[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51888-51889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25978]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 68

[CC Docket No. 98-163; FCC 98-221]


1998 Biennial Regulatory Review--Modifications to Signal Power 
Limitations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This NPRM proposes increasing the signal power limitations in 
order to improve the transmission rates experienced by persons using 
high speed digital information products, such as 56 kilobits per second 
(kbps) modems, to download data from the Internet. Current rules 
limiting the signal power that can be transmitted over telephone lines 
can prohibit such products from operating at their full potential. We 
believe that these signal power limitations may be increased without 
causing interference or other technical problems. We propose increasing 
the signal power limitations and request comment on the benefits and 
harms, if any, that may result from this change. Specifically, this 
change will allow Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) modems, used by Internet 
Service Providers (ISPs) and other online information service providers 
to utilize higher signal power levels to transmit data at moderately 
higher speeds.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 29, 1998, and reply 
comments are due on or before November 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition to filing comments with the 
Secretary, an electronic and a paper copy of any comments, reply 
comments, and supporting documents should be submitted to Vincent M. 
Paladini, Federal Communications Commission, Common Carrier Bureau, 
Network Services Division, Room 235, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20554 or via the Internet to [email protected]. Electronic 
submissions must be in WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows format.
    Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing 
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (May 1, 1998). 
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via 
the Internet to <http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html>. Generally, only 
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket 
or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, 
however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments 
to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In 
completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full 
name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or 
rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by 
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, 
commenters should send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include 
the following words in the body of the message, ``get form [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in the matter of 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review--
Modifications to Signal Power Limitations Contained in Part 68 of the 
Commission's Rules. The technical parameters of Part 68 fall into three 
broad categories: signal power limitations, transverse balance 
requirements, and billing protection provisions. The signal power 
limitations of section 68.308 are designed to protect the network from 
crosstalk and other interference caused by excessive signal power. 
Theoretically, PCM modems operating over the Public Switched 
Telecommunications Network (PSTN) are capable of data transmission 
rates of up to 56 kbps. The signal power limitations found in section 
63.308 of our rules appear to limit the transmission rate of PCM modems 
to 54 kbps. This is due to the way PCM is decoded within the PSTN. 
Digital signals transmitted by a PCM modem may be converted into analog 
signals by decoders within the network that translate digital signals 
into analog signals. Decoders operate by converting each discrete 
eight-bit digital input signal, or ``word,'' into a specific analog 
output signal strength, or voltage. PCM technique utilizes 256 decoder 
output voltages, one for each of the 256 possible eight-bit input 
combinations, or ``words.'' Each voltage corresponds with a specific 
signal power level. The signal power limitations contained in Part 68 
may curtail the acceptable range of signal strengths used by PCM modems 
connected to the PSTN, potentially limiting transmission speeds.
    In response to this situation, we propose increasing the encoded 
analog content power limitations specified in sections 68.308(h)(1)(iv) 
and 68.308(h)(2)(v) from -12 dBm to -6 dBm. We understand that an 
increase of this magnitude may be sufficient to broaden the range of 
acceptable signal strengths to enable PCM modems to approach their 
theoretical maximum speed. We seek comment on the effect of this 
proposed rule change. In particular, we seek comment on whether this 
rule change will discernibly improve the performance of PCM modems, 
whether increasing the signal power risks harm to the network, whether 
a signal power limit other than -6 dBm but greater than -12 dBm, or 
another modification to Part 68 of our rules, would be more beneficial 
and entail less risk. We request that all comments be accompanied by a 
thorough analysis of the likely effect of the proposed rule change, 
both the positive, in terms of increased transmission rates and other 
tangible benefits, and the negative, in terms of additional signal 
interference, crosstalk, or other network detriment. In particular, we 
seek comment on the potential detrimental effects of the proposed power 
increase on advanced communications services, such as asymmetric 
digital subscriber loop (ADSL), and other digital subscriber line 
(e.g., xDSL) services. We seek comment on whether the proposed rule 
change will allow consumers who access the Internet or other online 
services to experience faster transmission rates. We also seek comment 
identifying other factors limiting transmission rates, such as 
available network capacity, line noise, and the quality of the local 
loop, and discussing how these factors may be affected by increased 
signal power limitations. Finally, we seek comment on what rule 
modifications would be necessary to implement the revised signal power 
limitation.
    We recognize that the modifications proposed in this Notice may 
produce only moderate improvements in the actual performance of 56 kbps 
PCM modems. We propose these modifications, however, because we desire 
to remove impediments to data transmission over the PSTN where we find 
that the public interest will be served by doing so. We ask parties to 
identify other provisions of Part 68 that may be affected by this 
proposed rule change.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR 68

    Communications common carriers, Communications equipment.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-25978 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P