Transcript Spectrum Encroachment

FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS and SHARING
Ultra-wideband Technologies
Presented to:
National Spectrum Managers Association
Spectrum Management 2002
May 22, 2002
James E. Hollansworth
NASA Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio
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Understanding
 NASA shares what we understand to be the core
principals underlying the FCC’s NPRM on this issue.
 UWB’s are a promising and singular technology worthy of
future exploitation.
 Benefits to both Government and Private Industry appear
attractive.
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Background


In 1998, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
began a detailed examination of Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
technology and devices with an aim toward establishing
rules for their use on an UNLICENSED BASIS under Part
15 of the Rules.
 Notice of Inquiry (NOI) ET Docket 98-153 dated
August 20, 1998 titled “Revision of Part 15 of the
Commission’s Rules Regarding Ultra-Wideband
Transmission Systems”.
In 2000, the Commission issued an NPRM on UWB
 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) ET Docket
98-153 dated May 10, 2000 titled “Revision of Part
15 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding UltraWideband Transmission Systems”.
• This NPRM sought comment on a wide range of
issues relating to the use of these devices
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UWB Test Programs

As a result of RFI concerns, several test programs were conducted in
the US to assess the susceptibility of various radio services and
devices to interference caused by UWB operations. Major test
programs and analyses that were conducted and filed in this Docket:
 National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA)
• NTIA Report 01-383 “The Temporal and Spectral Characteristics of
Ultrawideband Signals” January 2001.
• NTIA Special Publication 01-43 “Assessment of Compatibility Between
Ultrawideband Devices and Selected Federal Systems” January 2001.
• NTIA Special Publication 01-45 “Assessment of Compatibility Between
Ultrawideband (UWB) Systems and Global Positioning System (GPS)
Receivers” February 2001.
• NTIA Report 01-384 “Measurements to Determine Potential
Interference to GPS Receivers from Ultrawideband Transmission
Systems” February 2001.
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UWB Test Programs (Cont)

US Department of Transportation (DOT) Stanford University
• “Potential Interference to GPS from UWB Transmitters – Test Results”
Phase 1A: Accuracy and Loss-of-Lock Testing for Aviation Receivers”
October 2000
• “Potential Interference to GPS from UWB Transmitters – Phase II, Test
Results: Accuracy, Loss-of-Lock, and Acquisition Testing for GPS
Receivers in the Presence of UWB Signals” March 2001

University of Texas/The Johns Hopkins University/Time Domain
• “Final Report UWB-GPS Compatibility Analysis Project” March 2001

Private industry filings (all with multiple filings describing potential
interference scenarios)
•
•
•
•
•
Qualcomm
Sprint
XM Radio
Sirius Radio
MSSI
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UWB Test Programs
Summary

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
NTIA testing as well as DOT testing has indicated
potential interference to Federal systems (particularly
GPS) unless UWB emissions are restricted
Qualcomm, Sprint, XM Radio and Sirius Radio have all
indicated potential RFI to their networks unless UWB
emissions are restricted.
FCC indicated at their February 14, 2002 adoption of
the R&O (and at the subsequent press conference) that
the Commission intends to conduct RFI testing of UWB
devices.
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FCC Report and Order (R&O)

At its February 14, 2002 meeting, the FCC adopted a R&O
authorizing UWB devices to operate across US Government
restricted bands at or below current Part 15 limits.

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
DOT, FAA and NASA voiced additional RFI concerns and
suggested the FCC issue a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
to allow time for additional study and testing.
The FCC issued a First Report and Order on UWB use under Part
15 on April 22, 2002.


Emissions in the GPS bands must be 34 dB less than Part 15 limits for
indoor systems.
Published in Federal Register May 16, 2002.
The FCC intends to revisit this issue within 6-12 months with an aim
at implementing “more flexible technical standards and to address
operation of additional types of UWB operations and technology.”

Commission believes that the standards contained in the R&O are
extremely conservative.
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UWB Emission Limits for GPR's, Wall Imaging, & Medical
Imaging Systems
Source: FCC
FSS
PCS
TV
SDARS
GPS
2
3
5
Operation is limited to law enforcement, fire and rescue organizations, scientific research
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institutions, commercial mining companies, and construction companies.
UWB Emission Limits for Thru-wall
Imaging & Surveillance Systems
Source: FCC
FSS
SDARS
TV
PCS
GPS
2
3
5
Operation is limited to law enforcement, fire and rescue organizations.
Surveillance systems may also be operated by public utilities and industrial entities.
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UWB Emission Limit for Indoor Systems
Source: FCC
FSS
SDARS
PCS
TV
GPS
2
3
5
10
UWB Emission Limit for Outdoor Hand-held Systems
Source: FCC
FSS
TV
SDARS
PCS
GPS
2
3
5
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UWB Emission Limits for Vehicular Radar Systems
Source: From data contained in FCC 02-48
-41 dBm
-51
-50
Not to scale
-60
-61
-61
-70
2005
-66
2010
-71
2014
-76
GPS
UWB Emission Level in dBm
-40
-80
-90
0.96
1.6
10
Frequency (GHz)
22
23.6-24 GHz
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31
NASA,NOAA,NSF
Note: Emissions in the passive band at 23.6-24 GHz shall be reduced to the levels shown
by the year indicated for directions greater than 30 degrees above the horizontal plane.
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International Implications

Xtreme Spectrum launches global Ultra-wideband initiative
(May 6, 2002 Company Press Release).


ITU-R WP 8A Ad-hoc UWB correspondence group.

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Hires VP to direct worldwide regulatory affairs.
Established to consider implications of UWB
ITU-R WP 1A and 1B are also examining introduction of
UWB technology globally.
ITU allocations footnote S5.340 prohibits emissions in
exclusive passive bands.
International considerations likely to take several years.
European Meeting – “2nd Workshop on Introduction of Ultra
Wideband Services to Europe” 11 April 2002 Mainz

http://www.ero.dk
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Controversial Issues

Potential RFI issues remain unresolved.

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Text contained in R&O may interfere with NTIA
authority to regulate US Government spectrum use
(Para 273).

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DOD working with NTIA to draft comments to para 273.
FCC intends to revisit rules contained in R&O within
6-12 months.


Global Positioning System
Cellular Phones
E-911 GPS services
Passive sensors
Aim is to relax regulations and possibly authorize new types of
UWB devices.
Can we gain enough operational sharing experience
during the next 6-12 months to effectively change the
rules?
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Controversial Issues (Cont)

Telecommunications and the Internet
Subcommittee (Chairman Upton, R-Mich.)
of House Energy and Commerce
Committee will hold a hearing titled "The
Federal Communication Commission's
UWB [ultra wideband] Proceeding: An
Examination of the Government's
Spectrum Management Process."

June 4, 10:00 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
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Summary and Conclusions
 NASA is concerned for the continued viability of
critical safety of life systems such as the GPS and
the continued viability of Earth resources data from
sensitive satellite borne passive sensors.
 Federal agencies expect the UWB issue to continue to
require a great deal of spectrum management vigilance.
 Some agencies fear that a dangerous precedent is being set
with respect to US Government restricted bands and in nonGovernment bands as well.
 R&O fails to implement substantive provisions for regulating
and enforcing the rules contained in the R&O.
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Stay Tuned…………
ACHIEVING A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN NEW TECHNOLOGIES
AND EXISTING SPECTRUM USERS TAKES TIME.
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