3.6 GHz

Broadband Operations

How to License 3.6 GHz Broadband Operations
Article taken from Motorola's publication "The Communicator" dated November 30, 2007

The FCC has released a Public Notice containing instructions on filing for nationwide 3.6 GHz licenses on the ULS database. The 3.6 GHz band was made available for land mobile broadband services in 2005. Existing fixed services and Fixed Satellite Service operations are grandfathered and those operations must be protected by new land mobile entrants. The potential uses of the band are for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) and WiMax.

Licensing in the band had been delayed while the FCC considered Petitions for Reconsideration from various parties. In June those Petitions for Reconsideration were acted upon and the band is now available for licensing as of November 15, 2007.

Eligibility in the 3.6 GHz band is open to both commercial carriers and entities intending to use the band for private, internal communications. Public safety entities are also eligible to hold a 3.6 GHz license. Each license granted in the 3.6 GHz band will be on a nationwide, non-exclusive basis. No frequency coordination is required and applicants should file electronically using the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home

There are four key steps to obtaining authorization to operate in the 3.6 GHz band:

• First, obtain a nationwide, non-exclusive license
• Register each fixed and base station using ULS
• Before registering a fixed or base station, examine the ULS for nearby stations
• Obtain FCC-certified equipment – fixed, based and mobile equipment in the 3.6 GHz band must utilize “contention-based protocol”

Once the nationwide license is granted, and before any equipment can be deployed, the licensee must register each proposed fixed base station on the ULS. The ULS will contain information on all deployed fixed base stations and serve as a tool for licensees to meet their obligation to coordinate with and accommodate other nearby 3.6 GHz operators.

When registering, the licensee must search the ULS for nearby stations already deployed and make every effort to ensure that their newly deployed station will not cause harmful interference. Each licensee is responsible for cooperating with other licensees to avoid causing interference and to resolve interference if caused.

Information required when registering a fixed or base station includes:

• Coordinates
• FCC Equipment Identification Number
• Whether the equipment uses RS (restricted) or UR (unrestricted) protocol
• EIRP
• Antenna height above ground and other technical parameters

Operation on the registered fixed base station is not permitted until the ULS shows the registration as “accepted” and the nationwide license is updated. The ULS reviews registration applications for adherence to service rules and proximity to FSS stations, international borders, quiet zones, etc.

Other Part 90 requirements include:

• No fixed station may be located closer than 150 km from a grandfathers FSS station unless the FSS station agrees to a closer separation
  • The ULS will automatically flag fixed stations if too close to an incumbent FSS station
• Base or fixed stations within 80 km of three Federal radiolocation stations must be coordinated with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Licensees are also advised to determine if there are any nearby Federal radar systems operating in adjacent bands.
• Fixed stations must utilize contention based protocol to avoid causing interference to other stations.
  • There are two types of contention based protocols:
    • Restricted contention protocols can prevent interference only with other devices using restricted or similar protocols and can operate only on the lower 25 MHz of the band (3650-3675 MHz)
    • Unrestricted contention protocols can prevent interference with other, dissimilar contention protocols and can operate on all 50 MHz of the 3.6 GHz band
• Power limits:
  • Fixed and base stations: peak power limit of 25 watts per 25 MHz bandwidth
  • Mobile stations: peak power limit of 1 Watt per 25-MHz bandwidth

Since November 15, about 50 licenses have been granted.

The text of the PN is available at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4605A1.doc.

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