DA 19-836 Released: August 27, 2019 OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SEEKS COMMENT ON HUMATICS CORPORATION REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF SECTION 15.519(a) OF THE RULES FOR AN ULTRAWIDEBAND SYSTEM THAT EMPLOYS FIXED INFRASTRUCTURE ET Docket No. 19-242 Comment Date: September 16, 2019 Reply Comment Date: October 1, 2019 On July 16, 2019, Humatics Corporation (Humatics) filed a request for a waiver of Section 15.519(a) of the Commission’s rules to permit it to obtain a grant of equipment authorization for an ultra-wideband (UWB) system that employs fixed infrastructure. Humatics Corporation Request for Waiver of Section 15.519(a) of the Commission’s Rules, filed July 16, 2019 (Humatics Waiver Request). Humatics seeks a waiver of Section 15.519(a) of the Commission’s rules, which specifies technical requirements for handheld UWB systems and prohibits the use of fixed infrastructure. 47 CFR § 15.519(a). Humatics’ Spatial Intelligence Platform (Platform) consists of microlocation systems designed to operate under the UWB rules. Humatics Waiver Request at 11 (claiming that because all Humatics devices comply with all other applicable UWB rules, including technical limits, only a waiver of Section 15.519(a) is needed). The Platform can be used in industrial logistics and manufacturing markets to provide precise location information for tasks such as automatic guided vehicle navigation, crane control, forklift tracking, and worker tracking. Id. at 2-3. The Platform would be located both indoors and outdoors and would be mounted on fixed infrastructure (i.e. industrial automation and manufacturing equipment. Id. at 11. It states that because all Humatics devices comply with all other applicable UWB rules, including technical limits, only a waiver of Section 15.519(a) is needed. Id. The Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) seeks comment on Humatics’ waiver request. Humatics submitted its waiver request electronically through the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) as a non-docketed filing in FCC INBOX-PART 15 (Petition for Waiver of Part 15). In conjunction with the opening of ET Docket 19-242, the Commission moved the filing into this docket. Parties should file all comments and reply comments in ET Docket 19-242. OET has concluded that, in order 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). Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, 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/ecfs2/. § 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 Rodney Small, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, Room 7-A121, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, or by e-mail to Rodney.Small@fcc.gov. 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: Rodney Small at 202-418-2452. By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology -FCC- 2