ARLA/CLUSTER: FCC propõe mais espectro em 5 MHz para estações não licenciadas no segmento de amador

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

FCC proposes more spectrum at 5 GHz for unlicensed broadband

On February 20, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in ET Docket No. 13-49, seeking to revise the Part 15 rules
governing unlicensed national information infrastructure (U-NII)
devices in the 5 GHz band. These devices presently operate in the
frequency bands 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.825 GHz. They use wideband
digital modulation techniques to provide a wide array of high data
rate mobile and fixed communications for individuals, businesses and
institutions. Slightly different rules apply to 5.825-5.85 GHz.

Among the changes being proposed are two additional bands totaling 195
MHz for unlicensed operation: 5.35-5.47 GHz and 5.85-5.925 GHz.
The Amateur Radio Service has a secondary allocation at 5.65-5.925
GHz, including an Amateur Satellite Service uplink allocation of
5.65-5.67 GHz and a downlink allocation of 5.83-5.85 GHz.

The NPRM can be found on the web at,
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022123531.

The FCC notes in the NPRM that since it first made available spectrum
in the 5 GHz band for U-NII in 1997, it has gained "much experience"
with these devices: "We believe that the time is now right for us to
revisit our rules, and, in this NPRM, we propose to modify certain
technical requirements for U-NII devices to ensure that these devices
do not cause harmful interference and thus can continue to operate in
the 5 GHz band and make broadband technologies available for consumers
and businesses."

The NPRM also satisfies Section 6406 (a) of the Middle Class Tax
Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that required the FCC to begin a
proceeding to modify the Part 15 rules to allow unlicensed U-NII
devices to operate in the 5.35-5.47 GHz band, subject to consultation
with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA).

In response to the same legislation, the NTIA recently released an
evaluation of the 5.35-5.47 GHz and 5.85-5.925 GHz bands that details
the existing occupancy of these bands by federal and non-federal users
and the potential risks of expanded unlicensed use.

The NTIA evaluation can be found on the web in PDF format at,
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/
ntia_5_ghz_report_01-25-2013.pdf.

"The Amateur Radio Service has a good record as a spectrum partner
with the other licensed services in the 5 GHz band," observed ARRL
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "The ARRL plans to respond
to the NPRM by pointing out that meaningful access to the 5 GHz band
for amateur and amateur satellite operations continues to be in the
public interest."

The FCC is accepting comments on its NPRM (due no later than 45 days
after publication in the Federal Register), as well as reply comments
(due 30 days later). No date has yet been set for the NPRM's
publication in the Federal Register.

Fonte: ARRL