OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTO;-.J
SeptEmber 11, 2009
The Honorable Richard M. Burr
United States Senate
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Burr:
Thank you for your August 6, 2009 letter concerning the Commission's Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks comment on providing spectrum for Medical
Micropower Network (MMN) use in the 413-457 MHz band. In your letter, you urge the
Commission to consider the significant medical benefits ofMMN technology, and to consider
allocating sufficient spectrum with appropriate rules to accommodate such MMN operations in
this frequency band.
As you note in your letter, this proceeding was initiated in response to a petition for
rulemaking filed by the Alfred Mann Foundation (AMF). In its petition, AMF proposes to
establish a new wideband MMN service that could afford significant quality oflife benefits for
persons suffering from neurological disorders as a result of injury or disease. Such new wireless
technologies might be very useful, particularly for the treatment and rehabilitation ofmilitary
personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from spinal cord, traumatic brain, and
other severe injuries received during their military service.
Comments on the NPRMwere due August 11, 2009, with reply comments due September
10,2009. In the record developed to date, many parties support allocating spectrum for MMN
purposes in the 413-457 MHz band, while others express some concern about the compatibility
ofMMN devices with incumbent operations in portions ofthis band. The Commission will
consider the record developed in this proceeding very carefully, including your letter.
I appreciate your interest in this important matter. Please let me know ifI can be ofany
further assistance.
Julius Genachowski
Chairman