The spectrum used by various 5G proposals, especially the n258 band centered at 26 GHz, will be near that of passive remote sensing such as by weather and Earth observation satellites, particularly for water vapor monitoring at 23.8 GHz.[131] Interference is expected to occur due to such proximity and its effect could be significant without effective controls. An increase in interference already occurred with some other prior proximate band usages.[132][133] Interference to satellite operations impairs numerical weather prediction performance with substantially deleterious economic and public safety impacts in areas such as commercial aviation.[134][135]
The concerns prompted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in February 2019 to urge the FCC to delay some spectrum auction proposals, which was rejected.[136] The chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and House Science Committee wrote separate letters to FCC chairman Ajit Pai asking for further review and consultation with NOAA, NASA, and DoD, and warning of harmful impacts to national security.[137] Acting NOAA director Neil Jacobs testified before the House Committee in May 2019 that 5G out-of-band emissions could produce a 30% reduction in weather forecast accuracy and that the resulting degradation in ECMWF model performance would have resulted in failure to predict the track and thus the impact of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The United States Navy in March 2019 wrote a memorandum warning of deterioration and made technical suggestions to control band bleed-over limits, for testing and fielding, and for coordination of the wireless industry and regulators with weather forecasting organizations.[138]
At the 2019 quadrennial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), atmospheric scientists advocated for a strong buffer of −55 dBW, European regulators agreed on a recommendation of −42 dBW, and US regulators (the FCC) recommended a restriction of −20 dBW, which would permit signals 150 times stronger than the European proposal. The ITU decided on an intermediate −33 dBW until September 1, 2027, and after that a standard of −39 dBW.[139] This is closer to the European recommendation but even the delayed higher standard is much weaker than that requested by atmospheric scientists, triggering warnings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that the ITU standard, at 10 times less stringent than its recommendation, brings the “potential to significantly degrade the accuracy of data collected”.[140] A representative of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) also warned of interference,[141] and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), sternly warned, saying that society risks “history repeat[ing] itself” by ignoring atmospheric scientists’ warnings (referencing global warming, monitoring of which could be imperiled).[142] In December 2019, a bipartisan request was sent from the US House Science Committee to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate why there is such a discrepancy between recommendations of US civilian and military science agencies and the regulator, the FCC.[143]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G
“What’s needed to keep 5G from compromising weather forecasts”
“The Wizard Behind the Curtain? - The Important, Diverse, and Often Hidden Role of Spectrum Allocation for Current and Future Environmental Satellites and Water, Weather, and Climate”
It explained that the NOAA “uses the 23.6-24 GHz spectrum band for microwave sensor-based remote sensing of atmospheric levels of water vapor, which is the single most impactful data stream for accurately forecasting weather. This data is used by NOAA’s National Weather Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Defense (DOD), in addition to the broader international weather community.”
Without this data, the letter said, forecasting accuracy “would be reduced to the accuracy of forecasts produced in the 1970s.”
I mean, it seems pretty straightforward. Per the Washington Post, NASA, the DoD, and several committee chairs asked the Trump FCC not to do it, and they did it anyway. Which tracks.
I have not heard that - is there a source you’d recommend to read up on it?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G
The spectrum used by various 5G proposals, especially the n258 band centered at 26 GHz, will be near that of passive remote sensing such as by weather and Earth observation satellites, particularly for water vapor monitoring at 23.8 GHz.[131] Interference is expected to occur due to such proximity and its effect could be significant without effective controls. An increase in interference already occurred with some other prior proximate band usages.[132][133] Interference to satellite operations impairs numerical weather prediction performance with substantially deleterious economic and public safety impacts in areas such as commercial aviation.[134][135]
The concerns prompted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in February 2019 to urge the FCC to delay some spectrum auction proposals, which was rejected.[136] The chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and House Science Committee wrote separate letters to FCC chairman Ajit Pai asking for further review and consultation with NOAA, NASA, and DoD, and warning of harmful impacts to national security.[137] Acting NOAA director Neil Jacobs testified before the House Committee in May 2019 that 5G out-of-band emissions could produce a 30% reduction in weather forecast accuracy and that the resulting degradation in ECMWF model performance would have resulted in failure to predict the track and thus the impact of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The United States Navy in March 2019 wrote a memorandum warning of deterioration and made technical suggestions to control band bleed-over limits, for testing and fielding, and for coordination of the wireless industry and regulators with weather forecasting organizations.[138]
At the 2019 quadrennial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), atmospheric scientists advocated for a strong buffer of −55 dBW, European regulators agreed on a recommendation of −42 dBW, and US regulators (the FCC) recommended a restriction of −20 dBW, which would permit signals 150 times stronger than the European proposal. The ITU decided on an intermediate −33 dBW until September 1, 2027, and after that a standard of −39 dBW.[139] This is closer to the European recommendation but even the delayed higher standard is much weaker than that requested by atmospheric scientists, triggering warnings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that the ITU standard, at 10 times less stringent than its recommendation, brings the “potential to significantly degrade the accuracy of data collected”.[140] A representative of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) also warned of interference,[141] and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), sternly warned, saying that society risks “history repeat[ing] itself” by ignoring atmospheric scientists’ warnings (referencing global warming, monitoring of which could be imperiled).[142] In December 2019, a bipartisan request was sent from the US House Science Committee to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate why there is such a discrepancy between recommendations of US civilian and military science agencies and the regulator, the FCC.[143] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G
“What’s needed to keep 5G from compromising weather forecasts”
“The Wizard Behind the Curtain? - The Important, Diverse, and Often Hidden Role of Spectrum Allocation for Current and Future Environmental Satellites and Water, Weather, and Climate”
https://ams.confex.com/ams/2019Annual/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/357736
https://web.archive.org/web/20190505043302/https://ams.confex.com/ams/2019Annual/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/357736
“A Myriad of Proposed Radio Spectrum Changes – Collectively Can They Impact Operational Meteorology?”
“Global 5G wireless networks threaten weather forecasts”
“5G Wireless Networks Could Interfere with Weather Forecasts, Meteorologists Warn”
“Critical weather data threatened by FCC ‘spectrum’ proposal, Commerce Dept. and NASA say”
“FCC to auction off wireless spectrum that could interfere with vital weather data, rejecting requests from U.S. House and science agencies”
“Some worry 5G may pose huge problems for weather forecasting”
“Global 5G wireless deal threatens weather forecasts”
“WMO expresses concern about radio frequency decision”
“Global 5G deal poses significant threat to weather forecast accuracy, experts warn”
Very interesting!
Which seems about right. I did not know that.
Looks . . . Thorough! I’ll save it and dig in. Thanks!
Ignore the wackjobs, please.
Removed by mod
deleted by creator
I mean, it seems pretty straightforward. Per the Washington Post, NASA, the DoD, and several committee chairs asked the Trump FCC not to do it, and they did it anyway. Which tracks.