SB QST @ ARL $ARLB013   
   ARLB013 Comments Due by April 6 on 76-81 GHz Radar Sharing Proposals   
      
   ZCZC AG13   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  March 9, 2015   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB013   
   ARLB013 Comments Due by April 6 on 76-81 GHz Radar Sharing Proposals   
      
   Comments are due by April 6 on an FCC proceeding that could lead to   
   expanded spectrum for various radar applications in the 76-81 GHz   
   band, which Amateur Radio shares with other services. The band   
   77.5-78 GHz is allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite   
   services on a primary basis, and to the Radio Astronomy and Space   
   Research services on a secondary basis. The FCC released a detailed   
   Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Reconsideration Order (NPRM&RO) in   
   ET Docket 15-26 on February 5. The Commission said the proposals   
   include allocation changes as well as provisions "to ensure that new   
   and incumbent operations can share the available frequencies in the   
   band."   
      
   The ARRL will file comments in the FCC proceeding. Reply comments   
   (ie, comments on comments filed by the April 5 deadline) are due by   
   April 20.   
      
   The FCC NPRM&RO was in response to a 2012 Petition for Rulemaking   
   (RM-11666) from Robert Bosch LLC and to two petitions for   
   reconsideration of the Commission's 2012 Report and Order (R&O)   
   addressing vehicular radar systems in the 76-77 GHz band. ET 15-26   
   incorporates earlier proceedings. Among many issues, the FCC seeks   
   comment on the possibility of reallocating the Amateur Radio and   
   Amateur Satellite services from 76-81 GHz, and it asks for   
   suggestions on "alternative spectrum that we might make available in   
   this general region."   
      
   Bosch's 2012 Petition sought to modify the FCC's Part 15 rules to   
   expand the operation of unlicensed vehicular radar systems from   
   76-77 GHz to the 76-81 GHz band to develop short-range radar (SRR)   
   applications. Noting that it "has previously recognized evidence of   
   potential interference conflicts" between Amateur Radio and   
   vehicular radar systems in the 76-77 GHz band, the FCC said it   
   believes the potential for "similar compatibility issues" could   
   exist above 77 GHz. More than 10 years ago the FCC suspended Amateur   
   Radio and Amateur Satellite operation in the 76-77 GHz segment and   
   recently extended the suspension.   
      
   "Our goal is to adopt rules that address amateur use, including   
   Amateur Satellite use, within the 76-81 GHz band in a comprehensive   
   and consistent manner," the FCC has asserted.   
      
   The FCC said that to the extent commenters believe Amateur Radio can   
   continue to use the 4 millimeter band, it seeks comments on "what   
   additional rule modifications we would have to adopt to realize   
   successful shared use of the entire band." One possibility the FCC   
   raised was altering current amateur power limits in that portion of   
   the spectrum. The Commission said it also wants to "develop a record   
   on the types of amateur use, and the extent of such use, that is   
   currently undertaken" at 4 millimeters.   
      
   Interested parties may file comments in ET Docket 15-26 via the   
   Federal eRulemaking Portal at, http://www.regulations.gov, or the   
   FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at   
   http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/, following the instructions for submitting   
   comments.   
      
   Individuals with disabilities should contact the FCC to request   
   reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign   
   language interpreters, CART, etc) via e-mail at, FCC504@fcc.gov, or   
   by calling 202-418-0530 or TTY 202-418-0432.   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
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