IP: more on FCC Proposes Primary Status for Amateur Service at 2.4 GHz

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Louis A. Mamakos" <louie () TransSys COM>
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 10:01:34 -0400
To: farber () cis upenn edu
Subject: Re: IP: Mad as hell Hughes -- FCC Proposes Primary Status for
Amateur Service at 2.4 GHz


For IP:

This ruling is largly orthogonal to Part 15 operation in the 2.4GHz
spectrum allocation.  Currently, there is a government allocation
in this band which has primary status.  One can only assume that
the government applications have run screaming from all of the
unlicensend Part 15 activity, leaving the amateur radio service
as the only remaining allocation with licensed users.

This actually has no effect on Part 15 users:  they have always
been required to not interfere with other services with allocations
in the spectrum they use (mostly an issue at 900MHz and 2.4GHz
part 15 activity.)

This primary vs. secondary status thing is a pecking order between
different services within the same spectrum allocation; the unlicensed
Part 15 users (e.g., "Wi-Fi" 802.11 wireless LAN) have always been
at the bottom of the pecking order.  There are simply fewer beaks
now.

I'm an amateur radio operator, and am aware of some of the "buzz"
going on in that community.

The amateur radio service has some concerns about the unlicensed
operation in this band.  In particular, there is weak-signal
activity in the form of satellite downlinks from amateur radio
satellites (see http://www.amsat.org and look for info on AO-40),
as well as a little bit of terrestrial activity.  Frankly, well
operating 802.11 "Wi-Fi" usage with direct-sequence spread spectrum
modulation probably poses only a little threat to most use.  It's
the narrow-band coreless phones at 2.4GHz which are more likely to
cause interference.  Oh, and don't forget the microwave ovens.

The thing which will cause grief to the "Wi-Fi" community will
be things which force enforcement actions from the FCC for violating
the part 15 regulations.  E.g., "illegal" and poorly designed
power amplifiers; just like in the 1970's with CB radios.  The kind
of activities which will annoy licensed users of the 2.4GHz spectrum
will likely also cause problems for other unlicensed Part 15 users,
too.

Louis Mamakos
wa3ymh

> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
>
> [Note:  This comment comes from reader Dave Hughes.  DLH]
>
> At 13:33 -0700 5/9/02, Dave Hughes wrote:
> > From: "Dave Hughes" <dave () oldcolo com>
> > To: <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> > Subject: RE: [Dewayne-Net] FCC Proposes Primary Status for Amateur
> > Service at 2.4 GHz
> > Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 13:33:15 -0700
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> >
> >
> > Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 1:55 PM
> > To: Dewayne-Net Technology List
> > Subject: [Dewayne-Net] FCC Proposes Primary Status for Amateur Service
> > at 2.4 GHz
> >
> > This afternoon the FCC announced that it has initiated a rulemaking
> > in which it proposes to, among other things, upgrade the existing
> > secondary amateur radio service allocation in the 2400-2402 MHz band
> > to primary status and add a primary allocation for the
> > amateur-satellite service in this band.  The FCC is also proposing to
> > allocate the 135.7-137.8 kHz and 5250-5400 kHz bands to the amateur
> > radio service on a secondary basis.  More details to follow once the
> > full text of the rulemaking is released.
> >    The item is Docket ET 02-98.  It will be interesting to see
> > how the WiFi community reacts to this.  <g>
> >
> > -- Dewayne
> >
> > What the hell is this? A DIRECT attempt by the FCC to squash the 802.11b
> > growth and use? They know perfectly damn well what that will do - cast
> > doubt and uncertainty among users and profit or non-profit (educational)
> > ISPs.
> > Why don't they just issue a Report and Order removing all 2.4ghz
> > frequencies from Part 15, and quit the fun and games and their attempts
> > to mask their true intentions? Kill license exempt broadband is their
> > TRUE goal. Anybody that doubts that is a fool.
> >
> > Keep us informed as to when, where THIS item will be heard before the
> > Commissioners. I will make plans to appear in person and testify. And
> > wouldn't mind being dragged out of the hearing by guards after burning
> > their ears. At least the reporters there will move these items from the
> > arcane technical gobbledygook to the seriously political pages.
> >
> > Dave 'Mad as Hell' Hughes
> > dave () oldcolo com
>
>
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>
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