https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

content


The push for more data spectrum

The push for more data spectrum

Calls for more spectrum to be freed up for data and telecommunications uses have not fallen on deaf ears in the nation's capital. Over the past 12 months,
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st February 2003

Calls for more spectrum to be freed up for data and telecommunications uses have not fallen on deaf ears in the nation’s capital. Over the past 12 months, both the Federal Communications Commission and members of Congress have put into motion a variety of efforts to provide more of the airwaves for public unlicensed and licensed use. Some frequencies such as 70 GHz are expected to open up with few problems, while others, like television VHF and UHF bands, are likely to run into resistance from current users.

Currently, there are two FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Makings (NRPMs) seeking comment and feedback to open up different spectrum areas.

In addition, U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and George Allen, R-Va., introduced the “Jumpstart Broadband Act” in January 2003 to add another 255 MHz of spectrum in the 5 GHz range. Each effort has its own unique and interesting points.

Broadband in paradise

The most near-term and practically “sure deal” in new spectrum use revolves around millimeter wave technology. Millimeter wave frequencies have been used for radio astronomy, space-based cloud imaging, and various military applications. Experiments have also shown the utility of using millimeter wave to “see” airport runways through fog and smoke. On June 28, 2002, the FCC released an NPRM discussing the use of 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz bands. The NPRM was stimulated in part by a petition by Loea Corporation’s petition to use the 71-76 GHz band and finalized rules on spectrum usage are likely to be issued by the end of 2003.

Based in Lihue, Hawaii, Loea has used the beautiful landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands as a testing ground for their experiments with millimeter-wave high-speed wireless broadband equipment. The company has developed point-to-point gear capable of full-duplex 1.25 Gbps (yes, that’s gigabits per second) data rates at distances of around a mile for reliability of 99.999 percent and distances of up to 8 miles at a reliability of 99.9 percent. Performance reliability is dependent on humidity and distance between transmitters, but fog is not a factor as it would be with free space optical (i.e. laser) systems.

Loea’s system uses two-foot and four-foot Cassegrain dish antennas with up to 56dB of gain. It has a rain fade margin of up to 30 dB. The equipment only uses 10 volts of standard AC power and have an optical interface capable of operating at OC-3, OC-12, and Gigabit Ethernet speeds, as well at the non-standard rate of 1.25 Gbps, called OC-24 by the company. Clocking speeds are software selectable. Loea is working on a solution to mux together a pair of OC-12s to fully drive the equipment at its top OC-24 speed rate.

In real world operations, Loea’s equipment has already been used in several installations. One of the first demonstrations was a 2.7 mile gigabit data link linking the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology on Coconut Island in Kane’ohe Bay to Oahu. Surrounded by 64 acres of coral reef, the institute was reluctant to pull fiber out to the island for both ecological and cost reasons. More urban installations have been put into operation in downtown Manhattan between 55 Broad and 80 Pine Street and at the 2003 Super Bowl to move raw HDTV footage.

Currently, the 71-76 GHz band is currently co-licensed for both government and commercial use, but commercial links must receive FCC Special Temporary Authority prior to implementation on a limited test basis.

According to Tom Wetmore, Loea’s vice president of strategic relations, the company expects the FCC will adopt rules for commercial use of the spectrum sometime in the second half of 2003. The U.S. Government can use the spectrum today and Loea’s equipment is available for purchase off of GSA schedule.

Bipartisan spectrum

Congressional efforts to free up more spectrum in the 5 GHz area started rolling in the fall of 2002, when Sens. Boxer and Allen announced they would introduce a bill in the 108th Congress to expand Internet broadband technology. While the partnership of a long-time Democrat from California (Boxer) with a first term Republican of the South would appear to be an odd one at first glance, these particular bedfellows are on the same page. Boxer represents Silicon Valley while Northern Virginia was a keystone to the state’s high-tech growth over the last decade. Allen also serves as the chair of the Republican High Tech Task Force.

Both Senators are touting The Jumpstart Broadband Act as a way to facilitate broadband access in both urban and rural areas. The bill requires the FCC to allocate another 255 MHz of continuous spectrum under 6 GHz for unlicensed use by wireless broadband devices.

It also requires the FCC to make sure Department of Defense usage isn’t compromised while the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be responsible for establishing guidelines to prevent interference with existing government applications.

Explicitly mentioned twice in the Act, the Department of Defense (DoD) is likely to have a significant impact on the form of the final NTIA guidelines. DoD has expressed concern over the international use of future WiFi products and presented a position paper requesting limits on the future use of 5 GHz to the World Administrative Radio Conference. A broader discussion will take place at the June meeting in Geneva.

The U.S. military also would like to see more stringent implementation of dynamic frequency selection in current and future devices to prevent interference. European governments are opposed to the proposals.

Battle royale on shared TV spectrum?

The most intriguing and likely to be the most heated battle for new spectrum will concern the potential usage of VHF and UHF television bands by unlicensed devices.

Quietly released Dec. 20, the FCC’s latest NPRM on spectrum is seeking comment in an arena that will likely provoke the ire of television broadcasters already being forced into moving over to digital television technology.

At first glance, analog television bands have significant potential for data. TV stations currently operate in 6 MHz chunks in the ranges of 57-72 MHz, 76-88MHz, 174-216Mhz, and 470-806 MHz. To prevent interference, FCC rules require distance separations between co-channel and first-adjacent-channel TV stations.

In addition, distance separations are required between UHF TV stations up to 15 channels apart. As a result, there are a number of vacant TV channels at any given location in the country, with more UHF spectrum available because of no existing licensee at a particular location. Even after a transition to digital television, there will be a number of available channels in a given geographic area not being used for interference avoidance reasons.

Needless to say, smaller cities and rural areas will have more available spectrum.

For instance, new digital TV allotments require minimum distance separation ranging from 196 to 273 kilometers for co-channel stations and separations of 110 kilometers for adjacent channel stations not collocated or in close proximity, based upon the assumption that stations will operate at maximum power.

Lower power transmitters could operate on vacant channels at closer distances and avoid interference with licensed operating stations.

The FCC cites advances in technology that would make it feasible to design new types of unlicensed equipment to share spectrum in TV bands without causing interference to either TV broadcasts or other licensed services operating within the bands.

A next-generation unlicensed device could have enough on-board intelligence to scan and monitor spectrum to detect frequencies already in use and insure transmissions only occur on open frequencies.

The NPRM also discusses the idea of using an on-board GPS location function in combination with an online database to compare the transmitter’s location to licensed operations within the vicinity.

Agreeing upon use of this spectrum for unlicensed devices is liable to encounter commentary from parties other than television broadcasters.

A variety of other applications already use parts of the aforementioned spectrum, ranging from wireless microphones, medical telemetry transmitters, radio astronomy, private land mobile radio service, and commercial mobile radio service.

There also are concerns about possible interference with channels 2, 3, and 4, used by VCRs and other set-top boxes.

A 3650 MHz footnote

In addition to kicking the hornet’s nest of using television spectrum, the Dec. 20, 2002, NPRM also opened up discussion for use of spectrum at 3650-3700 MHz in unlicensed devices at “at power levels significantly higher than the maximum permitted for unlicensed devices in other frequency bands” with “minimal technical requirements” to avoid interference with other services.

The 3650 MHz band was previously allocated to the Federal Government for location services and the private sector for satellite transmissions.

In 1997, the NTIA identified the band as one that could have other uses, with a grandfathered condition that gives the government the ability to operate to three existing sites with a broadcast radius of 80 kilometers per site.

The FCC notes other usage caveats may be tied to the use of the band, but seems to think there’s plenty of potential as well. Since it is a large 50 MHz block of recently vacated spectrum, it is not heavily used in most parts of the country. Current users of the band — satellite services and the three government sites — are all at fixed locations at known geographic coordinates.

To avoid interference, unlicensed devices could use a combination of GPS database reference and frequency agility capability.

Tags: content

Most Recent


  • The push for more data spectrum
    Newscan: Securing the Internet of Things is quite a challenge
    Also: EWA requests dismissal of 900 MHz applications; TIA names tech and policy priorities for 2014; IJIS Institute names Shumate Award winner; App makes bus waits more tolerable; a Blackberry comeback may be in the offing.
  • The push for more data spectrum
    Newscan: FCC certifies Carlson Wireless's white-space radio
    Also: Congress looks to revamp telecom law; Obama to place some restraints on surveillance; IEEE to study spectrum-occupancy sensing for white-spaces broadband; Major Swedish transport operator opts for Sepura TETRA radios; RFMD to partner on $70 million next-generation power grid project; NENA opens registratiuon for "911 Goes to Washington."
  • The push for more data spectrum
    Newscan: A look at the critical job of 911 dispatchers
    Also: NYC launches website for tracking 911 response times; Oregon implements 911 on pre-paid cell phones; LightSquared wants to keep spectrum assets; Harris receives multiple government orders; FCC extends rebanding financial reconciliation deadline; Zetron gear at core of communications system upgrade; Ritron debuts wireless access control system; EWA seeks policy review of VHF vehicular repeater system deployments.
  • The push for more data spectrum
    Newscan: Average peak data rates of 144 MB/s average realized in tests with CAT 4 LTE device
    Also: Verizon, T-Mobile to swap unused spectrum to improve coverage; Internet giants oppose surveillance--but only when the government does it; FCC Chairman says incentive auction will be delayed until middle of 2015; FCC chair announces staff appointments; Alcatel-Lucent names Tim Krause as chief marketing officer; New Jersey county deploys TriTech CAD system; Toronto airport deploys 26-position Zetron console system;

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • RugGear: Contributing to the future of mission-critical broadband communication review and market vision
  • Photo gallery: 2014 Communications Marketing Conference (CMC) in Tucson
  • The push for more data spectrum
    Top 5 Stories - Week of Sept. 22
  • The push for more data spectrum
    RCA plans to expand this year's Technical Symposium

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

ChatGPT may be fastest-growing app of all time, UBS Says dlvr.it/Sj4NfL

7th February 2023
UrgentComm

Public-safety coalition renews efforts to secure federal NG911 funding dlvr.it/ShwGfn

4th February 2023
UrgentComm

Newscan: Cyberattacks on DoE national labs draw lawmaker scrutiny dlvr.it/Shvpw3

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

The shine begins to wear off 5G private wireless dlvr.it/Shth0P

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

Phishers trick Microsoft into granting them ‘verified’ Cloud Partner status dlvr.it/Shqngn

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Shapeshifting robot can morph from a liquid to a solid dlvr.it/Shqk9K

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Automakers against stampede to BEV dominance dlvr.it/ShpX08

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

FCC nominee Gigi Sohn headed for third Senate hearing dlvr.it/ShpDcZ

1st February 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.