Any shift in leadership inevitably sets broader changes in motion, and when it involves a far-reaching entity like the Federal Communications Commission, the resulting impact is likely to be significant across industries nationwide.
The Federal Communications Commission, often abbreviated as the FCC, is a federal agency that regulates many kinds of interstate and international communications including the cellular networks that Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) work to boost. These regulatory decisions can make it more difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to deploy certain systems; outright ban certain functions, like the use of “dumb” signal boosters to boost the gain on signals beyond certain levels; or potentially cause any other number of wide-reaching effects depending on what is being regulated and how. Of course, regulatory changes can be positive for industry as well; the FCC can choose to lift regulatory barriers to encourage expansion and innovation in targeted industries.
Now that Brendan Carr oversees the FCC, regulatory focus has changed to an emphasis on the expansion of broadband networks, the streamlining of infrastructure developments, and an emphasis on systems designed for public safety communications. These new areas of focus have led to reduced barriers to the deployment of DAS and Private 5G networks, allowing for industries that weren’t previously making use of these technologies to take advantage of communications innovations.
New Opportunities and Challenges
Initiatives in education, retail, and public safety are all uniquely positioned to take advantage of these relaxed barriers. Education and public safety can now leverage enhanced infrastructure to integrate systems that allow for reliable connectivity in times of emergency. A team of first responders that has access to communications network infrastructure can more easily relay information about dangers, the location of injured people, evacuation routes, and more. When a situation is dire and every second counts, clear and accessible communication can mean the difference between incoherent panic and a well-executed, coordinated emergency response effort.
The retail sector can also benefit from these regulatory shifts. A DAS system ensures reliable cellular coverage for customers, employees, and connectivity for other electronic tools. The fusion of digital and physical operations allows for a retail chain to perform not only real-time management of their inventory but also design more personalized customer experiences, ensuring each individual customer has the best experience possible on each and every shopping trip.
These new regulatory focuses also come with unique challenges. Privacy and data security standards are evolving, and many organizations may find themselves navigating a complex regulatory landscape, often uncertain about where to seek reliable guidance to future-proof their communications investments. Nextivity is here to help. Nextivity’s AI-enhanced DAS systems offer a way to balance regulatory compliance with operational needs. Not only does an intelligent DAS system solve coverage challenges and offers the capability for real-time environmental monitoring and event detection, it also is completely compliant with evolving privacy and data security standards set by the FCC. Similarly, Nextivity’s Private 5G networking addresses data security standards by offering a much more secure solution than previous forms of Wi-Fi, while also being more scalable and customizable to unique needs. We predict the use of these two technologies will allow industries who adopt them to thrive and have an edge in an increasingly digital world.
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Contact Nextivity today to learn how Nextivity’s cellular DAS solutions and public safety ERCES systems can enhance your communications infrastructure.
