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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 Re:  Investigation  of  the  Spectrum  Requirements  for  Advanced  Medical  Technologies;  Amendment  of  Parts  2  and  95  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  to  Establish  the 
 Medical  Device  Radio  Communications  Service  at  401-  402  and  405-  406  MHz;  DexCom,  Inc.  Request  for  Waiver  of  the  Frequency  Monitoring  Requirements  of 
 the  Medical  Implant  Communications  Service  Rules;  Biotronik,  Inc.  Request  for  Waiver  of  the  Frequency  Monitoring  Requirements  for  the  Medical  Implant 
 Communications  Service  Rules;  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking,  Notice  of  Inquiry  and  Order 


 Few  uses  of  our  spectrum  could  be  more  important  than  supporting  new  medical  technologies  that  can  extend  and  improve  lives.  Already,  our  nation’s  medical 
 researchers  have  developed  extraordinary  body-  worn  and  implanted  devices  that  control  heart  rhythms  to  prevent  attacks,  mitigate  the  tremors  of  neurological  patients,  and  help 
 control  the  delivery  of  insulin  to  patients  with  diabetes.  Around  the  corner  are  a  whole  host  of  equally  awe-  inspiring  technologies  –  devices  that  can  restore  movement  in 
 paralyzed  persons,  improve  sight  among  the  visually-  impaired,  and  control  artificial  limbs  by  direct  interfaces  with  the  brain  and  nervous  system.  We  all  owe  these  scientists 
 a  great  measure  of  gratitude  for  their  heroic  efforts. 
 Wireless  technologies  are  likely  to  play  a  key  role  in  the  development  of  these  and  other  medical  devices.  The  use  of  radiofrequencies  allows  doctors  to  send  signals  to  and 
 recover  data  from  subcutaneous  and  implanted  devices  without  the  use  of  wires  that  are  prone  to  infection  and  other  forms  of  failure.  Today’s  item  seeks  comment  on  how  the 
 Commission  can  make  spectrum  available  for  these  critically  important  tasks,  and  I  am  happy  to  support  it.  I  would  like  to  give  special  thanks  to  our  Office  of  Engineering  and 
 Technology,  as  well  as  our  colleagues  at  the  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  and  the  National  Telecommunications  and  Information  Administration  (NTIA),  for  their  hard 
 work  in  crafting  this  excellent  and  timely  item. 
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