FCC PROPOSES TO ALLOW USE OF UPPER MILLIMETER WAVE BANDS
FCC approved notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) at Thurs. agenda meeting that for first time would allow commercial use of 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 92-95 GHz. Proposed rules would cover fixed point-to-point operations in that spectrum, which developers have been eyeing for rollout of gigabit-per-sec. broadband capacity with fixed wireless applications in areas where fiber capacity can’t reach easily. “The proposal we are making today will promote greater sharing between federal and non-federal users and encourage commercial deployment of technologies developed in military type environments,” said Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Ed Thomas. Potential uses of spectrum include high-speed wireless local area networks, broadband access systems and point-to-multipoint and point-to-point communications, FCC said. Spectrum now is undeveloped, although new technology developments have made commercial uses practical, officials said.
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Radio propagation characteristics of that high-frequency spectrum differ from those of lower frequencies because they tend to be absorbed more by atmosphere and wavelengths are very short, allowing highly focused beams to transmit from relatively small antennas, OET’s Alan Stillwell said. As example, he said 6” antenna could produce very narrow, 1 degrees pencil beam. NPRM proposed: (1) Making 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands available for licensed fixed use on shared basis with federal govt. It seeks comments on plan by Loea Communications that would make entire 10 GHz in those 2 bands available for private sector fixed operations. It also asks comments on alternatives for authorizing unlicensed operations in those bands. (2) In 92-95 GHz, NPRM proposes to designate 1.8 GHz for licensed private sector use and 1.2 GHz for federal govt. use. Federal systems would be allowed to operate on secondary basis in 1.8 GHz designated for private use, Stillwell said. Low-power, unlicensed systems would be allowed to operate throughout entire 3 GHz in that band. Unlicensed low-power rules successful in past would be similarly successful in this spectrum, due to propagation characteristics of those frequencies, he said.
As for making all of 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz available to licensees, FCC requested details on how to protect operators such as govt. users from interference, Wireless Bureau attorney Brian O'Donnell said. He said comment was sought on how to license bands, including whether by geographic area or site-based licensing. Loea sought site- based licensing but O'Donnell said FCC was seeking feedback on geographic area licensing because it could “reduce administrative burdens on applicants and the Commission.” Feedback also is sought on technical issues such as channelization plans, interference protection criteria, power limits.
Comr. Abernathy said new technology required “cautious approach” to licensing. She said that in many cases, pencil beams of energy that would be used to transmit data over relatively small distances could allow for thousands of “hops” in relatively small area. “Because of the narrow beam it is believed multiple systems can co-exist without interference,” she said. “This deployment model is unlike anything we have ever seen and may require new thinking on the appropriate licensing approach.” Abernathy said she wasn’t prepared to tentatively conclude that auction or licensing was required for that spectrum. She said FCC had obligation to ensure that new licensees weren’t surprised to discover nature of federal uses in band. “I understand that some of this information regarding government systems is classified, but we must find a way to protect national security while also developing the commercial spectrum resource,” she said.
Copps also lauded extent to which NPRM was kept open with relatively few tentative conclusions. “These bands are very different than most of our other bands and we need to keep our minds and options open,” he said. Among areas on which NPRM seeks comment is providing for unlicensed use in some or all of bands. FCC has acknowledged that scenarios in which that spectrum would be auctioned generally weren’t popular with industry, but could provide way for licensee that controlled particular area to develop technology. Besides Loea Communications, Endwave has been developing technology for that spectrum and companies such as Boeing have expressed interest.