Science Committee Leaders Support Proposed FCC Rule to Protect Spectrum Interference
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Yesterday, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing support for the proposed limits on unwanted emissions into the 23.6-24.0 GHz band. The committee has been a longstanding advocate of protecting the 23.6-24 GHz band which supports the integrity of global weather forecasting, satellite-based climate measurements, and ground-based radio astronomy observations. Out-of-band emissions (OOBE) interfering with this band of spectrum pose serious implications to vital satellite data, affecting weather and climate forecasting, as well as public safety.
“Over the last five years, the Committee consistently raised concerns about the impact of out-of-band emissions (OOBE) from licensees using spectrum between 24.25-25.25 GHz on passive satellite operations in the 23.6-24 GHz band,” Lucas and Lofgren wrote. “We support efforts by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to conform domestic regulations with OOBE limits articulated in Resolution 750 and agreed upon at the 2019 World Radio Conference to protect the passive observations in the 23.6-24 GHz band.”
In the letter addressed to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr, Anna Gomez, Nathan Simington, and Geoffrey Starks, Lucas and Lofgren share support of the FCC’s recently proposed rule which aligns with Resolution 750 and request that the Commission follow several implementation recommendations that have been shared by stakeholders and are consistent with previous letters from the committee.
Specifically, the committee requests that:
- FCC should clarify that all base station and user equipment modified or replaced after September 1, 2027, should comply with the more stringent post-2027 OOBE limits;
- FCC should apply the Resolution 750 OOBE limits to all fixed and mobile systems in the Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service; and
- FCC licensees should use only total radiated power (TRP) to measure compliance with the 24 GHz OOBE limits, consistent with the rules adopted at WRC-19.
- FCC should require all 24 GHz band licensees to affirmatively address interference the licensees are found to cause to passive satellite sensing operations in the 23.6-24 GHz band.
“We thank you for examining these technical questions carefully in the Commission’s efforts to craft a final rule that is adequately protective of the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS). We note that the issues associated with the 24 GHz band are not unique as the FCC is considering additional spectrum auctions that could affect other bands currently protected for scientific purposes and used by federal agencies.”
See previous letters from the committee on this topic here, here, and here.
Letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel
Letter to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr
Letter to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez
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