Television broadcasting: carrier requirement,

FR, July 09, 2001 › Notices › Federal Communications Commission

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Federal Register: July 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 131)NoticesPage 35793From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr09jy01-52

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

MM Docket No. 01-145; DA 01-1582MDS Two-Way Transmissions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Mass Media Bureau, Video Services Division seeks comment on a request for declaratory ruling to remove minimum sub-carrier requirement for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (``OFDM'') Modulation in the Multipoint Distribution Service (``MDS'') and Instructional Television Fixed Service (``ITFS'').

DATES: Comments due on or before July 19, 2001. Reply comments are due on or before July 26, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Lerner (202) 418-7066, Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Mass Media Bureau, Video Service Division's Public Notice entitled, Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on Request for Declaratory Ruling to Remove Minimum Sub-Carrier Requirement for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Modulation in Multipoint Distribution Service and Instructional Television Fixed Service, DA 01-1582, MM Docket No. 01- 145, released July 5, 2001. The full text of this Public Notice is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Room, Room CY-A257, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., and also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Services, Inc. (``ITS''), Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W. Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Synopsis of Public Notice

On March 13, 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. (``Cisco'') fileda request that the Commission remove a restriction on permitted OFDM modulation in the MDS and ITFS. Specifically, Cisco requests the Commission declare that a minimum of 256 QAM-modulated carriers (or tones) is not necessary in order to use OFDM modulation in the MDS and ITFS. On July 9, 1996, the Commission adopted a declaratory ruling which permits stations operating in the MDS and ITFS to utilize certain digital emissions on a regular basis, so long as those emissions meet certain requirements for power spectral uniformity and out-of-band emissions. The Commission amended its channel utilization policy to permit the routine authorization of digital transmissions using Vestigial Sideband Modulation (``VSB'') and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (``QAM''), and indicated that the Commission would consider authorizing the use of other digital modulation schemes based upon demonstrations of noninterference. In a subsequent proceeding, the Commission adopted technical rule changes to provide MDS and ITFS licensees flexibility to fully employ digital technology in delivering two-way communication services and expanded the list of permissible modulation techniques to include Code Division Multiple Access (``CDMA'') and Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (``QPSK'') modulation.

On August 31, 1998, Clarity Wireless, Inc. (``Clarity'') fileda Petition for Declaratory Ruling requesting that the Commission authorize the use of OFDM digital modulation to provide MDS and ITFS networking. Based on a study commissioned by Clarity, the Commission declared that OFDM could be used in the MDS and ITFS and required that a minimum of 256 QAM-modulated carriers (or ``tones'') be utilized.

In support of its request that the Commission remove the 256 QAM- modulation requirement, Cisco states the Commission has encouraged the use of new digital modulation techniques and established a flexible technology policy whereby advanced digital technologies would be authorized on a case-by-case basis. Cisco notes that the Commission has previously indicated that it would approve certain digital modulation types without test data if it were determined to be a subset of an already approved modulation type. Cisco asserts that the 256-tone limit adopted in the OFDM Order needlessly constrains the OFDM modulations, thereby preventing greater efficiencies in MDS/ITFS operations. Cisco states that removal of the 256 QAM-modulation requirement will allow designers to optimize their systems based on various channels and allow operators to provide a wider range of services to consumers.

Federal Communications Commission. Barbara A. Kreisman, Chief, Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau.

FR Doc. 01-17169Filed7-6-01; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6712-01-P