NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov
	This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
	Report No. IN 98-70 INTERNATIONAL ACTION December 17, 1998
	COMMISSION ADOPTS SPECTRUM PLAN FOR "V" BAND AT 36.0-51.4 GHZ, FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT OF BROADBAND AND OTHER COMMERCIAL SERVICES (IB DOCKET 97-95)
	The Commission today adopted a spectrum band plan that will promote the commercial development of the V-band at 36.0-51.4 GHz. The band plan will facilitate the prompt and efficient deployment of new broadband wireless services (both satellite and terrestrial) in spectrum that is now largely undeveloped. To reduce the need for burdensome coordination, the band plan adopted today segments the band, generally providing exclusive primary designations for fixed satellite and wireless services, and retains the existing designations for amateur radio and unlicensed vehicular radio services. The Report and Order adopted also designates spectrum for the exclusive use of Government and non-Government systems, further reducing the potential for interference. The Commission anticipates that future satellite and wireless network platforms will use this spectrum for applications such as broadband wireless local loop, broadband video distribution to the home, broadband access to the Global Information Infrastructure, wireless interconnection between computer networks, and other innovative services. In the band plan adopted today, the Commission prescribes separate primary designations for wireless and fixed-satellite ("FSS") services, and other commercial services. Specifically, the Commission: (1) designates a total of 4 gigahertz of spectrum for FSS on a primary basis in the 37.6-38.6 GHz, 40.0-41.0 GHz (together with mobile-satellite and broadcast-satellite services) and 48.2-50.2 GHz bands; (2) provides a total of 5.6 GHz of spectrum for wireless services on a primary basis, by adding new primary designations for wireless in the 37.0-37.6 GHz, 41.0-42.5 GHz, 46.9-47.0 GHz and 50.4-51.4 GHz bands (in addition to existing wireless designations in the 38.6-40.0 GHz and 47.2-48.2 GHz bands); and (3) retains the existing designations for unlicensed commercial vehicular radar in the 46.7-46.9 GHz band, and for amateur services in the 47.0-47.2 GHz band. To date, the only existing commercial services are in the 38.6-40.0 GHz portion of the band. The band plan adopted today differs from that proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") in three ways. First, while the NPRM proposed to designate the 37.5-37.6 GHz and 41.0-41.5 GHz bands for FSS, and the 38.5-38.6 GHz and 40.0-40.5 GHz bands for wireless services, in this Order the Commission designates the 37.5-37.6 GHz and 41.0-41.5 GHz bands for wireless services, and the 38.5-38.6 GHz and 40.0-40.5 GHz bands for FSS. This change provides more contiguous spectrum for wireless services and relocates the FSS designation to spectrum which is globally allocated for FSS. Second, while the NPRM proposed to provide separate designations for Geostationary Orbit fixed-satellite service and Non-Geostationary Orbit fixed-satellite service operations, the Commission declines to make such additional designations at this time, because the extent to which GSO and NGSO operations will occupy the bands designated for FSS is not yet known. The Commission may revisit this issue at a later date. Third, while the NPRM proposed to allow "underlay" licenses, i.e., the licensing of a second service in the bands designated for FSS, in this Report and Order the Commission does not adopt underlay licensing in this proceeding because it finds that underlay licenses could make it more difficult to administer the various services and could increase the potential for interference between satellite and terrestrial services. The Commission also revises the non-Government column of the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations, contained in Part 2 of the FCC Rules, to accommodate the band plan. The Commission adds primary allocations for FSS in the 37.6-38.6 GHz and 40.5-41.0 GHz bands to accommodate the new FSS designations in these bands. The Commission also upgrades the fixed and mobile allocations in the 41.0-42.5 GHz band from secondary to primary status to accommodate the new wireless services designation in this band. In addition, the Commission adds a primary allocation for fixed service to the existing mobile service allocation in the 46.9-47.0 GHz band, again to accommodate a new wireless services designation. Finally, the Commission revises the U.S. Table of Allocations to provide for Government operations in the 36.0-51.4 GHz band. Specifically, at the request of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA"), the Commission adds the following allocations to the Government column of the U.S. Table: (1) space research (space-to-Earth) on a primary basis in the 37.0-38.0 GHz band; (2) space research (Earth-to-space) and earth exploration-satellite ("EES") (Earth-to-space), both on a primary basis, in the 40.0-40.5 GHz band; and (3) EES (space-to-Earth) on a secondary basis in the 40.0-40.5 GHz band. These allocations will allow certain additional Government operations in the band. In addition, the Commission also reallocates the 42.5-43.5 GHz band for exclusive Government use and the 47.2-48.2 GHz band for exclusive non-Government use to better meet the needs of Government and commercial operators in this band. Action by the Commission December 17, 1998, by Report and Order (FCC 98-336). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani. - FCC - News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500 International Bureau contact: Charles Breig at (202) 418-2156; TTY at (202) 418-2555 Non-Government Allocations and Designations in the 36.0-51.4 GHz Band Current Allocations EES, SPACE RESEARCH, FIXED, MOBILE FIXED, MOBILE FIXED, MOBILE FIXED, MOBILE FSS, MSS(39.5-40) FSS, MSS BSS, fixed, mobile, BROADCASTING BSS, fixed, mobile, BROADCASTING BSS, fixed, mobile, BROADCASTING R&O Allocation Changes 1 add FSS1 2 add FSS change fixed, mobile to FIXED, MOBILE change fixed, mobile to FIXED, MOBILE NPRM Band Plan3 Wireless Services (37.0-37.5) FSS/NGSO (37.5-38.5) Wireless Services (38.5-38.6) (Wireless Services) Wireless Services FSS/GSO FSS/GSO Wireless Services R&O Band Plan3 1000 MHz Wireless Services 600 MHz FSS 1000 MHz (Wireless Services) 1400 MHz FSS, MSS 500 MHz FSS, BSS 500 MHz Wireless Services 500 MHz Wireless Services 1000 MHz 36.0 37.0 37.6 38.6 40.0 40.5 41.0 41.5 42.5 Current Allocations FIXED, MOBILE, FSS, RADIO ASTRONOMY None - Exclusive Government MOBILE, MSS, RNSS MOBILE, MSS, RNSS MOBILE, MSS, RNSS AMATEUR, AMATEUR- SATELLITE FIXED, FSS, MOBILE FIXED, FSS, MOBILE R&O Allocation Changes Exclusive Government4 add FIXED Exclusive Non-Government NPRM Band Plan3 (Unlicensed Commercial Vehicular Radar) Wireless Services (Amateur) (Wireless Services) FSS/NGSO R&O Band Plan3 (Unlicensed Commercial Vehicular Radar) Wireless Services (Amateur) (Wireless Services) FSS 1000 MHz 2000 MHz 1200 MHz 200 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz 1000 MHz 1000 MHz 42.5 43.5 45.5 46.7 46.9 47.0 47.2 48.2 49.2 Current Allocations FIXED, FSS, MOBILE FIXED, MOBILE, EES, SPACE RESEARCH FIXED, FSS, MOBILE, MSS 1 Space Research is added to the 37.0-38.0 GHz band to the Government column of the U.S. Table. 2 Space Research and Earth Exploration-Satellite are added to the 40.0-40.5 GHz band to the Government column of the U.S. Table. 3 Blank indicates no commercial designation in that band. Parentheses indicate pre-existing designations. Pre-existing designations are not changed by this R&O, which provides designations only for previously undesignated bands. 4 Except for non-Government radio astronomy. R&O Allocation NPRM Band Plan3 FSS/GSO Wireless Services R&O Band Plan3 FSS 1000 MHz 200 MHz Wireless Services 1000 MHz 49.2 50.2 50.4 51.4