WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week made some tweaks to its rules allowing for the operation of ultra-wideband devices facilitating short-range communications, collision avoidance, inventory control and tracking systems.
The FCC did not make any major changes to its UWB rules while it waits for a commercial market to develop, which is starting to happen, said FCC Chairman Michael Powell.
“The commercial market is finally discovering what the military figured out 30 years ago,” said Powell.
The minor changes increased the peak power limits and reduced the unwanted emission levels for three frequency bands: 5925-7250 MHz, 16.2-17.2 GHz and 23.12-29 GHz.
“President Bush has charged us with creating an environment where entrepreneurs and innovators can flourish-and today’s FCC order does just that. The United States continues to lead the world in ultra-wideband technology. Ultra-wideband devices have the power to change people’s lives whether they are in their living rooms or their automobiles. Today’s ruling speeds the arrival of the day when passenger cars come equipped with radars that prevent accidents. The FCC has provided the certainty new technologies need for growth and development, and at the same time maintains protection for restricted bands that serve vital and sensitive purposes, such as earth exploration and radio astronomy,” said Michael Gallagher, assistant Commerce secretary for communications and information.
UWB operates using pulses over a large swath of spectrum that is licensed to other users. When the FCC adopted its original UWB rules almost three years ago, it said UWB devices would be considered unlicensed so they are not permitted to cause harmful interference to licensees.
“Our goal has always been to better tap into the spectrum resources,” said FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy.
The FCC denied a petition by Cingular Wireless L.LC. contesting the FCC’s authority to allow unlicensed devices, said John Reed, senior attorney in the FCC’s Office of Engineering & Technology.
Cingular had made similar arguments when the FCC considered its original UWB rules.
Last week, Cingular declined to comment.
