[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 35793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17169]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MM Docket No. 01-145; DA 01-1582]


MDS Two-Way Transmissions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Mass Media Bureau, Video Services Division seeks comment 
on a request for declaratory ruling to remove minimum sub-carrier 
requirement for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (``OFDM'') 
Modulation in the Multipoint Distribution Service (``MDS'') and 
Instructional Television Fixed Service (``ITFS'').

DATES: Comments due on or before July 19, 2001. Reply comments are due 
on or before July 26, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Lerner (202) 418-7066, Video 
Services Division, Mass Media Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Mass Media Bureau, 
Video Service Division's Public Notice entitled, Pleading Cycle 
Established for Comments on Request for Declaratory Ruling to Remove 
Minimum Sub-Carrier Requirement for Orthogonal Frequency Division 
Multiplexing Modulation in Multipoint Distribution Service and 
Instructional Television Fixed Service, DA 01-1582, MM Docket No. 01-
145, released July 5, 2001. The full text of this Public Notice is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Room, Room CY-A257, Portals II, 445 12th Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C., and also may be purchased from the Commission's 
copy contractor, International Transcription Services, Inc. (``ITS''), 
Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W. Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Synopsis of Public Notice

    On March 13, 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. (``Cisco'') filed a request 
that the Commission remove a restriction on permitted OFDM modulation 
in the MDS and ITFS. Specifically, Cisco requests the Commission 
declare that a minimum of 256 QAM-modulated carriers (or tones) is not 
necessary in order to use OFDM modulation in the MDS and ITFS. On July 
9, 1996, the Commission adopted a declaratory ruling which permits 
stations operating in the MDS and ITFS to utilize certain digital 
emissions on a regular basis, so long as those emissions meet certain 
requirements for power spectral uniformity and out-of-band emissions. 
The Commission amended its channel utilization policy to permit the 
routine authorization of digital transmissions using Vestigial Sideband 
Modulation (``VSB'') and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (``QAM''), and 
indicated that the Commission would consider authorizing the use of 
other digital modulation schemes based upon demonstrations of 
noninterference. In a subsequent proceeding, the Commission adopted 
technical rule changes to provide MDS and ITFS licensees flexibility to 
fully employ digital technology in delivering two-way communication 
services and expanded the list of permissible modulation techniques to 
include Code Division Multiple Access (``CDMA'') and Quadrature Phase 
Shift Keying (``QPSK'') modulation.
    On August 31, 1998, Clarity Wireless, Inc. (``Clarity'') filed a 
Petition for Declaratory Ruling requesting that the Commission 
authorize the use of OFDM digital modulation to provide MDS and ITFS 
networking. Based on a study commissioned by Clarity, the Commission 
declared that OFDM could be used in the MDS and ITFS and required that 
a minimum of 256 QAM-modulated carriers (or ``tones'') be utilized.
    In support of its request that the Commission remove the 256 QAM-
modulation requirement, Cisco states the Commission has encouraged the 
use of new digital modulation techniques and established a flexible 
technology policy whereby advanced digital technologies would be 
authorized on a case-by-case basis. Cisco notes that the Commission has 
previously indicated that it would approve certain digital modulation 
types without test data if it were determined to be a subset of an 
already approved modulation type. Cisco asserts that the 256-tone limit 
adopted in the OFDM Order needlessly constrains the OFDM modulations, 
thereby preventing greater efficiencies in MDS/ITFS operations. Cisco 
states that removal of the 256 QAM-modulation requirement will allow 
designers to optimize their systems based on various channels and allow 
operators to provide a wider range of services to consumers.

Federal Communications Commission.
Barbara A. Kreisman,
Chief, Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 01-17169 Filed 7-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P