FCC Designates new Innovation Zones for Advanced Wireless Technology Research and Innovation

Boston and Raleigh Join New York City and Salt Lake City to Spur Development and Integration of 5G Network and Open RAN Technologies

The Federal Communications Commission created new innovation zones in and nearby North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts to allow for advanced wireless communications and network innovation research.  Today’s action also expands the New York City innovation zone which, along with Salt Lake City, has already been leading the way in real-world city-based innovation and research.

Innovation zones provide opportunities for qualified licensees to test new advanced technologies and prototype networks, including Open RAN as well as those that can support 5G technologies, outside a traditional small campus or laboratory setting.  The innovation zones approved today, in addition to the already approved innovation zones, are actively engaged with the Open RAN development community and are expected to extend Open RAN technology development further.  These FCC-created test beds are managed by the National Science Foundation funded Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR).  These zones create geographic areas within which experimental program licensees can conduct tests and other experiments in addition to their specifically licensed areas.

The Northeastern University Innovation Zone will support the transition of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Colosseum network emulator to a shared platform, usable by the research community.  The North Carolina State University Innovation Zone will house Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless (AERPAW), which will focus on new use cases involving wireless communications and unmanned aerial systems.  The newly modified New York City Innovation Zone (known as COSMOS) will now also cover the three Columbia University and City College of New York campus areas with a technical focus on ultra-high-bandwidth and low-latency wireless communications with tightly coupled edge computing.  In addition, the Salt Lake City Innovation Zone (known as POWDER) already operates in several University of Utah campus areas as well as a corridor connecting those areas.

The innovation zones announced by today’s Public Notice were proposed by the PAWR project office, as was the case with New York City and Salt Lake City, build on strong local technology development and innovation efforts.  The designation goes into effect upon release of the notice and extends for five years.

Action by the Commission August 5, 2021 by Public Notice (FCC 21-92).  Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.  Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioner Starks issuing separate statements.

Source: FCC media announcement