FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS and SHARING Ultrawideband Technologies

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FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS and SHARINGUltra-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
  FCCs NPRM on this issue.
• UWBs 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 Commissions 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 Commissions Rules Regarding
  Ultra-Wideband 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 ProgramsSummary

• 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 RO (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 (RO)

• At its February 14, 2002 meeting, the FCC adopted
  a RO authorizing UWB devices to operate across
  US Government restricted bands at or below
  current Part 15 limits.
• Emissions in the GPS bands must be 34 dB less
  than Part 15 limits for indoor systems.
• 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.
• 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 RO are extremely conservative.

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UWB Emission Limits for GPR's, Wall Imaging,
Medical Imaging Systems Source FCC
Operation is limited to law enforcement, fire and
rescue organizations, scientific research
institutions, commercial mining companies, and
construction companies.
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UWB Emission Limits for Thru-wall Imaging
Surveillance Systems Source FCC
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
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UWB Emission Limit for Outdoor Hand-held
Systems Source FCC
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UWB Emission Limits for Vehicular Radar Systems
Source From data contained in FCC 02-48
-41 dBm
-40
-51
-50
Not to scale
-60
-61
-61
2005
UWB Emission Level in dBm
-66
-70
2010
-71
2014
-76
-80
GPS
-90
10
22
1.6
0.96
29
31
23.6-24 GHz NASA,NOAA,NSF
Frequency (GHz)
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).
• Hires VP to direct worldwide regulatory affairs.
• ITU-R WP 8A Ad-hoc UWB correspondence group.
• 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.
• Global Positioning System
• Cellular Phones
• E-911 GPS services
• Passive sensors
• Text contained in RO may interfere with NTIA
  authority to regulate US Government spectrum use
  (Para 273).
• DOD working with NTIA to draft comments to para
  273.
• FCC intends to revisit rules contained in RO
  within 6-12 months.
• 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, 1000 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 non-Government bands as
  well.
• RO fails to implement substantive provisions for
  regulating and enforcing the rules contained in
  the RO.

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Stay Tuned
ACHIEVING A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN NEW
TECHNOLOGIES AND EXISTING SPECTRUM USERS TAKES
TIME.