Greetings. This is a report that Paul Rinaldo sent along. It reflects some unusually aggressive and arrogant FCC actions in support of UWB, unheard-of previously, in which FCC is attempting to steamroll its domestic policy on UWB into the United States' position internationally. FCC is probably reflecting the beating they have taken on the Hill as the result of their "conservative", "initial" decision on UWB. Because of the unusual position of the FCC, Paul and I thought you all should see this. Please, because it is a candid report, keep it Board Confidential. Thanks. 73, Chris W3KD
Meeting Report US Task Group 1/8 (UWB) Federal Communications Commission September 12, 2002
Prepared by: Paul L Rinaldo, Manager, Technical Relations
Amateur issues: Defense of frequencies
This was the organizational meeting of US TG 1/8, as announced by the Department of State as part of ITAC-R. The meeting was chaired by Ron Chase, FCC/OET. He's a relatively new FCC employee, somewhat new to ITU work, with an extensive engineering background elsewhere and with marching orders. Because of the interest in UWB, about 50 people atttended the meeting.
For openers, the chairman said the job of US TG 1/8 is to provide input papers to the international ITU-R TG 1/8 in accordance with the First Report and Order on UWB. He repeated this about 3 more times throughout the meeting, saying there will be no deviation from the R&O. John Reed, OET, sitting next to me muttered the same thing. Chase said that if you are here to change the US policy you are in the wrong meeting and should be participating in the reconsideration of the R&O. There was stunned silence by most of the people, but Julie Knapp nodded affirmatively and so did Bruce Franca somewhat uncomfortable.
Several people in different ways asked, "Why are we here; why doesn't an FCC employee just write all the input documents to TG 1/8 if it's all decided?" Chase had no good answer for that but said it wasn't possible just to chop up the R&O and reassemble it in ITU format. The participants are here to digest the R&O and develop contributions that support, or at least don't contradict what the R&O plus erratum says.
Chase said that there will be four deliverables:
a. Characteristics of UWB b. Compatibility between UWB and radiocommunications services c. Guidance to administrations on a spectrum management framework for UWB d. UWB measurement techniques
He then asked for a show of hands who would like to work on which group. About 4 people (mostly UWB manufacturers and their law firms) indicated willingness to work on "a." Practically everyone in the room raised their hands for "b," which seemed to surprise the chairman. There were about 5 interested in "c" and "d" drew little or no interest, probably because measurement people were not there.
Someone asked, "How can we assess the impact of UWB on radio systems if we don't have the UWB characteristics?" Chase said to work on them simultaneously. There are characteristics in the FCC UWB proceeding. A followup question asked "Even if we have the technical characteristics, is there any information on operational characteristics, e.g., deployment?" There was no answer, probably because there is little or no deployment except for ground penetrating radars.
According to the ITU-R circular letter, there is supposed to be an organizational meeting of TG 1/8 early next year. Rob Haines guessed around April. The circular didn't name the international chairman but Haines said it will be Salim Hanna (Canada). Chase and Haines said they will telephone Hanna within the next two weeks. One subject to be discussed is the role of the task group vs the service study groups. Is TG 1/8 going to be taking on the entire subject of UWB including impact on various services?
Chase requested contributions or at least fact sheets at the next meeting of US TG 1/8, which would include effects on radio services (of course, in accordance with the R&O). I commented to Kris Hutchison with earshot of some others that ARRL is job simple because the FCC rejected our comments. Several voices said, ours too.
The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 0930 on October 10. November 7 was mentioned as the possible subsequent meeting.
Haines said those interested should see recent WP 1B TEMP documents 21-26, which he will place on the NTIA Web site. These documents already have a start on the four deliverables.
Attachments: None