[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32710-32711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16105]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 95
[WT Docket No. 95-47; FCC 96-224]
Permitting Mobile Operation in the Interactive Video and Data
Service (IVDS)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission has amended its rules to permit IVDS licensees
to provide mobile service to subscribers. This action authorizes mobile
operation of response transmitter units (subscriber units) operated
with an effective radiated power of 100 milliwatts or less. The
Commission also eliminated the IVDS ``duty cycle'' requirement for
operations outside of TV channel 13 Grade B contours. The Commission
found that these amendments would provide additional flexibility for
IVDS licensees to meet the communications needs of the public without
increasing the likelihood of interference.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 25, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Malinen, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, telephone (202) 418-0638, e-mail at
[email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report
and Order, adopted May 16, 1996, and released May 30, 1996. The full
text of this Commission action, including the rule amendments and Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, is available for inspection and
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room
239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The full text of this Report
and Order may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Services, Inc., 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite
140, Washington, D. C. 20037, telephone (202) 857-3800. Last, the full
text may be obtained from the FCC's internet World Wide Web home page,
http://www.fcc.gov
Summary of Report and Order
1. On April 13, 1995, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making, 60 FR 25193 (May 11, 1995), proposing, inter alia, to
allow IVDS licensees to provide mobile service to subscribers on an
ancillary basis. By this Report and Order, and in light of the
development of the industry and the views of a majority of the
commenters, the Commission amends Part 95 of the rules to authorize
fully mobile operation in addition to fixed operation for IVDS response
transmitter units (RTUs) operated with an effective radiated power of
100 milliwatts or less. This action will enable licensees to respond
more accurately to the public's preferred choices of interactive
services and to offer a broader array of services.
2. Recognizing that allowing mobile operations increases the
interference potential with respect to the operations of licensees in
other services, the Commission concludes that the lower power limit of
100-milliwatts is appropriate. The limit applies even to mobile RTUs
located both within the IVDS licensee's service area and outside a TV
channel 13 predicted Grade B contour. In addition, as suggested by
commenters, this 100-milliwatt limit is specified in terms of mean
power. The Commission also concludes that no change to the power limit
for fixed operations is necessary.
3. Given the development of IVDS and the Commission's current
reexamination of the parameters of the duty cycle rule, the Commission
also eliminates the duty cycle requirement for both fixed and mobile
operations in IVDS service areas where no TV channel 13 predicted Grade
B contour overlap exists. In such areas, TV channel 13 operations have
no expectation to protection from interference. The Commission also
eliminates the duty cycle in areas where there is overlap, for fixed
RTUs located within the IVDS licensee's service area, but outside the
TV channel 13 predicted Grade B contour. In such areas, the
interference potential is minimal, rendering the duty cycle restriction
unnecessary. The duty cycle requirement is retained for mobile RTUs
located within the IVDS licensee's service area, but outside the TV
channel 13 predicted Grade B contour.
4. The Commission also adopts its proposal to allow indirect RTU-
to-RTU operations, but will continue to prohibit direct RTU-to-RTU
operations. Protecting TV channel 13 from interference is a primary
concern in regulating IVDS, and direct RTU-to-RTU operation would
increase the potential for such interference. Further, the Commission
eliminates the requirement that RTUs operating at 100 milliwatts or
less incorporate automatic power control. Finally, the Commission
permits direct CTS-to-CTS communications (fixed point-to-point
communications) on a primary basis, finding that such fixed operation
can be designed to eliminate potential interference to TV channel 13
operations and does not present the interference potential presented by
direct RTU-to-RTU operations.
5. The Commission declines to permit IVDS interconnection with the
public switched network. This determination is consistent with
retaining IVDS as a private, although newly mobile, radio service.
6. The amended rules are set forth below, effective July 25, 1996.
7. This Report and Order and the rule amendments are issued under
the authority contained in 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i), 303 (b), and 303
(r).
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 95
Communications equipment, Interactive Video and Data Service
(IVDS), Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Rule Changes
Part 95 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations
is amended as follows:
PART 95--PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES
1. The authority citation for Part 95 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47
U.S.C. Secs. 154, 303.
[[Page 32711]]
2. Section 95.803 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to
read as follows:
Sec. 95.803 IVDS description.
(a) An IVDS system is a point-to-multipoint, multipoint-to-point,
short distance communications service for its licensees to provide
information, products, or services to, and allow interactive responses
from, subscribers in the licensee's service area.
(b) The components of each IVDS system are its administrative
apparatus, its response transmitter units (RTUs), and one or more cell
transmitter stations (CTSs). RTUs may be used in any location within
the service area. Each IVDS system is authorized for a specific service
area and frequency segment. There can be a maximum of two IVDS systems
per service area. There are two frequency segments available for each
service area.
* * * * *
3. Section 95.805 is amended by revising paragraphs (b), (c) and
(e) to read as follows:
Sec. 95.805 Permissible communications.
* * * * *
(b) Direct CTS-to-CTS communications within the same IVDS system
are permitted.
(c) Direct RTU-to-RTU communications are prohibited. No mobile RTU
in an IVDS system may be interconnected with the public switched
network or any commercial mobile radio service.
* * * * *
(e) An IVDS system may provide fixed and mobile service to
subscribers within its service area.
* * * * *
4. Section 95.855 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
follows:
Sec. 95.855 Transmitter effective radiated power limitation.
(a) The effective radiated power (ERP) of each CTS and RTU shall be
limited to the minimum necessary for successful communications. RTUs
with powers in excess of 100 milliwatts must incorporate automatic
power control to ensure the minimum ERP is used. No CTS may transmit
with an ERP exceeding 20 watts. No fixed RTU may transmit with an ERP
exceeding 20 watts. No mobile RTU may transmit with an ERP exceeding
100 milliwatts mean power.
* * * * *
5. Section 95.863 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 95.863 Duty cycle.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the
maximum duty cycle of each RTU, either fixed or mobile, shall not
exceed 5 seconds-per-hour, or, alternatively, not exceed one percent
within any 100 millisecond interval.
(b) The duty cycle limitation specified above for RTUs does not
apply in the following situations:
(1) To fixed and mobile RTUs when there is no TV channel 13
predicted Grade B contour overlap in the licensed service area; or
(2) To fixed RTUs in areas where there is Grade B contour overlap
and the RTU is located outside the TV channel 13 predicted Grade B
contour but within the licensed service area.
[FR Doc. 96-16105 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P