VSAT OPERATORS SAID TO GIVE WRONG SIGNAL ON RADAR INTERFERENCE
Radar detector industry has “completely solved the problem” of interference to VSATs, and recent complaints to FCC are nothing more than “quibbling in the band,” said Radio Assn. Defending Airwave Rights (RADAR) attorney Mitchell Lazarus. RADAR represents radar detector manufacturers. Led by VSAT operators Microspace and Hughes Network Systems, satellite operators said radar detectors were causing interference and urged Commission to adopt rules to limit emissions (CD June 10 p1). Lazarus and RADAR officials in ex parte filing with FCC Mon. outlined concerns with satellite industry’s effort to regulate radar detectors.
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RADAR “made unilateral commitment” to FCC last Feb. to eliminate local oscillator emissions to VSAT operators into 11.7 -12.2 GHz band by June 2003, Lazarus said, and companies are 6 months ahead of schedule in meeting timetable. Radar detector products are 73% compliant and RADAR will be 100% compliant by next Jan., he said. RADAR has promised to reduce emission levels to Class B or one-billionth of watt, Lazarus said: “That’s the same level as digital devices such as Palm pilots, laptops or alarm clocks, are required to meet.” No FCC regulated device is subject to VSAT band emissions below Class B except Ultra Wide Band (UWB) and Commission will re-examine those limits in notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) soon, RADAR ex parte filing said. If FCC adopts rules, verification should apply, RADAR said.
Despite lower emission levels, some VSAT operators still aren’t satisfied, Lazarus said: “We don’t see why we should be held to a tighter standard.” Satellite operators want radar detectors to be regulated outside VSAT band, but RADAR is opposed to proposal. Fixed Service at 10.7-11.7 GHz hasn’t reported interference despite decades of radar detector emissions, RADAR said. “We don’t know of a single case of interference from a radar detector into a device outside” VSAT band, Lazarus said: “FCC shouldn’t solve problems that no one has.” Good engineering practice suggests VSAT receivers be designed to accept emissions from Class B devices, filing said. It also said Commission couldn’t regulate radar detectors without rulemaking, despite complaints by satellite industry.
Meanwhile Phase IV met with Commission on development of short distance monitoring system to be used primarily for inventory control and environmental monitoring of ordinances for military. Phase IV wants to use 433.92 MHz band, which is allocated for unlicensed devices.