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FCC Releases DRAFT Report and Order

FCC Releases DRAFT Report and Order under Spectrum Horizons ET Docket 18-21 unlocks spectrum for unlicensed uses

February 22, 2019

The FCC, in its Report and Order dated February 22, 2019, is recognizing and promoting the development of >95GHz spectrum. In its response to many requests for action, including filings by the mmWave Coalition, the FCC responded with its R&O detailing plans for Opening these mmWave+ bands will prompt development of novel communications uses, such as instantaneous high-bandwidth video transmission, as well as other non-communication uses (such as novel spectroscopy and imaging, including detection of drugs and explosives, detection of cancerous tissue, and other materials analysis and sensing.) 

The R&O addresses two important uses and approaches: 1. Licensing procedures and 2. Unlicensed use. For licensed use, the Commission refers to its Spectrum Horizons Experimental Radio Licenses policy, which will consider applications for Experimental use in the 95 GHz to 3 THz bands. In this action, the FCC states that they “will not, by rule, preclude the use of any specific frequencies. By adopting this expansive approach to experimental licensing for these bands, we seek to foster an environment where innovators can develop new products…[the FCC is] hesitant to take any action that may stifle innovation.” 

On the unlicensed side, the following bands are open for business (a whopping 21.2 GHz spectrum): 116-123 GHz, 174.8-182 GHz, 185-190 GHz, and 244-246 GHz. This is not the large contiguous blocks of unlicensed use that the mmWave Coalition was seeking.

The full Report and Order can be found here

mmWave Coalition’s NTIA Comments

mmWave Coalition millimeter Waves

mmWave Coalition Urges NTIA to Broaden Spectrum Access

January 2019

The mmWave Coalition submitted comments to urge the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to facilitate greater access to spectrum above 95 GHz for non-Federal use. At present, with minor exceptions, no licensed or unlicensed use of this spectrum is allowed under FCC rules. NTIA policies are key for access to these bands.  

The Coalition strongly advocates that spectrum policy changes are essential for the international competitiveness of the United States. Outside the US, R&D efforts are underway to exploit the unique characteristics of the millimeter wave frequencies.

The spectrum above 95 GHz is very different than the lower spectrum where many basic concepts of spectrum policy were developed over the past 80 years or so. Some of these technical differences include propagation characteristics that become much more dependent on directional antennas and encourage the development of adaptive beam-forming.

Many of our foreign economic competitors are actively pursuing use of this spectrum with coordinated government supported R&D and supportive national spectrum policies.

Continue Reading (PDF)

 

Newsletter: January 2019

mmWave Coalition millimeter Waves

The mmWave Coalition met with Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology and an extended OET staff representatives. The meeting was a follow-up to an ex parté filing by the Coalition on the allocations above 95 GHz. Mike Marcus led the discussion and presented the Coalition’s position on wider, contiguous allocations. Uses for communications, spectroscopy and other applications present opportunities for use of the wide mmWave+ bands, known colloquially as “EHF,” or Extra High Frequency. The FCC, balancing other interests and incumbents, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released as Docket 18-21 in February 2018.

The presentation by Mr. Marcus featured efforts underway internationally to promote R&D of various bands above 100 GHz. The message is that the US should be leading the development of technologies and applications for very high capacity communication links, sensing and other promising uses. In addition ex parté comments were filed by the coalition.

This area continues to evolve and, as demonstrated uses emerge, the expectation is that further allocations may be expanded to capitalize on the use of these bands.

The mmWave Coalition is continuing to advocate for smart FCC rule making for frequencies between 95 and 275 GHz where there are currently allocations, but no rules.  These bands are critical to future millimeter wave technologies.

During 2018, ten organizations across the business and technology spectrum participated in the Coalition. They included: Nokia, GlobalFoundries, Qorvo, Keysight Technologies, Azbil, Nuvotronics, Virginia Diodes, American Certification Body, RaySecur and NYU Wireless.

New organizations are actively being recruited by existing members in order to create a voice from cutting edge technology companies on the importance of the frequencies between 95 and 275 GHz for the next evolution of technologies beyond 5G and that leverage millimeter wave spectrum.

In 2018, the Coalition was pleased to welcome NYU Wireless and its Director, Professor Ted Rappaport.  Ted has been instrumental in advancing the millimeter wave spectrum for commercial uses.  NYU Wireless along with Dr. Rappaport holds the annual Brooklyn 5G Summit every April with many multi-national organizations attending https://brooklyn5gsummit.com and pushing this next revolution of spectrum technologies.

The major focus and accomplishment for the Coalition in 2018 was to respond to the FCC’s Spectrum Horizons Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and bringing the mmWave Coalition into fruition as a major voice with the FCC on millimeter wave matters.  Three documents were submitted by the Coalition to the FCC along with two follow up in person meetings.

In those documents and meetings, the Coalition’s primary focus was to advocate for at least a few non-fragmented mmWave bands on the order of 20-40 GHz wide and for a predictable rules framework for THz Spectroscopy. The Coalition now has the FCC’s and NTIA’s attention and needs to continue this important advocacy to facilitate robust services above 95 GHz.  Not only is the Coalition’s work important to achieving key policy goals, but participation in the regulatory process on this cutting edge topic also raises the profile of each member company among government and industry leaders. The Coalition’s documents filed with FCC can be found here.

The main objective of the mmWave Coalition for 2019 is to get FCC to publish a first set of rules for bands above 95GHz that is aligned with the Coalition’s goals and will provide the certainty needed to encourage more investments in these bands. In order to achieve this, we will bring forward new technical inputs that leverage the work being done by Professor Rappaport (see link) and others to help answer various key questions that FCC has issued in its NPRM.

mmWC OET Meeting
mmWC Notice of Ex Parté
Membership Page

FCC Docket 18-21 “Spectrum Horizons”

On February 22, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in Docket 18-21 with the title “Spectrum Horizons” dealing with the use of frequencies above 95 GHz. Since 2003, 95 GHz had been the upper limit of explicit FCC rules permitting use of spectrum with routine approvals. New products at higher frequencies have needed non routine deliberate which were usually very slow and nontransparent.

 

Video of FCC 2/22/18 discussion and adoption of the Spectrum Horizons NPRM

Public comments received to date by FCC in this docket are located here.

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