DA 19-491 Released: May 30, 2019 OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SEEKS COMMENT ON GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY SYSTEMS, INC. REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF CERTAIN PART 15 ULTRA-WIDEBAND (UWB) RULES ET Docket No. 19-155 Comment Date: June 19, 2019 Reply Comment Date: July 5, 2019 On April 11, 2019, Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (“GSSI”) filed a request for waiver of the Commission’s Part 15 ultra-wideband (UWB) rules to enable it to market up to 2000 evaluation kits for an UWB ground penetrating radar (GPR) device. GSSI states that autonomous vehicles (e.g. self-driving cars) would use the device to read features of the roadbed beneath the pavement and use this data for vehicle guidance. The device would transmit between 103 and 403 MHz. GSSI seeks a rule waiver to permit it to use a stepped frequency configuration for its device which steps through its frequency range at 6 megahertz intervals. Specifically, it cites Section 15.503(d), which requires that an UWB transmitter at any point in time have a fractional bandwidth equal to or greater than 0.20 or a UWB bandwidth equal to or greater than 500 MHz, regardless of the fractional bandwidth, and the language of the order that adopted the rule, as impediments to its planned operation. GSSI also asks that it be allowed to measure its stepped system with the transmitter operating in its normal transmission mode. It states that this measurement technique is not permitted under Section 15.31(c), which requires that measurements of swept frequency equipment be made with the frequency sweep stopped. Lastly, GSSI requests a waiver of the GPR eligibility rule in Section 15.509(b) to permit the autonomous vehicle application described in its petition. The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is reviewing the waiver request. OET has concluded that to develop a complete record on the issues presented by this request, this proceeding will be treated, for ex parte purposes, as “permit-but-disclose” in accordance with Section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, subject to the requirements under Section 1.1206(b). Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. § All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. § Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. § U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Parties should also send a copy of their filings to Nader Haghighat Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, Room 7-A345, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, or by e-mail to Nader.Haghighat@fcc.gov. Documents are available for viewing on ECFS, http://www.fcc.gov/ecfs, by entering the docket number. These documents are available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CYA257, Washington, D.C. 20554. Office of Engineering and Technology contact: Nader Haghighat at 202-418-2427. By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology -FCC- 2