[SFDXA] ARLB005 FCC Proposes More Spectrum at 5 GHz for Unlicensed Broadband

[William Marx]

> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB005
> ARLB005 FCC Proposes More Spectrum at 5 GHz for Unlicensed 
> Broadband
> 
> ZCZC AG05
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 5  ARLB005
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  February 27, 2013
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB005
> ARLB005 FCC Proposes More Spectrum at 5 GHz for Unlicensed 
> Broadband
> 
> On February 20, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
> (NPRM) in ET Docket No. 13-49, seeking to revise the Part 15 rules
> governing unlicensed national information infrastructure (U-NII)
> devices in the 5 GHz band. These devices presently operate in the
> frequency bands 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.825 GHz. They use wideband
> digital modulation techniques to provide a wide array of high data
> rate mobile and fixed communications for individuals, businesses and
> institutions. Slightly different rules apply to 5.825-5.85 GHz.
> 
> Among the changes being proposed are two additional bands totaling
> 195 MHz for unlicensed operation: 5.35-5.47 GHz and 5.85-5.925 GHz.
> The Amateur Radio Service has a secondary allocation at 5.65-5.925
> GHz, including an Amateur Satellite Service uplink allocation of
> 5.65-5.67 GHz and a downlink allocation of 5.83-5.85 GHz.
> 
> The NPRM can be found on the web at,
> http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022123531.
> 
> The FCC notes in the NPRM that since it first made available
> spectrum in the 5 GHz band for U-NII in 1997, it has gained "much
> experience" with these devices: "We believe that the time is now
> right for us to revisit our rules, and, in this NPRM, we propose to
> modify certain technical requirements for U-NII devices to ensure
> that these devices do not cause harmful interference and thus can
> continue to operate in the 5 GHz band and make broadband
> technologies available for consumers and businesses."
> 
> The NPRM also satisfies Section 6406 (a) of the Middle Class Tax
> Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that required the FCC to begin a
> proceeding to modify the Part 15 rules to allow unlicensed U-NII
> devices to operate in the 5.35-5.47 GHz band, subject to
> consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information
> Administration (NTIA).
> 
> In response to the same legislation, the NTIA recently released an
> evaluation of the 5.35-5.47 GHz and 5.85-5.925 GHz bands that
> details the existing occupancy of these bands by federal and
> non-federal users and the potential risks of expanded unlicensed
> use.
> 
> The NTIA evaluation can be found on the web in PDF format at,
> http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_5_ghz_report_01-25-2013.pdf.
> 
> "The Amateur Radio Service has a good record as a spectrum partner
> with the other licensed services in the 5 GHz band," observed ARRL
> Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "The ARRL plans to
> respond to the NPRM by pointing out that meaningful access to the 5
> GHz band for amateur and amateur satellite operations continues to
> be in the public interest."
> 
> The FCC is accepting comments on its NPRM (due no later than 45 days
> after publication in the Federal Register), as well as reply
> comments (due 30 days later). No date has yet been set for the
> NPRM's publication in the Federal Register.
> NNNN
> /EX