1 70/80/90 GHz Web-Based Coordination Improving the Effectiveness of the Domestic Spectrum Management Process National Spectrum Managers Association Arlington, Virginia May 17, 2006 Ed Drocella National Telecommunications and Information Administration Office of Spectrum Management Spectrum Engineering and Analysis Division

2 Overview Background Federal Government Operations Description of Coordination Process Overview of Service Rules Overview of Engineering Algorithm Web-Based Coordination Capability Web-Based Status Summary

3 Background On October 16, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Report and Order establishing service rules to promote non-federal development and use of the “millimeter wave” spectrum in the GHz, GHz, and GHz (70/80/90 GHz) bands on a shared basis with federal operations. The Commission adopted a flexible regulatory framework where an unlimited number of non-exclusive nationwide licenses to non-federal entities for the 12.9 GHz of spectrum. The licenses serve as a prerequisite for registering individual point-to-point links.

4 Background Since the 70/80/90 GHz bands are allocated on a shared basis with federal operations the licensee will not be authorized to operate a link under its non-exclusive nationwide license until the link is: - coordinated with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with respect to federal operations; and - registered as an approved link with a third party Database Manager To facilitate the coordination between federal and non- federal users, NTIA developed an automated web-based capability.

5 Federal Government Operations The federal government operations in the 70/80/90 GHz bands include: - fixed service stations; - radio telescope operations in the GHz, GHz, and GHz bands (protected sites and coordination distances are specified in footnote US388); - fixed satellite service earth stations in the GHz and GHz bands (protected sites are specified in footnote US389); and - National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ).

6 Description of Coordination Process A proposed non-federal link is entered into NTIA’s automated system will result in either a “green light” or a “yellow light” response based on the proposed parameters. Proposed link receives green light: - based on the analysis of proposed link parameters federal operations are protected from interference; - proposed link will be protected for a period of sixty days in NTIA’s system; - registration must be completed through Link Registration System through the Third Party Database Managers by the end of sixty day period; - if registration is not completed within sixty day period it must be resubmitted through NTIA’s process.

7 Description of Coordination Process Proposed link receives yellow light: - a Form 601 and Schedule M must be filed with the Commission for further coordination with NTIA through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC); - when IRAC clears on a proposed link, the licensee will be notified by the Commission that coordination has been completed; - proposed link will be protected for a period of sixty days in NTIA’s system; - registration must be completed through Link Registration System through the Third Party Database Managers by the end of sixty day period.

8 Overview of Service Rules Part 101—Fixed Microwave Services - threshold to interference criteria (based on Telecommunications Industry Association TSB-10F) - maximum bandwidth limits - maximum allowable equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) limits - antenna radiation patterns (co-polar and cross polar) - minimum bit rate requirements - spectrum aggregation - mandatory interference analysis required for non- federal users prior to equipment installation

9 Engineering Algorithm To determine the potential impact of new non-federal and federal fixed service links a two-way interference analysis is performed where: - a search will be performed within 125 km of the applicant’s proposed transmitter location; - if there are no federal systems within the search radius and the proposed transmitter location is outside of the radio astronomy coordination distances and outside the NRQZ, the applicant will be issued a green light; - if there are federal systems within the search radius or inside the radio astronomy and NRQZ coordination distances the engineering algorithm determines the amount of undesired power that could be received from the proposed link and compares this level with an interference criteria appropriate for the receiver; - if the received undesired power is below the interference criteria green light is issued, otherwise a yellow light is issued.

10 Engineering Algorithm The undesired received power from the non-federal and federal transmitters is a function of: - transmitter EIRP - transmit antenna gain of the non-federal/federal transmitter in the direction of the non-federal/federal receiver - receive antenna gain of the non-federal/federal system in the direction of the non-federal/federal transmitter - antenna polarization mismatch - transmitter and receiver cable and system losses - relative bandwidths of the non-federal and federal systems - propagation loss between the federal and non-federal stations

11 Engineering Algorithm The propagation loss is determined by: - NTIA Irregular Terrain Model (ITM) in the Area Prediction Mode - ITU-R Recommendation P to account for losses due to absorption by gas and water vapor Interference criteria - interference-to-noise ratio of -6 dB for fixed service receivers - ITU-R Recommendation RA for radio astronomy receivers - received power level of -162 dBm based on a power density of [Frequency (in GHz) ] 2 x W/m 2 in the NRQZ

12 Web-Based Capability The public may access the 70/80/90 GHz web- based capability at the following site: Applicants must have a FCC Registration Number (FRN) and a Call Sign in order to use the web- based capability.

13 Web-Based Capability (Non-Government Login Screen)

14 Web-Based Capability (Non-Government Registration Screen)

15 Web-Based Capability (Data Input Screen)

16 Web-Based Status   Non-federal frequency assignments that receive a yellow light will be processed by for coordination within 14 working days of the Commission providing the assignment request to NTIA.   While in the NTIA coordination process the status of the non-federal applications can be checked at the following site: ntiacsd.ntia.doc.gov/webcoord/status.cfm

17 Web-Based Status

18 SUMMARY In response to President Bush’s initiative to streamline the domestic spectrum management process, broadband communication systems operating in the millimeter wave band can now be coordinated with federal systems and approved within minutes using the NTIA 70/80/90 GHz web- based capability. The NTIA 70/80/90 GHz web-based capability is directly responsible for: - eliminating delays associated with the current frequency coordination process; - reducing costs to federal and non-federal users; and - allowing new services to be deployed in a timely manner.