Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) companies urged FCC to provide int...

needed and safe GPR applications.” It said that under policy approved by Commission in March, “much of the GPR industry, composed of small businesses, would be unable to survive through another rulemaking cycle.” Group of GPR manufacturers already has said it plans to challenge UWB order (CD April 24 p7), raising concerns that power limits in order could eliminate many GPR uses. FCC order said GPR must operate below 960 MHz or in band of 3.1- 10.6 MHz. At issue in latest GPR filing is short-term relief. FCC has said it plans to assess UWB restrictions in 6-12 month review period and issue further notice if testing indicates some parts of rule should be revisited. GPR Industry Coalition said in May 21 ex parte filing that under that schedule, revising rules could take at least 1-2 years, which could stretch to 3 years if rules were challenged. Group said short-term relief was needed because: (1) Regulatory uncertainties were “already impairing product sales and end users’ contracts with service customers.” (2) GPR manufacturers and customers typically were small businesses “that cannot survive even a short rulemaking cycle.” GPR Industry Coalition said their devices had “never caused reported interference” and interference with GPS systems wasn’t issue because many units had embedded GPS receivers that didn’t experience UWB interference. “Deployment density and duty cycle of GPRs are low,” filing said. “Most GPRs operate in unpopulated or lightly populated areas.” Among changes requested are: (1) Additional user categories for GPR devices. Order now limits use to law enforcement, fire and emergency rescue workers, scientific researchers, commercial mining companies, construction firms. Group wants additional categories “to capture needed users” and, longer term, elimination of marketing restrictions. (2) Identification of sensitive areas such as airports and precoordination everywhere else for unlimited use. Longer term, group seeks elimination of coordination requirements as unnecessary. (3) Approval of emissions under current mask requirements. Rules now disqualify shallow emissions profile even it’s “tens” of dB below emissions mask that’s designed to prevent interference to other spectrum users, GPR said. Long term, group wants FCC to relax emissions mask. GPR group said there wasn’t evidence in record at FCC to justify GPR emissions limits below Class B levels for Part 15.