FCC issued long-awaited ultra-wideband (UWB) order Mon., saying t...

Feb 15 p1) had been how govt. agencies that used technology would be covered under what govt. officials had characterized as “conservative limits.” Lengthy FCC order referred several times to controversy that had accompanied proceeding in general. Govt. agencies such as Defense Dept. and Transportation Dept. had raised serious concerns about potential interference that UWB devices could create for GPS and other safety-of-life systems. “This has been an unusually controversial proceeding involving a variety of UWB advocates and opponents,” FCC said. “It is our belief that the standards contained in this order are extremely conservative.” Commission also said standards adopted “may be overprotective and could unnecessarily constrain the development of UWB technology.” Order spelled out that within 6-12 months FCC planned to review UWB standards and issue further rulemaking “to explore more flexible technical standards and to address the operation of additional types of UWB operations and technology.” Agency also appeared to make clear that UWB standards wouldn’t provide model for other Part 15 proceedings: “The analyses and technical standards contained in this order are unique to this proceeding and will not be considered as a basis for determining or revising standards for other radio frequency devices, including other Part 15 devices.” On govt. UWB operation, FCC said that when Part 15 regulations were amended in 1989, it had opened several bands for unlicensed operation even though they were allocated for exclusive operation by U.S. govt. It said it took that step after informal agreement with NTIA that “similarly permitted it to operate equipment in exclusive nongovernment bands under the same Part 15 standards.” Commission said that policy would continue, allowing govt. to operate in nongovt. frequency bands and in shared bands under Part 15. As condition of their use of those bands, federal specifications for UWB devices operated by U.S. agencies in nongovt. or shared bands “must conform to the standards and operating conditions that are being adopted in this order.” It said: “We believe that this will result in a greater number of UWB devices operating under the same parameters, facilitating our studies to readdress the appropriateness of the UWB standards within the next 6 to 12 months.”