NEWSReport No. DC 97-3NEWS   ACTION IN DOCKET CASE              January 9, 1997

                      THE FCC MAKES SPECTRUM AVAILABLE 
                        FOR NEW UNLICENSED EQUIPMENT;
U-NII Devices Will Facilitate Access to the National Information Infrastructure
                            (ET Docket No. 96-102) 

 The FCC today made available 300 MHz of spectrum for Unlicensed National
Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices that will provide short-range, high speed wireless
digital communications.  The Commission stated that in making available this spectrum it
anticipates that these new devices, which do not require licensing, will support the creation of
new wireless local area networks (LANs) and facilitate access to the information highway. 
The Commission said that the new rules will foster the development of a broad range of new
devices, stimulate the growth of new industries, and promote the ability of U.S. manufacturers
to compete globally by enabling them to develop unlicensed digital products for the world
market. The U-NII spectrum is located at 5.15 - 5.35 GHz and 5.725 - 5.825 GHz.

 The Commission said that availability of this spectrum for U-NII devices will help
meet growing communications demands resulting from the development of new digital
technologies.  U-NII devices may also provide a means for educational institutions, libraries,
and health care providers in rural areas, to connect to basic and advanced telecommunications
services, as envisioned by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Educational institutions, for
example, could form inexpensive wireless computer networks between classrooms, thereby
providing cost-effective access to an array of multimedia services on the Internet.  In addition,
unlicensed wireless networks could help improve the quality and reduce the cost of medical
care by allowing medical staff to obtain on-the-spot patient data, X-rays, and medical charts.

 The Commission emphasized the need for U-NII devices to share spectrum with
incumbent services without causing radio interference to those services.  Accordingly, the
Commission made available a total of 300 MHz of spectrum for U-NII devices.  This
spectrum is shared with other authorized operations. As a result of spectrum sharing concerns,
different power limits will apply to each of the bands as follows: 200 milliwatts EIRP (5.15-
5.25 GHz); 1 watt EIRP (5.25-5.35 GHz); and 4 watts EIRP (5.725-5.825 GHz).

  The Commission affirmed the tentative conclusion it reached in the NPRM that U-NII
devices should be covered by Part 15 of the FCC rules, stating that unlicensed Part 15 status
will promote technical and operational flexibility, facilitate spectrum reuse, and provide
protection to incumbent and primary operations.

 The Commission also affirmed its tentative conclusion to adopt the minimum technical
rules necessary to prevent interference to other services, to ensure that the spectrum is used
efficiently, and to permit significant flexibility in the design and operation of U-NII devices. 
The rules adopted today specify power and emission limits, radio frequency hazard
requirements, and other basic technical matters. The Commission declined to adopt a
channeling plan, spectrum modulation efficiency requirement, or a spectrum etiquette. 

 Action by the Commission January 9, 1997, by Report and Order (FCC 97-5). 
Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong, with Commissioner Ness issuing
a separate statement.

-FCC-
                                  
 News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-0500.
 Office of Engineering and Technology contacts: Tom Derenge at (202) 418-2451 and
Fred Thomas at (202) 418-2449.







                       SEPARATE STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER SUSAN NESS

                                             January 9, 1997

Re:  Operation of Unlicensed NII Devices in the 5 GHz Frequency Range

Today the Commission opens another door to the wireless future by authorizing a new category
of unlicensed, short-range, broadband digital devices.  

As a result, wireless local area network (LAN) and other equipment can now be developed to
connect our computers, laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to each other, to the
Internet of today, and to the global information infrastructure of tomorrow.  In many buildings,
including schools, a wireless connection will be a cost-effective alternative to pulling wire
through walls and ceilings.   

We are providing a total of 300 megahertz of spectrum for these devices.  This generous amount
will permit substantial experimentation with technologies and features, and will support
widespread use of these devices in the future.   

While this spectrum is shared with existing services, our technical rules will permit these devices
to operate without causing harmful interference.  This is an example of how unlicensed devices
and spectrum sharing can increase the efficient use of our spectrum.  

This equipment has not yet been developed and tested, but our spectrum allocation today moves
it forward.  The bands selected are consistent with the European High Performance Local Area
Network (HIPERLAN) potentially enabling such devices to be exported.

While it is too early to know which technologies and devices might succeed in the marketplace,
the potential is created for U.S. leadership in a whole new world of high-tech digital wireless
products.