FCC adopts rule changes for 'smart radios'

The FCC has released a Report and Order (R&O) on cognitive or "smart radio" systems.

In its 42-page R&O, "Facilitating Opportunities for Flexible,
Efficient, and Reliable Spectrum Use Employing Cognitive Radio Technologies" (ET Docket 03-108), the Commission declined to adopt any new regulations for Amateur Radio transceivers or for digital-to-analog (D/A) converters "at
this time."

The ARRL & the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council had commented earlier on the impracticality of incorporating hardware features to prevent out-of-band transmissions. The League, AMSAT-NA and TAPR also opposed regulating the marketing of high-speed D/A converters as burdensome, more costly to consumers and unnecessary because the devices don't pose a risk of interference.

"No parties have provided any information that shows that software programmable amateur transceivers or high-speed D/A converters present any significantly greater risk of interference to authorized radio services than hardware radios," the FCC concluded in its R&O. The Commission went on to note that "certain unauthorized modifications of amateur transmitters are unlawful" and that it may revisit the issues "if misuse of such devices results in significant interference to authorized spectrum users."

In its December 2003 Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) leading up to this month's R&O, the FCC had proposed exempting manufactured software defined radios (SDRs) designed to operate solely in amateur bands from any mandatory declaration and certification requirements, provided the equipment incorporated hardware features to prevent operation outside of amateur bands.
The Commission also had sought comment on the need to restrict the mass marketing of D/A converters "that could be diverted for use as radio transmitters."

In its comments last May, the ARRL sympathized with the Commission's concerns about out-of-band operation and expressed its appreciation for the FCC's "sensitivity to the need to encourage, rather than discourage, amateur
experimentation and innovation." But, the League characterized the FCC's fears as "overstated."

The Commission said its R&O, released March 11, is intended to "facilitate continued growth in the deployment of radio equipment employing cognitive radio technologies and make possible a full realization of their potential
benefits." The hope is that cognitive radios will allow more-efficient use of the radio spectrum.

"Given their technical and operational flexibility, smart radios make possible the improved use of vacant spectrum channels--that is, spectrum that may be available in a specific frequency range at a particular geographic location or during a particular period of time--spectrum that would otherwise go unused," the FCC explained in a Public Notice. "Smart radios have the technical capability to adapt their use of spectrum in response to information external to the radio."

ARRL participates in international bodies that are currently working toward establishing standards for SDRs and cognitive radios. These include International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Working Parties 8A (Land Mobile Service, excluding IMT-2000; Amateur and Amateur-Satellite service) and 8F (IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000).

The R&O is available on the FCC Web site

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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