SB QST @ ARL $ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC 5 GHz news

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ARRL Bulletin 22  ARLB022
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 29, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC 5 GHz news

The FCC has proposed making available 350 MHz of spectrum at
5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.725-5.875 GHz for use by so-called NII/SUPERNet
devices.  The spectrum includes part of the shared Amateur Radio
allocation at 5.65-5.925 GHz.  The unlicensed devices provide
short-range, high-speed wireless digital information transfer and
could support new wireless local area networks (LANs) and facilitate
access to the Internet.  The proposal is in response to Petitions
for Rule Making from Wireless Information Networks Forum (WINForum)
and Apple Computer Inc.

The FCC has proposed regulating NII/SUPERNet devices under its Part
15 rules.  ''Unlicensed Part 15 status would facilitate spectrum
reuse and provide protection to incumbent and proposed primary
operations,'' the Commission's announcement said.  The Commission
also has proposed only the minimum technical standards necessary to
prevent interference to other unlicensed devices as well as to
services already using those frequencies, and to ensure efficient
spectrum use.  Proposed rules specify power limits, out-of-band
emission limits and a basic ''listen-before-talk'' protocol. Details
of the proposed rules are not yet available, however, according to
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, N3AKD.  The FCC said it was
encouraging industry to develop additional standards it believes
necessary.

In a separate statement, FCC Commissioner Susan Ness said such
unlicensed devices ''can play a vital role in meeting established
and incipient needs for communications offering mobility,
flexibility, versatility and economy.'' She said she was
''especially enthusiastic'' about WINForum's proposal, and said the
proposal sets the FCC on a course that will ''bring substantial
benefits, with no intrusive governmental intervention.''
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