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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
News Media contact:
August 31, 2000
Rosemary Kimball at
(202) 418-0511
COMMISSION AMENDS PART 15 OF RULES TO FACILITATE TECHNOLOGY FOR
HIGH
SPEED WIRELESS SERVICES
Washington, DC - The
FCC has amended its rules to allow
frequency hopping spread spectrum systems in the 2.4 GHz band
(2400-2483.5 MHz) to use wider hopping channels. The rules will
allow
these devices to operate on a minimum of 15 non-overlapping
channels,
permitting bandwidths up to 5 MHz wide. The wider
bandwidths will
permit these systems to provide higher data speeds, thereby
enabling
the development of new and improved consumer products such as
wireless computer local area networks and wireless cable modems.
Frequency hopping spread-spectrum systems operate on a
non-licensed
basis under Part 15 of the rules. These systems spread their
energy
by changing, or "hopping," the center frequency of the
modulated
signal. This spreading reduces the power density of the
signal at
any frequency over the transmitted bandwidth, thereby reducing
the
probability of causing interference to other signals occupying
the
band.
The rule change will
allow the introduction of new wireless
devices that will benefit users in education, health care
business,
and the home, as well as persons with disabilities.
Wideband
frequency hopping will enable high-speed wireless communications
in
the home that will integrate data, voice and video
communications,
for such applications as high-speed access to the Internet,
wireless
cable modems, personal multimedia communicators, headsets for
Internet audio broadcasts, and wireless games.
In changing the rules,
the Commission said it anticipated
that any technical constraints to higher data speeds using wider
bandwidths can be overcome by appropriate equipment design.
It said
it agreed with the commenters who said that the rule changes to
permit wideband frequency hopping systems will encourage
competition
with direct sequence technology, to the benefit of consumers.
Action by the
Commission August 22, 2000, by First Report and
Order (FCC 00-312).
Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and
Tristani with Chairman Kennard issuing a separate statement and
Commissioners Ness and Furchtgott-Roth issuing a joint statement.
- FCC -
Office of Engineering
and Technology contact: Neal McNeil at
(202) 418-2408.
ET Docket 99-231
SEPARATE STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. KENNARD
Re: ET Docket 99-231 Amending Part 15 of the Commission's Rules
Regarding Spread Spectrum Devices (adopted August 22, 2000)
The Commission action to allow frequency hopping spread spectrum
systems in the 2.4 GHz band to use wider hopping channels will
facilitate development of new high-speed data devices for
business
and consumer applications such as transmission of CD-quality
audio
and video streams from home PCs to portable devices. The wider
bandwidths will permit these systems to provide higher data
speeds,
thereby enabling the development of new and improved consumer
products such as wireless computer local area networks and
wireless
cable modems.
The Commission's action represents a reasonable engineering
compromise between the risks of increased interference and the
desire
to accommodate new technologies. We believe that this
compromise
strikes an appropriate balance among the interests of the various
parties. It will permit the introduction of wide band
frequency
hopping technology that will lead to new and innovative devices.
At
the same time, we have adjusted the proposal to mitigate any
adverse
impact on other Part 15 devices.
The changes that we have adopted represent an important step in
responding to technology evolution and will foster small business
development and further innovation. The rules changes will
benefit
small manufacturers by allowing them to distribute more diverse
products. In turn, the more diverse product selection will
provide
greater flexibility in designing wireless networks, thereby
benefiting small businesses that use these types of devices.
- FCC -
JOINT STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONERS SUSAN NESS AND HAROLD FURCHTGOTT-ROTH
Re: Amendment of Part 15 of the Commission's Rules
Regarding Spread
Spectrum Devices,
(ET Docket No. 99-231).
By this Order, the Commission amends Part 15 of its rules in a
manner
that will permit frequency hopping spread spectrum devices in the
2.4
GHz band to provide higher data speeds. These amendments
should pave
the way for manufacturers of these devices to bring new services
to
consumers and compete in the marketplace for distribution of
wireless
computer local area networks and cable modems. We are
concerned
about the effect these changes will have on spread spectrum
devices
already in the hands of consumers. However, we recognize
that the
FCC engineering staff has worked hard for more than a year to
assess
the interference claims of the parties and adjust the proposed
amendments in an attempt to balance the benefits of the new
spread
spectrum devices against the potential for interference to
existing
devices. Unlicensed operations under Part 15 are, and
should
continue to be, a valuable laboratory for experimentation and the
provision of innovative services to American consumers in this
band.
We also write separately because the Commission's initial
regulatory
flexibility analysis ("IRFA") in this proceeding was
unquestionably
terse. The Small Business Administration and the Committees on
Small
Business of both the Senate and House of Representatives have
expressed their concern over the lack of specificity in our
initial
statement. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, including Section 603,
requires the FCC to assess and explore the impact of our
regulations
on small businesses. The IRFA itself is designed not only
to cause
the Commission to examine these issues thoughtfully, but also to
allow outside parties to comment fully on these issues. In
this
regard, we note more than 100 interested parties including small
businesses commented in this proceeding and that there has been
substantial public interest in the docket. Nonetheless,
small
businesses represent a creative and booming sector of our economy
and
we have an obligation to ensure that their regulatory burden is
no
heavier than necessary to achieve the goals of the Act.
Thus, going
forward, we believe the Commission should recommit itself to a
close
examination of the issues raised by the Regulatory Flexibility
Act.
We have a statutory obligation to do so and the small business
community deserves nothing less.
- FCC -