Transcript Spectrum Encroachment

Spectrum Issues:
Ultra-Wideband Operations
NASA Spectrum Managers Association
May 20, 2003
Holiday Inn Hotel
Rosslyn, VA
James E. Hollansworth
NASA Glenn Research Center
Current Issues
• Protection of existing public safety and space
science spectrum dependent services from
RFI
– UWB
– MSS ATC
– Other “new” unlicensed services/devices
• Unregulated spectrum usage on a
widespread scale will inevitably lead to an
increased man-made noise environment
Ultra-wideband Regulatory
Activities
• Report & Order released May, 2002
– Numerous Petitions for Reconsideration filed
• Additional Order allowing legacy Ground Penetrating
Radars released July, 2002
• Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of
Proposed Rule Making adopted by FCC February 13,
2003, released March 12, 2003
– Published in Federal Register/Vol 68 No. 77/Tuesday, April 22, 2003 Rules
and Regulation Pages 19746-19752
– Published in Federal Register/Vol 68, No.77/Tuesday, April 22,
2003/Proposed Rules Pages 19773-19777
– Anticipate Numerous Petitions for Reconsideration to be filed
UWB Activities
• FCC approves “first” UWB device
– Time Domain’s PulsOn200 chip set “meets” FCC UWB
rules
– Device reportedly emits “unintentional” radiation in 1-3
GHz range
– FCC interpretation of R&O rules in question
• Sets dangerous precedent
• Authorization expected to be challenged
– MultiSpectral Solutions Inc. Spider 650 “meets” FCC
UWB rules.
Ultrawideband (UWB) Characteristics /
Concerns
A Monocycle Pulse in Time and Frequency
• UWB proponents seek to manufacture unlicensed
commercial UWB devices that will occupy frequencies
allocated to other services
• Forecast commercial applications in 10’s/100’s of millions
• Aggregation effects raise the noise floor and interfere with
low-power signals first (GPS, space sensors, astronomical
RF signals, etc)
Optical Effects of Single Light Source
Effects of Multiple City Light Sources
Light Pollution in the USA
Immediate UWB Concerns
• Why does NASA care?
• Impacts to multiple bands
– Not limited to UWB, but with a variety of new technologies
• Devices proposing to operate unlicensed.
• Operational densities which could raise the Noise Floor.
• NASA, DOT/FAA, NOAA, DOE and the private
sector are coordinating in a time-urgent effort
– NASA is conducting a thorough Noise Floor Study (2 Parts)
• University effort to characterize & model UWB effects
• Interference effects testing & simulations
– DoD and DOT/FAA are conducting related analysis and
testing efforts
• Adequate time is needed to permit systematic
scientific assessments to be performed and peerreviewed
NASA UWB Investigation
• NASA/LaRC EMC testing reveals potential RFI from
UWB to aircraft avionics June, 2002
• NASA initiating a broad program of investigation of
effects from FCC approved UWB devices
–
–
–
–
Effects on noise floor in select frequency bands
Effects on aircraft avionics and GPS signal reception
Collaboration with other Federal Agencies and Departments
Collaboration with private industry.
• Efforts expected to aid in quantifying potential impact
of UWB emissions prior to FCC release of “new
R&O”
– Provide sound scientific/engineering basis for safe and
efficient regulation of UWB operations.
– We were able to support the first R&O and MO&O
NASA UWB Study Organization
NASA Headquarters
Warren Martin
Advisory Board
Experts
James Hollansworth
Pat Eblan
Rodney Spence
John Postelle
Bob Fontana (MSSI)
Gerry Fuller (EWI)
Noise Floor Effects Characterization
Measurements and Modeling
RFI Effects
Avionics & E911
Langley Research Center
RFI Effects
Range Applications
Kennedy Space Center
Stanford University
RFI Effects
Space Applications
TBD Unviversity
Johnson Space Center
Clemson University
(Ohio University)
RFI Effects
Antenna Measurements/ATC Comm
Glenn Research Center
RFI Effects
Space Science & Data Networks
Goddard Space Flight Center
Ames Research Center
Current NASA Recommendation
• No further changes to UWB
rulemaking until results of
ongoing noise floor analyses
and interference test efforts have
been subjected to peer-review by
all stakeholders and made
available to the public