04-05-2002, 02:39 AM
FCC Proceeding Puts New Pressure on Amateur Microwave Band
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 4, 2001--The FCC has again targeted Amateur Radio's primary allocation at 2390 to 2400 MHz for possible sharing or use by other radio services. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WT Docket 02-55)--released in mid-March but not yet available for public comment--invites comments on either sharing the band with public safety services being displaced from 800 MHz or moving amateurs elsewhere. The ARRL plans to file comments in the proceeding.
The FCC says increasing incidents of harmful interference to public safety systems in the 800-MHz band prompted the rulemaking proceeding, "Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band." To alleviate the problem, the Commission now is exploring the possibility of restructuring the 800 MHz band and moving some occupants elsewhere.
"In this proceeding, if commenting parties believe that incumbent amateur services cannot co-exist with relocated 800 MHz services," the FCC said, "we seek comment on whether incumbent amateur services could be relocated, what spectrum could be used for their relocation, and what procedures would apply to such relocation." The FCC NPRM identifies the 2390-2400 MHz band as an "Unlicensed PCS Band." Unlicensed, asynchronous PCS devices were authorized there in 1995, but Amateur Radio remains primary on the segment.
The FCC also will seek comments on whether existing UPCS operations could continue in the band or be forced to cease. It also wants input on "the suitability of the 2390-2400 MHz band as replacement spectrum and whether there are other band segments with which this band could be paired." The FCC noted that the adjacent 2385-2390 MHz segment already is slated for auction.
The FCC said its discussion of 2390-2400 MHz and other segments in terms of replacement spectrum was intended to be "illustrative rather than exclusive" and that other bands "may also merit consideration."
Just last summer, the FCC invited comments on its proposals to reallocate some spectrum in the 2390 to 2400 MHz amateur segment--as well as in the non-amateur 1.9 and 2.1 GHz bands--for possible use by unspecified mobile and fixed services. The Commission has proposed 2390 to 2400 MHz and other bands to support the introduction of advanced wireless systems, including so-called third-generation (3G) mobile systems. The FCC also has asked for comments on whether amateurs could share the band with government users. Should it reallocate 1755-1850 MHz--now occupied by federal government users--for advanced wireless services, the Commission has hinted that it might consider again lumping relocated federal government users with amateurs on 2390-2400 MHz.
The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to upgrade the adjacent Amateur Radio 2400-2402 MHz allocation from secondary to primary, mainly to protect satellite operations. The AO-40 satellite has been successfully using the band for downlink telemetry and transponder operation, and AMSAT plans a similar downlink for its next satellite project. The Amateur Service already is primary at 2402-2417 MHz. There's a secondary amateur allocation at 2417-2450 MHz.
The 2390-2400 MHz band was reallocated from federal government to exclusive non-government use pursuant to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. When the FCC elevated Amateur Radio from secondary to primary status on the band in 1995, it also allocated the spectrum for use by unlicensed Part 15 devices, reasoning that hams and unlicensed devices had proven able to share spectrum, and it wanted to preserve adequate spectrum for Amateur Radio. At about the same time, the FCC concluded that an allocation for certain proposed wide-area, high-power fixed and mobile services "would be incompatible with amateur use."
Last year, the ARRL re-petitioned the FCC for primary status at 2300 to 2305 MHz. That petition faces competition from AeroAstro, which wants co-primary status with the Amateur Service for its commercial satellite-based location service.
The complete NPRM (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-81A1.doc) is available via the FCC Web site. The FCC will officially invite comments for 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register. Reply comments will be due 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Some related notices and correspondence already are available via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html). Click on "Search for Filed Comments" and enter "02-55" in the "Proceeding" field.
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 4, 2001--The FCC has again targeted Amateur Radio's primary allocation at 2390 to 2400 MHz for possible sharing or use by other radio services. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WT Docket 02-55)--released in mid-March but not yet available for public comment--invites comments on either sharing the band with public safety services being displaced from 800 MHz or moving amateurs elsewhere. The ARRL plans to file comments in the proceeding.
The FCC says increasing incidents of harmful interference to public safety systems in the 800-MHz band prompted the rulemaking proceeding, "Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band." To alleviate the problem, the Commission now is exploring the possibility of restructuring the 800 MHz band and moving some occupants elsewhere.
"In this proceeding, if commenting parties believe that incumbent amateur services cannot co-exist with relocated 800 MHz services," the FCC said, "we seek comment on whether incumbent amateur services could be relocated, what spectrum could be used for their relocation, and what procedures would apply to such relocation." The FCC NPRM identifies the 2390-2400 MHz band as an "Unlicensed PCS Band." Unlicensed, asynchronous PCS devices were authorized there in 1995, but Amateur Radio remains primary on the segment.
The FCC also will seek comments on whether existing UPCS operations could continue in the band or be forced to cease. It also wants input on "the suitability of the 2390-2400 MHz band as replacement spectrum and whether there are other band segments with which this band could be paired." The FCC noted that the adjacent 2385-2390 MHz segment already is slated for auction.
The FCC said its discussion of 2390-2400 MHz and other segments in terms of replacement spectrum was intended to be "illustrative rather than exclusive" and that other bands "may also merit consideration."
Just last summer, the FCC invited comments on its proposals to reallocate some spectrum in the 2390 to 2400 MHz amateur segment--as well as in the non-amateur 1.9 and 2.1 GHz bands--for possible use by unspecified mobile and fixed services. The Commission has proposed 2390 to 2400 MHz and other bands to support the introduction of advanced wireless systems, including so-called third-generation (3G) mobile systems. The FCC also has asked for comments on whether amateurs could share the band with government users. Should it reallocate 1755-1850 MHz--now occupied by federal government users--for advanced wireless services, the Commission has hinted that it might consider again lumping relocated federal government users with amateurs on 2390-2400 MHz.
The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to upgrade the adjacent Amateur Radio 2400-2402 MHz allocation from secondary to primary, mainly to protect satellite operations. The AO-40 satellite has been successfully using the band for downlink telemetry and transponder operation, and AMSAT plans a similar downlink for its next satellite project. The Amateur Service already is primary at 2402-2417 MHz. There's a secondary amateur allocation at 2417-2450 MHz.
The 2390-2400 MHz band was reallocated from federal government to exclusive non-government use pursuant to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. When the FCC elevated Amateur Radio from secondary to primary status on the band in 1995, it also allocated the spectrum for use by unlicensed Part 15 devices, reasoning that hams and unlicensed devices had proven able to share spectrum, and it wanted to preserve adequate spectrum for Amateur Radio. At about the same time, the FCC concluded that an allocation for certain proposed wide-area, high-power fixed and mobile services "would be incompatible with amateur use."
Last year, the ARRL re-petitioned the FCC for primary status at 2300 to 2305 MHz. That petition faces competition from AeroAstro, which wants co-primary status with the Amateur Service for its commercial satellite-based location service.
The complete NPRM (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-81A1.doc) is available via the FCC Web site. The FCC will officially invite comments for 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register. Reply comments will be due 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Some related notices and correspondence already are available via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html). Click on "Search for Filed Comments" and enter "02-55" in the "Proceeding" field.