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6 GHz standard power and AFC

Standard power lets a 6 GHz access point run at up to 36 dBm EIRP in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 only while an approved AFC system grants its channels, a regime in US commercial use since February 2024 with a building entry loss rule still pending.

Ben RutterIndustrial network engineer
Tracking
US 6 GHz standard power under automated frequency coordination (FCC ET Dockets 18-295 and 21-352), with the very low power and geofenced variable power classes and Canada's AFC framework
Stage
In commercial operation; building entry loss proposal awaiting an FCC order
Where it stands
AFC systems have managed US standard power since February 23, 2024, and the FCC's January 2026 proposal to let them credit composite indoor access points with building entry loss closed its reply round on April 21, 2026 with no order as of October 5, 2026.
Last checked

Timeline

  1. FCC adopts the 6 GHz Report and Order (FCC 20-51)1

    Standard power access points and fixed clients may run in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 under an AFC system, and low power indoor access points get the whole 5.925 to 7.125 GHz band. Released April 24, 2020.

  2. The 6 GHz rules take effect2

    Published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2020 at 85 FR 31390.

  3. FCC invites AFC system proposals (FCC 21-100)3

    The public notice in ET Docket 21-352 set initial proposals due November 30, 2021 and comments due December 21, 2021.

  4. OET conditionally approves 13 AFC system operators (DA 22-1146)4

    None could serve devices commercially until its system passed testing.

  5. Canada publishes its AFC system specification (DBS-06)5

    Issue 1 sets the requirements for designating AFC system administrators in Canada, where standard power runs from 5925 to 6875 MHz.

  6. Canada's first AFC system administrator designation takes effect6

    ISED's list, updated July 13, 2026, shows four designated administrators, the most recent starting May 1, 2025.

  7. OET opens AFC system testing (DA 23-759)7

    Each system needed lab tests against a Wi-Fi Alliance test plan and a public trial portal open for at least 45 days.

  8. FCC adopts very low power rules (FCC 23-86)8

    Very low power devices may run at up to 14 dBm EIRP and -5 dBm/MHz in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7, not under AFC control. Released November 1, 2023.

  9. OET approves seven AFC systems for commercial operation (DA 24-166)9

    Each passed lab testing and a public trial run between September and November 2023, which let standard power access points and fixed clients deploy.

  10. OET lets AFC systems count building entry loss (DA 24-1217)10

    A waiver lets AFC systems assume up to 6 dB of building entry loss for composite indoor and standard power access points. OET extended it to two more AFC systems on May 20, 2025.

  11. FCC extends very low power to the whole 6 GHz band (FCC 24-125)11

    The same power limits now apply in U-NII-6 and U-NII-8. Released December 13, 2024.

  12. OET approves another AFC system for commercial operation (DA 25-47)12

    The system completed the same lab testing and public trial as the first seven.

  13. OET approves another AFC system for commercial operation (DA 25-559)13

    The most recent AFC approval in ET Docket 21-352 as of October 5, 2026.

  14. FCC adopts geofenced variable power and proposes a building entry loss rule (FCC 26-1)14

    Geofenced variable power devices may run in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 at up to 24 dBm EIRP and 11 dBm/MHz under a geofencing system instead of AFC. The same document proposes writing the building entry loss waivers into the rules. Released January 30, 2026.

  15. Composite access point proposal published for comment15

    The Federal Register notice at 91 FR 8173, in ET Docket 18-295 and GN Docket 17-183, asks whether AFC systems should account for building entry loss for composite indoor and standard power access points. Comments were due March 23, 2026 and replies April 21, 2026.

  16. Reply comments on the building entry loss proposal close15

    Published at 91 FR 8173 on February 20, 2026, with comments due March 23, 2026. The composite access point item stays open until the FCC issues an order.

  17. Geofenced variable power rules take effect16

    Published at 91 FR 9140 on February 25, 2026.

  18. Today

What it means on the plant floor

  • Standard power is the only 6 GHz access point class allowed 36 dBm EIRP and 23 dBm/MHz, and only in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 on the channels an AFC system grants.
  • Each standard power access point must reach its AFC system every day, and one that cannot may keep running only until 11:59 p.m. the following day, so the path from your access points to that outside service is part of your control network's availability.
  • AFC systems holding the FCC waiver may assume up to 6 dB of building entry loss for composite indoor and standard power access points, which the FCC says gives stronger signals and better coverage indoors, and it has proposed making that a rule.
  • Very low power and geofenced variable power devices skip AFC at up to 14 and 24 dBm EIRP, but a geofenced access point faces the same daily check and 11:59 p.m. cutoff against its geofencing system.

What to watch next

  • An FCC order on the proposal to let AFC systems account for building entry loss for composite indoor and standard power access points.15
  • New AFC system approvals and approved changes to AFC calculations in ET Docket 21-352. The latest approval for commercial operation was June 27, 2025.17
  • Further AFC system administrator designations in Canada.6

In Signal

Terms: IDMZ (industrial demilitarized zone), Purdue model (Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture)

About this page

Built from 20 sources: 20 regulators and government sources. Researched and drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed and approved by Ben Rutter on . How pages are made

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Cite this page

Plain

Ben Rutter. "6 GHz standard power and AFC." OT Wireless, published October 6, 2026. https://otwireless.com/trackers/6-ghz-standard-power-and-afc/

APA 7

Rutter, B. (2026, October 6). 6 GHz standard power and AFC. OT Wireless. https://otwireless.com/trackers/6-ghz-standard-power-and-afc/

BibTeX

@misc{rutter20266ghzstandardpowerandafc,
  author = {Rutter, Ben},
  title = {{6 GHz standard power and AFC}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://otwireless.com/trackers/6-ghz-standard-power-and-afc/}},
  organization = {OT Wireless},
}