FCC approves first software defined radio
The FCC announced November 19 that it has approved, for the first time, use of a software defined radio
(SDR) device in the US. This new class of equipment allows users to share limited spectrum, increases
flexibility and reduces interference concerns. "This is the first step in what may prove to be a radio
technology revolution," said FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell. "The industry's pioneering work to find
more creative and efficient use of our airwaves will continue to bring benefits to consumers." The Laboratory
Division of the Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology issued a Grant of Certification to Vanu
Inc, a software development company, for a cellular base station transmitter. SDRs can change frequency
range, mode or output power without resorting to hardware changes or switches. This programmable
capacity permits radios to be highly adaptable to changing needs, protocols and environments. The FCC
says Vanu has demonstrated that its device complies with the Commission's rules and has shown that its
software has sufficient controls that the device cannot be modified to operate outside its Commission-
approved parameters. An FCC rule making proceeding, ET Docket 03-108, is pending to further streamline
SDR requirements, and the Commission is working with each applicant on a case-by-case basis to facilitate
compliance with current rules. The ARRL has told the FCC that Amateur Radio "is a fertile testing ground"
for SDR technology and that the technology would be especially valuable to facilitate disaster communications.
FCC Fines Trucking Centers for Marketing Illegal "Amateur" Transceivers
The FCC has proposed fining Pilot Travel Centers LLC $125,000 for allegedly marketing unauthorized RF
devices--specifically, transceivers labeled as Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment but intended for use
on both Citizens Band and amateur frequencies. CB transmitters must receive FCC certification--formally
called "type acceptance." Amateur Radio equipment does not require FCC certification. The Notice of
Apparent Liability (NAL) released November 22 asserts that Pilot continued to market CB transceivers l
labeled as amateur gear despite multiple citations and warnings.
FCC permits new unlicensed wideband devices, affirms UWB rules
The FCC has adopted a Second Report and Order and Second Memorandum Opinion and Order in ET
Docket 98-153 to promote introduction of new unlicensed wideband devices in the 6 GHz, 17 GHz
and 24 GHz. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League will examine the final rules "to
determine their impact on the amateur 24 GHz allocation and, if necessary take steps to defend the
continued usefulness of this important international allocation." The wideband devices will include
automotive safety radar systems and tracking systems for personnel location and inventory control.
The Commission previously established regulations to permit marketing and operating certain types
of new products incorporating ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. Partly in response to to petitions
for reconsideration of the First Report and Order (R&O) in this proceeding, the Commission proposed
further changes to the Part 15 regulations for wideband devices. In the Second R&O, the Commission
amended its rules for general Part 15 unlicensed operations that use wide bandwidths but are not now
classified as UWB devices. It increased the peak power limits and reduced the unwanted emission
levels for threee frequency bands already available for unlicensed operation: 5925-7250 MHz,
16.2-17.2 GHz, and 23.12-29 GHz. Higher peak power limits in these bands will facilitate wideband
operations such as short-range communication, collison avoidance, inventory control and tracking
system, the Commision said. The FCC also amended its measurement procedures to permit
frequency-hopped, swept frequency, and gated systems operating within these bands to be measured
in their normal operating mode. The Commission made no major changes to current UWB technical
requirements and made only a minor change to the measurement procedure applied to gated UWB
vehicular radar systems. The FCC also dismissed petitions for reconsideration filed by the Satellite
Industry Association and by Cingular Inc, and it reaffirmed UWB decisions it adopted in its first R&O.
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