As you have probably heard by now, space/weather governing bodies in the US such as NASA and Department of Commerce, parent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been warning the FCC about the ramifications 5G wireless technologies will have in the 24 gigahertz band. Leading experts such as NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Kevin O’Connell, director of the Office of Space Commerce have both weighed in what the impact could be. Additionally, Bridenstine and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross have provided findings as expressed in a letter to the FCC back in May. Their biggest concern centers around the 23.6 to 24 GHz spectrum band. Specifically, these compose a primary data set for passive microwave sensors detecting atmospheric water vapor. In all likelihood, the phone carriers will occupy spectrum directly above the band where forecasters must tap into based on water vapor signals as explained by Wired.
While the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai has reviewed model-based research, his team has concluded that the underlying approach is flawed and thus the findings at this point are not substantiated. Digital Trends agrees with the FCC due to how radio frequencies work for spectrum that would be the most applicable to 5G – millimeter-wave spectrum.