
- Exclusion Zone Avoidance: Proving the fail-safe mechanisms effectively identify and avoid restricted frequencies.
- Dynamic Power Adjustment: Ensuring the device drops power or shifts frequencies immediately when entering an exclusion zone
