Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on eliminating personal use restriction imposed in a 2013 ruling, Part 20.21, for cell signal boosters. Manufacturers of these devices, which improve wireless coverage by amplifying wireless signals, are obviously watching the FCC’s vote closely.
According to Wilson Electronics, the St. George, Utah-based maker of weboost cell signal boosters, the FCC’s 2013 rules authorizing the use of signal boosters have been positive for consumers by allowing them to get better coverage in areas where cell signals are weak.
However, it adds that the current rules unnecessarily restrict these boosters to personal use, preventing small businesses and other organizations from taking advantage of these devices.
SureCall, a Fremont, Calif.-based maker of cell signal boosters, similarly describes a nuanced impact for the growing cell signal booster market.
“This does show the signal booster industry is winning the acceptance by government, industry, business, and consumers and that indicates a very bright future,” says SureCall’s Hongtao Zhan.
“This vote is a great step in the right direction,” says Hongtao Zhan, president and CEO of SureCall.
“The FCC has been listening to the opinions of signal booster manufacturers and it’s great to see manufacturer’s like SureCall are having an impact on legislation.
“This decision focuses on narrow band signal boosters and does not yet cover the wide band booster, which is more readily used nowadays. That would likely come to a vote sometime next year.”
In general, the FCC focus on cell signal boosters reflects a category that’s growing in recognition and impact.
“We also commend the FCC for demonstrating its leadership by pushing forward these important industry standards,” adds Zhan.
“Canada just adopted similar regulation on broadband boosters, and we believe the U.K. is following that direction too. Whether this is being brought to a vote in preparation for the 5G future, which has shown to have issues delivering signals inside of buildings, we can’t say.
“This does show the signal booster industry is winning the acceptance by government, industry, business, and consumers and that indicates a very bright future for SureCall and others in our industry.”
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