Ultra wideband (UWB) developers took exception Wed. to request by...

trade associations sent letter late Tues. to FCC Chmn. Powell, contending it would be premature for agency to release final rule before putting out further notice that would allow for comment on research, specific regulatory language (CD March 28 p1). “We don’t believe there needs to be a further notice,” said Jeff Ross, vp-corporate development and strategy for UWB developer Time Domain. Process that Commission has undertaken so far to evaluate UWB technology has been “comprehensive” and has included more than 550 filings in docket on proceeding, Ross said. “It’s been an exhaustive record.” Request for further notice made this week “is just a tactic to delay,” Ross said. In part, Ross took exception to contention by groups that studies have yet to be completed, although he agreed NTIA has indicated there are several receivers it still must test as part of evaluation of UWB devices in GPS bands. He also disagreed with point made by groups that NPRM issued last May didn’t contain specific enough details on regulatory language to give interested parties adequate grounds to comment. NPRM addressed Part 15 power levels with specific spectral emission mask and addressed absolute and peak power levels. “I don’t see how that is inadequate notice,” he said. Washington attorney Henry Goldberg, who represents UWB developer Fantasma Networks, also called letter “delaying tactic,” although he said concerns related to testing in GPS bands are “reasonable.” Much less concern exists over UWB operations in non-GPS frequencies, he said. (Fantasma’s technology is designed to operate in non-GPS bands). One possible Commission response is to divide proceeding between UWB operations in GPS and non-GPS spectrum, so that operations of companies using bands in latter group wouldn’t be complicated by GPS-related concerns, Goldberg said.