The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has changed its rules to allow higher-power outdoor operations on the 57-64 GHz band, enabling wireless transmissions "over distances up to a mile at data rates of 7Gbps," the agency said.

This is the same swath of spectrum used by Wireless Gigabit technology, which allows fast streaming between devices in living rooms and offices. Transmissions at this frequency are easily blocked by walls and objects. However, the FCC said the transmissions will still be useful outdoors in line-of-sight applications. Unlike a home network, the 7Gbps of bandwidth would be shared among many users.

"Responding to a petition by the industry, the Commission increased the power permitted for outdoor operations between fixed points using highly directional antennas and tied the maximum power permitted to the precision of the antenna beam which determines its potential for causing interference to other users, including to indoor low-power networks," an FCC announcement today said. "This rule change would permit outdoor devices to deliver high-capacity communication links over longer distances, enhancing the utility of the unlicensed 57-64 GHz band as a vehicle for broadband. It will also facilitate the use of this unlicensed spectrum as a backhaul alternative in densely populated areas where 4G and other wireless services are experiencing an ever‑increasing need for additional spectrum."

Like Wi-Fi airwaves, the spectrum is unlicensed, meaning any manufacturer or service provider can use the spectrum provided that they comply with FCC rules. One possible use noted by the FCC is "extending the reach of fiber optic networks by providing broadband access to adjacent structures in commercial facilities."

"Taken together, the new rules will enhance the use of unlicensed spectrum as a relatively low‑cost, high‑capacity short‑range backhaul alternative to connect wireless broadband networks and for other wireless applications," the FCC said.

FCC watcher Harold Feld, senior vice president of Public Knowledge, told Ars that these transmissions will be "[g]ood for links around natural breaks in terrain or building to building in urban areas. In rural areas, they put these on grain silos."

Rules for use of this spectrum indoors will not be changed.

Separately, the FCC today also adopted new rules for satellite services to "remov[e] unnecessary regulations and eas[e] administrative burdens."