[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45380-45381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22551]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2 and 15

[ET Docket No. 94-124; FCC 97-267]


Use of Radio Frequencies Above 40 GHz for New Radio Applications

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: By this Fourth Notice of Proposed Rule Making (4th NPRM) the 
Commission proposes to amend the rules to provide a spectrum etiquette 
for operation of unlicensed services in the 59-64 GHz frequency. The 
Commission seeks comment on the proposed spectrum etiquette.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before September 26, 1997, and 
reply comments must be filed October 14, 1997. Interested parties 
wishing to comment on the information collections should submit 
comments September 26, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and reply comments should be sent to the Office of 
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington D.C. 
20554. In addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any 
comments on the information collections contained herein should be 
submitted to Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, or via electronic mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Reed (202) 418-2455 or Rodney 
P. Conway (202) 418-2904. Via electronic mail: [email protected] or 
[email protected], Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal 
Communications Commission. For additional information concerning the 
information collections, or copies of the information collections 
contained in this NPRM contact Judy Boley at (202) 418-0217, or via 
electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Fourth 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, ET Docket 94-124, FCC 97-267, adopted 
July 28, 1997, and released August 14, 1997.
    This NPRM contains proposed or modified information collections 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-
13. The general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to 
comment on the proposed or modified information collections contained 
in this proceeding.
    A full text of this Commission decision 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., and also may be 
purchased from the Commission's duplication contractor, International 
Transcription Service, phone (202) 857-3800, facsimile (202) 857-3805, 
1231 20th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036.

Summary of the 4th NPRM

    1. In the Second Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 61 FR 14041, March 
29, 1996, the Commission requested comment regarding a spectrum 
etiquette for operation in the 59-64 GHz band. The Commission provided 
one year for a spectrum etiquette to be submitted and encouraged 
industry to form a working group to develop a spectrum etiquette to 
permit efficient use of the 59-64 GHz band. In response, the Millimeter 
Wave Communications Working Group (MWCWG) was formed and proposed a 
Spectrum Etiquette for equipment operating in the 59-64 GHz band. The 
MWCWG proposed Spectrum Etiquette can be accessed at [http://
www.fcc.gov/oet/dockets/et94-124/]. MWCWG seeks adoption of its 
proposal to permit efficient use of the spectrum by enabling greater 
frequency reuse and lowering the probability of interference.

[[Page 45381]]

    2. The 4th NPRM seeks comment on a proposed spectrum etiquette for 
unlicensed services in the 59-64 GHz frequency band. The proposed 
spectrum etiquette seeks to: (1) Establish a coordination channel 
located at 59.0-59.05 GHz to be used exclusively to establish 
techniques that various transmitters could use to help mitigate or 
eliminate interference; (2) establish a format for transmitter 
identification by requiring a 60 GHz transmitter with an output power 
of 0.1 mW or more to transmit information that contains the FCC ID 
number, the serial number of the transmitter, and a user definable 
field of up to 24 bytes of information; (3) adopt a limit for peak 
equivalent isotropically radiated power of 20 W for 60 GHz 
transmitters; (4) limit the peak transmitter output power to 500 mW; 
and (5) limit the peak transmitter output power for transmitters 
employing a 6 dB bandwidth of less than 100 MHz, as measured with a 100 
kHz resolution bandwidth spectrum analyzer, according to the following 
formula: P  500 [bandwidth in MHz/100] mW.
    3. The Commission seeks comments on whether it should adopt the 
standards contained in the MWCWG proposal. The Commission is 
particularly interested in comments regarding the proposed transmitter 
identification requirements and the designation of a coordination 
channel. The Commission wishes to clarify, however, that the reference 
in the MWCWG filing for ``radiated power'' actually refers to 
transmitter output power.
    4. Parties commenting on the proposed peak limits and measurements 
should be aware of the possible application of a pulse desensitization 
correction factor. Comments should be directed towards the specific 
substance contained in the proposed Spectrum Etiquette and we remind 
parties that the actual regulations adopted may differ from those 
contained in the proposed Spectrum Etiquette.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    5. Need for and Objective of the Rules. This rule making proceeding 
is initiated to obtain comments regarding the proposed Spectrum 
Etiquette for general unlicensed operation in the 59-64 GHz band. The 
Commission seeks comment on a spectrum etiquette proposed by the 
Millimeter Wave Communications Working Group for the purpose of 
minimizing interference among general unlicensed systems operating in 
the 59-64 GHz band.
    6. Legal Basis. The proposed action is authorized under Sections 
4(j), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), 304 and 307 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302, 
303(e), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), 304 and 307.
    7. Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements. We 
propose to establish a spectrum etiquette that would apply to and 
minimize interference between general unlicensed systems operating in 
the 59-64 GHz band. The spectrum etiquette will require measurements to 
be reported to the Commission as part of the normal equipment 
authorization process under our certification procedure.
    8. Federal Rules Which Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These 
Rules. None.
    9. Description, Potential Impact and Number of Small Entities 
Involved. We expect that multiple manufacturers will manufacture 
transmitters to operate in the 59-64 GHz band for fixed field 
disturbance sensors and high speed computer to computer transmission 
systems.
    10. Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small 
Entities Consistent With Stated Objectives. None.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 2

    Communications equipment, Radio.

47 CFR Part 15

    Communications equipment, Highway safety, Radio.

    Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-22551 Filed 8-26-97; 8:45 am]
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