Thanksgiving is tomorrow and it is sure to look very different than any Turkey Day we’ve had in the past.
While some normalcy will remain—the White House pardoned turkeys named Corn and Cob and the Detroit Lions are still set to play tomorrow afternoon—medical officials are urging Americans to not gather indoors with extended family as the coronavirus outbreak reaches new heights. Per the official CDC website, experts are recommending that “celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving.”
It is still possible, however, to connect with family virtually tomorrow through Zoom and other video conferencing services, making this socially distant Thanksgiving sting a little less. With millions of Americans seeking to connect with family and friends over the web tomorrow, the FCC’s recent decision on the 5.9 GHz band could not have come at a better time.
Last week at their monthly Open Meeting, the FCC voted unanimously to allocate spectrum for Wi-Fi usage in the 5.9 GHz band of spectrum. Currently, there are two bands of spectrum that Wi-Fi routers use to beam signal throughout a home: the 2.4 GHz band, which is better for long-range connections, and the 5 GHz band, which is faster.
Following the vote by the FCC, the spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band will add a new lane on the Wi-Fi highway, helping to improve speed and reduce congestion for Wi-Fi networks across the country. Because this band is adjacent to the existing 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum, the bands can run together and create a new, wider channel for even faster connectivity. This also means that existing infrastructure like routers can quickly and affordably be upgraded—in some cases with just a software upgrade—to deliver next-generation capacity and speeds.
With this new spectrum band, Wi-Fi is about to get even better and frozen Zoom chats may be a thing of the past. Thanks in part to the recent action by the FCC on the 5.9 GHz band, you’ll be able to hear your grandmother loud and clear tomorrow on the video chat when she asks why you’re not dating anyone.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, everyone!