Options to change Wifi Channel disabled

As a former technical support professional with a solid understanding of the OSI model and its application to wired and wireless networks, I’m trying to understand why Xfinity has locked me out of managing a feature I previously had full access to.

I’m using an older modem—not one of the newer models—but I was always able to manually manage Wi-Fi channels on this device in the past. Now, after what appears to be a recent NAND/BIOS update, these settings have been locked in the "admin portal," a term that feels laughable now that previously available features have been arbitrarily removed.

According to Xfinity, these settings are now "managed" via the Xfinity app. However, this option is missing entirely in my app. Meanwhile, automatic channel management seems to be a disaster, as most nearby access points (likely other Xfinity devices) are congested on the same channels, leading to noticeable interference and poor performance. If the intent behind this change was to optimize user experience, it’s clearly failing.

So, my questions are:

1. What was the rationale behind disabling user access to Wi-Fi channel management? Was this decision mandated by the FCC, or is it an internal Xfinity policy?
2. Why does the app lack the advertised functionality to manage these settings?
3. What alternative solutions are being offered to customers dealing with congestion and interference due to this loss of control?

Disabling a previously available feature without offering a functional replacement or explanation is both frustrating and counterproductive for knowledgeable users who relied on this control. I’d appreciate a thorough and non-biased response.