Low Power Cellular Networks

Reconfiguration of the Band to Contiguous Channels to Enable Low Power Cellular Operation and Revision of Technical Rules for Spectrum Leasing (2004 BRS/EBS Order)

Agency Actions

Initiated Comprehensive Examination of the Rules and Policies Governing the Licensing of the ITFS, MDS, and MMDS; Seek to Promote Competition, Innovation and Investment in Wireless Broadband Services, and to Promote Educational Services, Notice Proposed Rulemaking and Memorandum Opinion and Order.

FCC 03-56 (4/2/2003): pdf - Word

Statement of Chairman Powell: pdf - Word
Statement of Commissioner Copps: pdf - Word
Statement of Commissioner Abernathy:pdf - Word

Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150-2162 and 2500-2690 MHz Bands, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket 03-66, RM-10586, 19 FCC Rcd 14165 (2004 BRS/EBS Order), 69 FR 72048, July 29, 2004.

FCC 04-135 Order: pdf - Word

Statement of Chairman Powell: pdf - Word
Statement of Commissioner Copps: pdf - Word
Statement of Commissioner Abernathy: pdf - Word

Statement of Commissioner Martin: pdf - Word

Statement of Commissioner Adelstein: pdf - Word

WTB Announces Changes to ULS to Accommodate the Broadband Radio Service and Education Broadband Service and Reminds Licensees That Use of ULS Forms and Electronic Filing for These Services Becomes Mandatory on July 11, 2005, Public Notice, DA-05-1818, June 28, 2005.

FCC-04-135A1.doc

Final Rule published in the Federal Register, December 10, 2004 (69 FR 72020, 70 FR 1190.)

47 CFR Parts 1, 2, 11, 15, 21, 27, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, and 101 [WT Docket No. 03–66; RM–10586; FCC 04–135]

Facilitating the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150–2162 and 2500–2690 MHz Bands.

Executive Summary

In its 2004 BRS/EBS Report and Order, the FCC took the following actions:

Adopt a new band plan for the 2500-2690 MHz spectrum that eliminates the interleaving of licensees’ channels.

The new channel assignments create continuous spectrum, thereby giving new incentives for the development of low-power cellularized broadband uses in the band, which had been thwarted by the legacy band structure.

Restructure the channel assignments in the 2500-2690 MHz band into upper and lower-band segments for low-power operations (UBS and LBS, respectively) for broadband use, and a mid-band segment (MBS) for high-power video operations.

By grouping high and low-power spectrum uses into separate portions of the band, the plan:

(i) creates opportunities for spectrum-based systems or devices to migrate to compatible bands based on marketplace forces, and

(ii) reduces the likelihood of interference caused by incompatible uses.

Provide licensees with the flexibility to employ the technologies of their choice in the band.

Refrain from allowing high-power unlicensed operations in the 2500-2690 MHz band, but allow unlicensed operation under its existing Part 15 rules in the 2655-2690 MHz band.

Rename the MDS service as the “Broadband Radio Service” (BRS). This new designation connotes a more accurate description of the services we anticipate will develop in the band.

Rename the ITFS service as the “Educational Broadband Service” (EBS), which more accurately describes the kinds of the services that we anticipate will develop in the band.

Implement geographic area licensing for all licensees in the band to give licensees increased flexibility while greatly reducing administrative burdens on both licensees and the Commission.

Adopt a transition mechanism that enables incumbent licensees to develop regional plans for moving to new spectrum assignments in the restructured band plan.

Transition plans must conform to certain safeguards to ensure a smooth transition and equitable treatment of incumbents.

Consolidate licensing and service rules for the Educational Broadband Service and Broadband Radio Services.

Allow spectrum leasing for BRS and EBS under our secondary market spectrum leasing policies and procedures.

Retain eligibility restrictions for licensing in the EBS band, while removing all non-statutory eligibility restrictions applicable to cable and DSL operators for the BRS.

Synopsis

BRS & EBS Radio Services, FCC Wireless Telecommunications Division

The BRS/EBS R&O & FNPRM created a new band plan for 2495-2690 MHz. The new band plan eliminates the use of interleaved channels by MDS and ITFS licensees and creates distinct band segments for high power operations, such as one-way video transmission, and low power operations, such as two-way fixed and mobile broadband applications. By grouping high and low power users into separate portions of the band, the new band plan reduces the likelihood of interference caused by incompatible uses and creates incentives for the development of low-power, cellularized broadband operations, which were inhibited by the prior band plan.

The BRS/EBS R&O & FNPRM also expands the original MDS-ITFS band by adding to it five megahertz of additional spectrum from below 2500 MHz, which increases the total size of the band to 194 megahertz. This will provide room for the future relocation of MDS Channels 1 and 2, which are presently located in the 2.1 GHz band.

The new band plan will enable BRS and EBS providers to use the 2495-2690 MHz spectrum in a more technologically and economically efficient manner. The new, more flexible rules will facilitate the growth of new and innovative wireless technologies and services, including wireless broadband services that have the potential to compete with cable and DSL broadband providers and to extend broadband service to rural and underserved areas. The rules adopted today also preserve operations of existing licensees, including educational institutions offering instructional television programming to their students.

White Paper

FCC/Regulatory Issues in MDS/ITFS Rebanding Transition, Rini Coran, PC (2004).