In latest twist in debate over how FCC should set forth policy on...

of UWB to GPS and other systems, urges FCC to: (1) Permit UWB ground penetrating radar applications below 1 GHz with licensing rules “appropriate for unintended emissions.” (2) Permit UWB communication devices between 6 and 12 GHz and automotive collision radar devices between 17 and 24 GHz. (3) Bar commercial use of UWB devices between 1 and 6 GHz. (4) Restrict out-of-band emissions to levels that don’t interfere with current authorized services, particularly GPS. (5) Develop expedited licensing plan for UWB devices. (6) Allow public comment before any new regulations are adopted. (7) Allow experimental uses of UWB devices under current FCC rules. Coalition includes Air Transport Assn. of America, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lockheed Martin, Qualcomm, Sirius Satellite Radio, United Airlines, U.S. GPS Industry Council, WorldCom, XM Satellite Radio. Groups set out position to FCC Chmn. Powell in Nov. 15 letter that expanded on earlier proposals that UWB be authorized on category-by-category basis, with latest letter expanding on how those categories should be defined. Communications devices operating between 6 and 12 GHz wouldn’t lend themselves to “individual licensing scheme” because of large numbers of such devices, group said. “Equally, certification of compliance with the existing FCC Part 15 approach is not appropriate because testing to date has shown that UWB devices have characteristics that vary greatly from those of unintentional emitters.” FCC should address that category of devices in further notice of proposed rulemaking, group argued. Letter also calls for “further step” in which UWB manufacturers would apply for registration of each new type of device, including antenna design or other “significant changes” in design specifications. Applications would be placed on public notice, with comments accepted on technical interference, demonstration of aggregate effect on noise floor, consistency with applicable technical standards. “There would be an expedited procedure for Commission consideration and approval, and approved applications would go into a Commission-maintained ‘register,'” groups said.