FCC Legitimizes Cellular Signal Boosters To Ease Your Connectivity Woes

By Broc Jenkins, technical support manager, Wilson Electronics

Here’s a piece of regulatory good news for companies that rely on cellular service to maintain voice and/or data communications with mobile crews, remote worksites or equipment and monitoring stations in the field.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission last month gave its stamp of approval to the use of cellular signal boosters that meet new technical specifications adopted by the FCC.

The commission’s action provides clarity in what previously had been a regulatory gray area and settles a six-year dispute between cellular service providers and signal booster manufacturers.

“Removing consumer and industry uncertainty regarding signal booster use and operation will promote further investment in and use of this promising technology,” noted an FCC press release.

The carriers at one point had asked the FCC to ban all use of boosters, saying the signal enhancing devices interfered with cellular networks. The leading manufacturer of cell phone signal boosters, Wilson Electronics countered, taking the position that well designed boosters can fill signal coverage gaps and extend coverage on the fringe of service without causing network interference.

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