NEWSReport No. DC- 2667 ACTION IN DOCKET CASE October 20, 1994 NEW RULES PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SPECTRUM AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL USE (ET DOCKET 94-124) The Commission has proposed making available 18 GHz of spectrum in the "millimeter wave" frequency bands above 40 GHz for the introduction and development of new commercial technologies. This allocation would substantially increase the amount of spectrum space available for commercial uses and could shift the emphasis in this band from military to civilian applications. The same type of technology that is being developed to guide "smart bombs" could soon be used to warn drivers that their car is too close to the one in front of them. The term millimeter wave frequency bands refers to the fact that the wavelength of radio signals on frequencies between 30 GHz and 300 GHz ranges from one and 10 millimeter waves. Until now, millimeter wave technology has been limited to military and scientific applications. The new proposals for commercial use of this spectrum will encourage its use to deliver commercial products and services. Making these new frequencies available will permit the development of short-range wireless radio systems that could have communications capacities approaching those now achievable only with coaxial and optical fiber cable. Such systems could support many short-range applications that require very high bandwidth or data transfer rates. Uses could include educational or medical applications such as remote wireless access to libraries or other informational databases; and non-communication uses such as automobile radar systems to avoid collisions. The proposed rules provide for the operation of new services on both licensed and unlicensed bases. The short range of signals in this frequency range minimizes the potential for interference, allowing the Commission to permit unlicensed operation for many uses. (over) - 2 - The radio spectrum above 40 GHz is generally unused because the technology to operate in this portion of the spectrum has been prohibitively expensive. In recent years, however, the U.S. Government has funded projects in millimeter wave technology for a number of military and scientific applications. The Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency has funded a nearly $600,000,000 program to decrease component costs for this technology. Given these advances, the Commission said, it now appears that millimeter wave technology can be used for commercial applications. The Commission is proposing to open a substantial portion of millimeter wave wave spectrum for use by new communications services and technologies. Almost all of the spectrum above 40 GHz is shared between government and non-government use. In cooperation with the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), the Commission identified 12 frequency bands between 47 GHz and 153 GHz for potential use by new millimeter wave technologies. The Commission tentatively proposed to make available 6.3 GHz of spectrum for licensed operation, 8.5 GHz of spectrum for general unlicensed devices, and 3.2 GHz of spectrum for vehicular radar systems. The bands are: NEWS40.5-42.5 GHz; 47.2-48.2 GHz; 59.0-64.0 GHz; 71.0-72.0 GHz; 76.0-77.0 GHz; 84.0-85.0 GHz; 94.7-95.7 GHz; 103.0-104.0 GHz; 116.0-117.0 GHz; 122.0-123.0 GHz; 126.0-127.0 GHz; 139.0-140.0 GHz; and 152.0-153.0 GHz Action by the Commission October 20, 1994, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 94-273). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong. - FCC - News Media contacts: Audrey Spivack and Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500. Office of Engineering and Technology contacts: Dr. Michael Marcus at 202-653- 8110, e-mail: mmarcus@fcc.gov or David Wilson at (202) 653-8138, e-mail: dwilson@fcc.gov.