AsiaSat wants to make sure that harmonization of frequencies for electronic newsgathering adequately protects the fixed satellite and broadcasting-satellite services, it told ITU-R subgroups dealing with the issue. The potential tuning ranges under consideration for regional or worldwide harmonization include the 3,400-3,600 MHz, 4,400-5,000 MHz and 21.20-24.50 GHz bands, AsiaSat said. The 3,400-3,600 MHz band has been used for the fixed satellite service for 40 years, AsiaSat said. The 4,500-4,800 MHz band is the downlink band defined in regulatory and technical requirements for certain fixed satellite networks, AsiaSat said. The 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference will “decide on spectrum use of the 21.4 to 22 GHz band for the broadcasting-satellite service and the associated feeder link bands” in Europe, Africa, the former Soviet states and Asia. AsiaSat is also concerned about other frequencies that have the potential for ENG harmonization. The 5,850-6,725 MHz band is used as an uplink with the 3,400-4,200 MHz downlink band by almost all countries, AsiaSat said. The 6,725-7,025 MHz band is used for uplink with the 4,500-4,800 MHz downlink band, it said. Important government networks often use the 7,900-8,400 MHz uplink band and the corresponding 7,250-7,750 MHz downlink band, it said. The 7,025-7,075 MHz band is used for uplinks, sometimes to feed broadcasting satellite networks, AsiaSat said. It’s also worried about the 10.95- 13.25 GHz band, used by the fixed satellite service. An ITU- R working party coordinating studies for the possible worldwide/regional harmonization of spectrum for electronic newsgathering at the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference “must show conclusively that existing or future deployment of [fixed satellite service] transmitting earth stations is not unduly limited,” AsiaSat said.

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition responded to American Petroleum Institute objections that allowing 30 MHz channels in the upper 6 GHz band could lead to congestion like that elsewhere in the band. “The congestion now seen in the Lower 6 band is not due primarily to wide-bandwidth Fixed Service operation,” the coalition said. “Rather, the thousands of uplink earth stations in that band create difficulties in frequency-coordinating new Fixed Service stations. Each of these earth stations routinely coordinates the entire Lower 6 band, and the entire visible geosynchronous arc, even if the earth station actually uses far less spectrum on just one or two satellites.” The large number of earth stations, combined with fixed service operations, leaves little room for new fixed service links, the coalition said. “But there are no earth stations in the Upper 6, and Fixed Service operators are permitted to coordinate only the frequencies and azimuths they use.”

Clearwire supported an FCC proposal that would allow fixed terrestrial wireless licensees to operate channels with bandwidths of as much as 30 MHz in the 6525-6875 MHz band, and to allow applicants to operate pursuant to conditional authority on two additional channels in the 21.8-23 GHz and 23-23.2 GHz bands. “Clearwire supports adoption of both proposals because it would provide it with more flexibility to expeditiously launch its broadband wireless service in new markets and more effectively expand its existing service area in already launched markets,” the company said. Clearwire said it holds more than 1,000 microwave licenses in the 6525-6875 MHz and in the 21.8-22 and 23-23.2 GHz bands. “Since the Commission has already granted a number of waivers to allow licensing of channels greater than 10 MHz [in the upper 6 GHz band] with no negative consequences, real world evidence exists to support this rule change,” Clearwire said.

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition said most commenters agree about the benefits of adaptive modulation, in reply comments as the FCC asked whether companies should be allowed to reduce data rates for point-to-point transmissions to keep a link in service. The FWCC, joined by Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola and Ericsson, had asked the FCC to clarify that adaptive modulation is permissible under rules for fixed wireless transmitters operating in the 4, 6, 10, and 11 GHz bands (CD May 20 p4). The group argued that the FCC could provide clarification without a full scale rulemaking in the interest of a quick decision.

The first meeting of the FCC under Julius Genachowski, to be held Thursday, will focus on just one topic -- an update on the status of the commission’s process for developing a National Broadband Plan. The FCC approved two wireless agenda items on circulation, neither of which had been controversial, the FCC said. The FCC also approved on circulation a rulemaking previously on the agenda exploring a GE Healthcare proposal for body sensor networks that would operate on a secondary basis in the 2360-2400 MHz band. The sensors would surround the body, allowing doctors to continuously monitor various physiological parameters such as heart rate, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory function, and blood glucose levels. The commission also quietly approved a rulemaking sought by the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition that would allow wireless backhaul in the 6 GHz and 23 GHz bands. NTIA has recommended the change for the 23 GHz band, but does not have the same authority over the 6 GHz band.

Both sides indicated willingness to compromise on a Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition proposal at the FCC to clarify that companies can reduce data rates for point-to-point transmissions to keep a link in service, without violating commission rules. The FCBA’s wireless and engineering committees held a joint lunch on adaptive modulation Thursday, focusing on the FWCC request for interpretation, filed at the FCC May 8.

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps put forward a relatively light schedule for the FCC’s July 2 meeting. Copps on Thursday evening circulated three items for the meeting for what could be his last meeting as acting chairman. None of the items is expected to be controversial.

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition and various companies are asking the FCC to shine a light on whether companies are allowed to reduce data rates for point-to-point transmissions to keep a link in service, without violating commission rules. The stakes are potentially high, since the transmissions involved include wireless public safety backhaul, cellsite backhaul and control of both the electric grid and natural gas and oil pipelines.

ITU member countries will approve a recommendation and change two others dealing with mobile, radiodetermination, amateur and related satellite services, unless objections arise by June 6. The new recommendation would set standards, discusses the effects of interference and develops interference protection criteria, said a letter circulated Friday by the Radiocommunication Bureau. A revision added four new orbital locations for protection from the emissions of fixed service systems operating in the 2.025-2.110 GHz and 2.2-2.29 GHz bands, according to the letter. The new orbital locations are: 89 degrees E, 133 degrees E, 12 degrees W, and 79 degrees W. And descriptions of multicarrier systems to provide a wideband service were added to characteristics of VHF radio systems and equipment for the exchange of data and e-mail in the maritime mobile service in certain channels. Ten recommendations on frequency sharing and coordination between fixed-satellite and fixed service systems will be withdrawn, according to the letter: (1) Frequency sharing between systems in the fixed-satellite service and radio-relay systems in the same frequency bands. (2) Maximum allowed values of power flux-density at the surface of the Earth produced by satellites in the fixed- satellite service using the same frequency bands above 1 GHz as line-of-sight radio-relay systems. (3) Maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power of radio-relay system transmitters operating in the frequency bands shared with the fixed-satellite service. (4) Maximum allowed values of interference from terrestrial radio links to systems in the fixed-satellite service employing 8-bit PCM encoded telephony and sharing the same frequency bands. (5) Calculation of the maximum power density (averaged over 4 kHz) of an angle- modulated carrier. (6) Maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power transmitted towards the horizon by earth stations of the fixed-satellite service sharing frequency bands with the fixed service. (7) Sharing between the fixed service and the fixed-satellite service with bidirectional usage in bands above 10 GHz currently unidirectionally allocated. (8) Possible use by space stations in the fixed- satellite service of orbits slightly inclined with respect to the geostationary-satellite orbit in bands shared with the fixed service. (9) Carrier-to-interference calculations between earth stations in the fixed-satellite service and radio-relay systems. (10) Maximum allowed values of power flux-density at the surface of the Earth produced by non- geostationary satellites in the fixed-satellite service used in feeder links for the mobile-satellite service and sharing the same frequency bands with radio-relay systems.

Chances of T-Mobile taking over Sprint (CD May 6 p10) have dropped thanks to Sprint’s Clearwire deal and Verizon’s attempt to buy Alltel, said Bernstein Research. Congress would “almost certainly” look into a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile, increasing regulatory risk in an election year, it said. And Sprint’s ceding 49 percent of its 2.5 GHz spectrum in the Clearwire deal makes Sprint a less attractive takeover target, Bernstein said.