COMSEARCH TM

Regulatory Review

presented at

National Spectrum Managers Association Spectrum Management 2004

May 19, 2004Rosslyn, VA

presented by

Ken RyanDirector, Engineering Services

COMSEARCH TM

On-Going Issues

• BAS Part 101 Coordination

• 70-90 GHz

• Interference Temperature NOI/NPRM

• Cognitive Radio NPRM

• FSS at Ku-band

• DSRC

• ESV

• MVDDS

COMSEARCH TM

Recent Issues

• 3650-3700 NPRM

• Broadband over Power Lines

• 37-42 GHz NPRM

• 18 GHz Rechannelization

• Vacant TV Channels

COMSEARCH TM

Advanced Wireless Services

•  FCC R&O ET Docket 00-258

• 1990-2000 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz allocated to AWS

• Spectrum will be auctioned for future 3G services

• Mobile Satellite Services (ET Docket 95-18) at 2000-2020 MHz

• MSS Ancillary Terrestrial Component allowed (IB Docket 01-185)

• Sharing and relocation plans need to be developed

COMSEARCH TM

DSRC

• Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC)

• Vehicle Telemetry and Data Services

• Mobile and Fixed Devices

• Operates between 5850 – 5925 MHz

• Coordination with in-band and adjacent band FSS earth stations required

COMSEARCH TM

70-90 GHz

• FCC Docket WT 02-146

• 71-76 GHZ, 81-86 GHz, 92-95 GHz

• 1.25 GHz Segments with aggregation to 5 GHz

• Broadband short links

• Site-by-Site registration proposed

• FCC Proposal for development and management of registration database (DA 04-672)

• Near “instantaneous” interactive analysis and authorization system proposed

•

COMSEARCH TM

Earth Station on Vessels

• FCC NPRM IB Docket 02-10

• C and Ku band satellite earth stations operating on major waterways

• Operation while ESV in-motion proposed

• Coordination with terrestrial microwave proposed

• Licensing regime needs to be developed

• Currently completing comment/reply comment phase

COMSEARCH TM

Ultra Wide Band

• FCC ET Docket 98-153

• Operation between 3.1 GHz – 10 GHz allowed

• Interference to FSS C-band receivers a concern

• UWB Consortium Formed, includes FSS users

• Commissioned comprehensive UWB-FSS study

• Proposed changes to rules, power levels, suggested

COMSEARCH TM

MVDDS

• Multi-Channel Video Digital Data Services

• FCC Auctions recently completed

• One-way terrestrial point-to-multipoint technology

• Operates between 12.2 – 12.7 GHz Band

• Sharing with DBS a concern

COMSEARCH TM

“Vacant” TV Channels

• NPRM released May 13, 2004 (FCC 04-113)

• Unlicensed devices to operate in the broadcast television spectrum at locations where the spectrum is not in use by television stations.

• Requires unlicensed devices to incorporate “smart radio” features to identify unused TV channels.

• Two general categories: Lower power “personal/portable” unlicensed devices, such as Wi-

Fi like cards in laptop computers or wireless in-home local area networks.

Higher power “fixed/access” unlicensed devices that are generally operated from a fixed location and may be used to provide a commercial service such as wireless broadband internet access.

COMSEARCH TM

Unlicensed Operation at 3650 – 3700 MHz 

• NPRM released 4/23/2004, ET Docket No. 04-151

• Allow high-powered unlicensed devices in band subject to cognitive technology safeguards

• Comment on restoration of uniform primary allocation for all FSS earth stations in the band regardless of the date of authorization

• Delete the existing co-primary allocations for the Fixed Service (FS) and Mobile Service (MS) in this band.

• Seek comment on other options that could also allow for the provision of licensed terrestrial service in this band.

COMSEARCH TM

FSS Sharing with FS NPRM

• NPRM ET Docket 03-254, released December 23, 2003

• Sharing between new NGSO FSS and Fixed Service (FS) operations in the 10.7‑11.7 GHz (10 GHz) band.

• Growth Zone Proposal for coordination rules for NGSO FSS downlink operations sharing with FS operations in the 11 GHz band;

• FCC Parts 25 and 101 coordination rules for  new FSS earth stations with mobile BAS/CARS operations in the 6875‑7075 MHz (7 GHz) and 12750-13250 MHz (13 GHz) band

• FCC Parts 74 and 78 informal ad hoc coordination rules or the Part 101 coordination for mobile BAS/CARS at 7 GHz and 13 GHz

COMSEARCH TM

18 GHz Rechannelization

• WT Docket 04-143, released 4/19/2004

• Proposes band plan for the FS paired and unpaired spectrum from 17.7-18.3 GHz and 19.3-19.7 GHz

Includes narrower bandwidths and those of thirty and fifty megahertz and a block of unpaired spectrum from 17.7-17.74 GHz.

• Designates contiguous 500 megahertz block of one-way spectrum from 17.8-18.3 GHz for use by multichannel video programming distributors

• Decline request by FWCC and NSMA for blanket waiver rules to permit FS users to be licensed largely in accordance with the proposed band plan

COMSEARCH TM

Access Broadband over Power Lines

• NPRM released February 23, 2004, ET Docket No. 03-104, ET Docket No. 04-37

• Amend Part 15 to allow access to broadband services using electric utility companies’ power lines

• Widespread operation of Access BPL raises interference concerns

• Proposing to require that BPL systems and devices incorporate capabilities to mitigate harmful interference should it occur.

COMSEARCH TM

37/42 GHZ Service Rules

• NPRM released May 5, 2004, ET Docket No. 95-183

• Service Rules for 37.0-38.6 GHz and 42.0-42.5 GHz for Fixed Services and Fixed Satellite Services

• License on a geographic basis using Economic Areas (auctions)

• Permits point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and future mobile operations.

• Comprehensive document covers build-out requirements, partitioning and disaggregation spectrum, channeling plan, coordination rules