FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2002 News Media Contact: Lisa Gaisford at (202) 418-7280 COMMISSION AMENDS PART 15 OF ITS RULES TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SPEED WIRELESS SERVICES Washington, DC - The FCC has amended its rules to promote the introduction of new digital transmission technologies for high-speed wireless communications. Specifically, the Commission has modified Part 15 of its rules to permit new digital transmission technologies to operate in the 902-928 MHz (915 MHz), 2400-2483.5 MHz (2.4 GHz) and 5725-5850 MHz (5.7 GHz) bands under the current rules for spread spectrum systems. The Commission also provided flexibility in the design and operation of frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems in the 2.4 GHz band and eliminated the processing gain requirement for direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) systems. These actions will foster the development of new products and increase consumer choice. Currently, the Part 15 rules permit the operation of DSSS and FHSS systems on a non-licensed basis. In both techniques, the power density of the transmitted signal is reduced, which lowers the possibility that the transmitter will cause interference to other devices operating in the band. The Commission has determined that because new digital modulation technologies have spectrum characteristics similar to DSSS systems, they can operate under the same rules as DSSS devices in the 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.7 GHz bands without posing additional risk of interference. Today's decision removes the rule that limits systems in these bands to only DSSS and FHSS technology. Additional actions taken today will permit the use of as few as fifteen hopping channels for FHSS in the 2.4 GHz band. These systems will be able to use channel bandwidth up to 5 MHz wide, but they must reduce their output power to125 mW if fewer than 75 hopping channels are used. This action will allow new FHSS systems to better avoid interference than today's systems by enabling them to avoid occupied channels. The Commission also eliminated the processing gain requirement for DSSS systems, concluding that manufacturers have market-driven incentives to design products that they can withstand interference from other radio frequency devices. The rule changes adopted in this Second Report and Order will provide manufacturers flexibility to design and market a more diverse set of products which are able to operate efficiently in the unlicensed bands. The rule changes will also allow for greater spectrum sharing in the 2.4 GHz band by removing regulatory barriers to the introduction of new non-interfering technologies. Action by the Commission May 16, 2002, by Second Report and Order (FCC 02-151). Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, and Martin, with Commissioner Martin issuing a statement. - FCC - Office of Engineering and Technology Staff Contact: Neal McNeil at (202) 418-2408. ET Docket 99-231