*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 22365.doc* News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 02- 2786 October 22, 2002 FCC Staff Releases Report “Measured Emissions Data For Use In Evaluating The Ultra- Wideband (UWB) Emissions Limits In The Frequency Bands Used By The Global Positioning System (GPS)” (ET Docket No. 98- 153) Comments Due: November 22, 2002 The staff of the Federal Communications Commission today released a report on “Measured Emissions Data For Use In Evaluating The Ultra- Wideband (UWB) Emissions Limits in the Frequency Bands Used By The Global Positioning System” (Report). The Commission on February 14, 2002 adopted a First Report and Order in ET Docket No. 98- 153 to amend Part 15 of the FCC Rules to permit the marketing and operation of certain types of new products incorporating ultra- wideband technology. UWB devices operate by employing very narrow or short duration pulses that result in very large or wideband transmission bandwidths. UWB technology holds great promise for a vast array of new applications that will provide significant benefits for public safety, businesses and consumers. These applications include imaging systems that can detect objects beneath the surface of the earth or within and behind walls; vehicle radar systems for collision avoidance; and high- speed data communications devices. In adopting the new rules, the Commission stated that it was concerned that the standards for UWB devices may be overprotective and may constrain the development of UWB technology. Accordingly, the Commission stated that, within the next six to twelve months it intends to review the standards for UWB devices and issue a further rule making to explore more flexible technical standards and to address the operation of additional types of UWB operations and technology. The Commission established extremely conservative emissions limits to protect the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) against harmful interference. The need for such stringent emissions limits was one of the major issues of contention in the Commission’s rule making proceeding. Many parties argued that the limits for UWB devices are inappropriate given the ambient radio noise that already exists in the environment and levels of radio noise emitted by 1 2 millions of other electric devices such as personal computers and appliances. Accordingly, the FCC Laboratory undertook a study to measure the levels of ambient radio noise that exist in the GPS frequency bands at a variety of indoor and outdoor locations. The outdoor locations included areas near airports, a train yard, a marine port, and industrial park, The indoor locations included a variety of industrial and office buildings. The results of these tests show that the GPS frequency bands generally have very low levels of ambient radio noise in outdoor environments. In contrast, the GPS bands in indoor environments have levels of ambient radio noise well above the UWB emissions limits. The Commission’s emissions limits were based on protection of GPS indoor operations. The radio noise in indoor environments can be attributed to radio frequency emissions from a variety of common electrical and electronic devices, such as personal computers, peripherals and electrical machinery. The FCC Laboratory also measured the radio frequency emissions from a number of radio frequency devices, including personal computers, hairdryers and electric drills. These products generally had emissions above the limits established for UWB devices, but well below the current Part 15 emission limits for digital and other radio frequency devices. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before November 22, 2002. Comments should be filed in ET Docket No. 98- 153. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ e- file/ ecfs. html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form