FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2016
The Honorable David B. McKinley
U.S. House of Representatives
412 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman McKinley:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the potential impact on Bluetooth-
enabled hearing aids or other assistive listening devices that could occur if terrestrial broadband
services are authorized in the 2473-2495 MHz portion of the 2.4 GHz band, commonly referred
to as Channel 14. I share your interest in ensuring that individuals with hearing loss are not
negatively impacted by this proceeding.
In 2013, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that raised complex
technical questions regarding the proposed operation of Globalstar's terrestrial Wi-Fi network on
Channel 14. The record in this proceeding includes interference concerns raised by Bluetooth
stakeholders and other in-band and adjacent band spectrum users. The record specifically
reflects concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed operations on Bluetooth
technologies such as those that may be used in connection with hearing aids or other assistive
listening devices.
In light of these concerns, the draft Report and Order that I circulated included numerous
conditions to help ensure that deployment of Globalstar's terrestrial Wi-Fi network would not
have a significant detrimental impact on Bluetooth or other spectrum users, including with
respect to hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Furthermore, the item reaffirms the
Commission's commitment to carefully monitor the impact of the network on other spectrum
users and to take action, if necessary, to protect the integrity of the unlicensed ecosystem. The
Report and Order is before the other Commissioners for their consideration.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your views are very important and will be
included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27,2016
The Honorable Mike Thompson
U.S. House of Representatives
231 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Thompson:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the potential impact on Bluetooth-
enabled hearing aids or other assistive listening devices that could occur if terrestrial broadband
services are authorized in the 2473-2495 MHz portion of the 2.4 GHz band, commonly referred
to as Channel 14. I share your interest in ensuring that individuals with hearing loss are not
negatively impacted by this proceeding.
In 2013, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that raised complex
technical questions regarding the proposed operation of Globalstar's terrestrial Wi-Fi network on
Channel 14. The record in this proceeding includes interference concerns raised by Bluetooth
stakeholders and other in-band and adjacent band spectrum users. The record specifically
reflects concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed operations on Bluetooth
technologies such as those that may be used in connection with hearing aids or other assistive
listening devices.
In light of these concerns, the draft Report and Order that I circulated included numerous
conditions to help ensure that deployment of Globalstar's terrestrial Wi-Fi network would not
have a significant detrimental impact on Bluetooth or other spectrum users, including with
respect to hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Furthermore, the item reaffirms the
Commission's commitment to carefully monitor the impact of the network on other spectrum
users and to take action, if necessary, to protect the integrity ofthe unlicensed ecosystem. The
Report and Order is before the other Commissioners for their consideration.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your views are very important and will be
included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.