SB QST @ ARL $ARLB013   
   ARLB013 FCC Expands Part 95 MedRadio Rules to Allow Devices in   
   2360-2400 MHz Band   
      
   ZCZC AG13   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  May 31, 2012   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB013   
   ARLB013 FCC Expands Part 95 MedRadio Rules to Allow Devices in   
   2360-2400 MHz Band   
      
   In a First Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed   
   Rulemaking (ET 08-59) released on May 24, the FCC decided to expand   
   the Part 95 Personal Radio Service rules to allow medical devices to   
   operate on a secondary basis in the 2360-2400 MHz band. These   
   devices -- called Medical Body Area Networks (MBAN) -- provide a way   
   for health care facilities to monitor their patients via wireless   
   networks. Because use of these frequencies will be on a secondary   
   basis, MBAN stations will not be allowed to cause interference to --   
   and must accept interference from -- primary services, including   
   radio amateurs who operate on a primary basis in the 2390-2395 MHz   
   and 2395-2400 MHz bands.   
      
   ET 08-59 can be found on the web at,   
   http://www.fcc.gov/document/medical-body-area-networks-first-report-and-order.   
      
   In July 2006, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and   
   Notice of Inquiry and Order (NOI), regarding the use of the radio   
   spectrum for advanced medical technologies. In December 2007, GE   
   Healthcare filed ex parte comments in response, proposing that the   
   band 2360-2400 MHz be allocated on a secondary basis for "Body   
   Sensor Networks" (BSNs). In April 2008, the FCC put the proposal on   
   Public Notice; the ARRL submitted comments, pointing out the   
   potential incompatibility with amateur operations. Nevertheless, in   
   June 2009, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that   
   also requested comments on possible alternatives, including   
   2300-2305 MHz. The ARRL followed up in October 2009 with additional   
   comments.   
      
   "Even though the Amateur Radio Service retains its primary status at   
   2390-2400 MHz, it remains to be seen how the addition of a new   
   secondary service in the band will work out in practice," noted ARRL   
   Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "In the past, the FCC   
   has declined the ARRL's request to raise the status of the Amateur   
   Service at 2300-2305 MHz to primary, even though there is no other   
   service to which this segment of the band is allocated. This is now   
   the only portion of the 2300-2450 MHz band -- which at one time was   
   available in its entirety to amateurs -- that is not encumbered by   
   other spectrum occupants. We hope that in the future, the FCC will   
   be receptive to making the Amateur Service primary in this narrow   
   segment, in recognition of the reduced utility of the remainder of   
   the band."   
      
   In making the decision to allow these devices in the 2360-2400 MHz   
   band, the FCC noted that the costs of permitting MBAN operation "are   
   limited to the risk of increased interference, which we minimize by   
   adopting rules to protect other licensed operations in these bands.   
   We find that the risk of increased interference is minimal and is   
   greatly outweighed by the benefits of the MBAN rules we adopt   
   today."   
      
   Sumner observed that with this decision, "the Commission has   
   effectively taken 2360-2400 MHz off the table for consideration for   
   commercial wireless broadband."   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
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