MANHASSET, N.Y. — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is preparing a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to reopen the rules that govern radios operating in the 5-GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure band, EE Times has learned. Such a move could mandate a redesign of radios compliant with IEEE 802.11a and other standards.
The petition would articulate some government agencies' concerns that such radios could interfere with essential services such as radar. The NTIA is readying the proposal on behalf of the Department of Defense and NASA.
The U-NII band was established in 1997 and is located between 5.15 and 5.35 GHz and between 5.725 and 5.825 GHz. The band has attracted attention with the recent emergence of IEEE 802.11a 5-GHz wireless LANs. It is also a favorite of the fixed wireless access community.
Possible changes
Proposals being considered include limiting the 5.25- to 5.35-GHz band to 200 mW and indoor use only, and requiring the use of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and transmit power control (TPC). Current FCC rules allow 40 mW at 5.15 to 5.25 GHz, 200 mW (indoor and outdoor) at 5.25 to 5.35 GHz, and 800 mW at 5.725 to 5.825 GHz.
If the recommendations are effected, radios will have to be redesigned or at least recalibrated for U.S. operation. But since TPC and DFS are both mandatory in Europe today, some U.S. manufacturers have already accommodated those features.
An NTIA spokesman said Friday (June 21) that the issue "is of some interest, but we haven't made a decision" on whether to file a petition. He did not elaborate.
"We have yet to study the arguments for this petition but are concerned about any effort to interfere with the U-NII band's much-needed services," said Andrew Kreig, president of the Wireless Communications Association International.
— With additional reporting by George Leopold.
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