FCC Announces Two New Innovation Zones and Amends One Existing Innovation Zone for Program Experimental Licenses
| Published date | 22 September 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 52675 |
| Record Number | 2021-20138 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Communications Commission |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52675-52678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20138]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[ET Docket No. 19-257; FCC 21-92; FRS 47677]
FCC Announces Two New Innovation Zones and Amends One Existing
Innovation Zone for Program Experimental Licenses
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) creates two new Innovation Zones for Program Experimental
Licenses in designated areas in and nearby the campuses of North
Carolina State University (NC State Innovation Zone) in Raleigh, NC and
Northeastern University (Northeastern Innovation Zone) in Boston, MA
and expands the geographical boundary of the previously established
Innovation Zone in New York City.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Serafini, Office of
Engineering and Technology, (202) 418-2456, [email protected] or
Ira Keltz, Office of Engineering and Technology, at (202) 418-0616, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
document, Public Notice, FCC 21-92, ET Docket No. 19-257, adopted on
August 5, 2021 and released August 6, 2021. The full text of this
document is available for public inspection and can be downloaded at:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-established-two-new-innovation-zones-boston-and-raleigh-0 or by using the search function for ET Docket No.
19-257 on the Commission's ECFS web page at www.fcc.gov/ecfs.
Synopsis
1. The two new zones the Commission establishes herein are based on
detailed proposals from the PAWR program. This program for new
technology experimentation is funded by the National Science Foundation
along with a consortium consisting of over thirty technology and
telecommunications companies. According to PAWR, this program ``. . .
will enable experimental exploration of robust new wireless devices,
communication techniques, networks, systems, and services that will
revolutionize the nation's wireless ecosystem, thereby enhancing
broadband connectivity, leveraging the emerging Internet of Things
(IoT), and sustaining US leadership and economic competitiveness for
decades to come.'' The Commission anticipates that the experimentation
done at these zones may also materially improve understanding of
opportunities for, and capabilities of, open, standards-based wireless
networks. PAWR program testbeds are equipped for Open radio access
networks (Open RAN) research and testing, and PAWR teams are actively
engaged with the Open RAN development community.
2. These Innovation Zones will provide new capabilities and
complement the existing Innovation Zones in Salt Lake City and New York
City. More specifically, in Raleigh, North Carolina, PAWR is initiating
AERPAW--Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced
Wireless. This project will create a city-scale platform to focus on
new use cases for advanced wireless technologies that are emerging for
unmanned aerial systems. AERPAW will focus on how cellular networks and
advanced wireless technologies can enable beyond visual line-of-sight
unmanned aerial
[[Page 52676]]
systems to accelerate development, verification, and testing of
transformative advances and breakthroughs in telecommunications,
transportation, infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, and public
safety. Notably, the AERPAW testbed will be the first platform to allow
testing at scale of open 5G-and-beyond solutions in unmanned aerial
system verticals.
3. At Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, PAWR will
be supporting the transition of the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency's (DARPA) Colosseum network emulator to a shared platform that
is usable by the research community. Colosseum, the world's largest
wireless network emulator, was originally designed to support DARPA's
Spectrum Collaboration Challenge. With the conclusion of that
challenge, the larger research community will now be able to take
advantage of Colosseum's unique capabilities, including the ability to
emulate full-stack communications, and to support artificial
intelligence and machine learning algorithms and hardware in the loop.
This project is expected to bring academia, government, and industry
researchers together to accelerate advancements in wireless networked
systems including Open RAN.
4. Under a Program License, qualified institutions may conduct
testing for multiple non-related experiments under a single
authorization within a defined geographic area under control of the
licensee and where the licensee has institutional processes to manage
and oversee experiments. The Innovation Zone takes this concept a step
further by effectively providing an extension of a Program License's
authorized area of operation. Such licensees are permitted to operate
within an Innovation Zone, under the parameters set for that particular
Zone, without having to modify their licenses to cover the new
location.
5. The Commission is using the Office of Engineering and
Technology's (OET) Experimental Licensing System web page to post the
Innovation Zone designations and detail the guidelines the Commission
has established for each particular zone--including the specific
geographic area(s) the Commission has designated and applicable
technical parameters, such as frequency bands and power limits. Those
wishing to test in an Innovation Zone must meet the Program License
eligibility requirements, hold an existing Program License and operate
in accordance with the geographic areas and technical limits
established for the Innovation Zone. Prior to operating in an
Innovation Zone, details for each Program Licensee experiment will be
posted to the FCC web page as described below. This posting will
implement the Program License rules procedures that require
notification of intended operations so that all nearby licensees and
federal users have full knowledge of operations in an area. Program
licensees must still meet the timing requirements prescribed by the
Commission's rules and agreements with other Federal agencies.
Specifically, program licensees are required to wait 10-days prior to
beginning tests on spectrum allocated exclusively for non-federal use
and 15-days when using spectrum allocated for federal use including
shared non-federal/federal use. Finally, as detailed below, the PAWR
Project Office will serve as a frequency coordinator for these
Innovation Zones; operation may not commence without prior coordinating
through that office.
Innovation Zone Term
6. Both the NC State and Northeastern Innovation Zones are
established for a period of five years from the release date of this
public notice. The term may be renewed upon request at the end of this
term.
Program License Registration Within Innovation Zones
7. A program licensee will be required to indicate its call sign
and identify the Innovation Zone(s) in which it intends to operate. A
program licensee must operate within the parameters established for the
Innovation Zone within which it intends to operate. It will provide
specific technical data, a description of the experiment, and a stop
buzzer contact person for posting on the appropriate Innovation Zone
web page(s). Parties will use OET's Experimental Licensing System web
page to submit this information.
8. Program licensees must register on OET's Experimental Licensing
System web page under the respective Innovation Zone web page at:
https://www.fcc.gov/els prior to operation. The online registration
process will provide a record of Program Licensees that indicate an
intent to operate in each Innovation Zone. This registration process
along with the required coordination process through the PAWR program
office will provide an opportunity for incumbent licensees and federal
spectrum users to be an integral part of any necessary compatibility
evaluation. The website will further be useful to alert other program
licensees and experimental licensees of nearby operations.
Innovation Zone Frequency Coordination
9. In addition to requesting to operate in an Innovation Zone, a
Program Licensee must also coordinate its operations prior to
commencing its tests. The PAWR Project Office will serve as the
frequency/operations coordinator for the Innovation Zones established
and/or modified herein (as well as the Salt Lake City Innovation Zone).
In this role, the PAWR Project Office will offer non-discriminatory
service to all interested Program Licensees to coordinate specific
times and locations for each Program Licensee's operations to avoid
interference to other spectrum users and between Program Licensees'
tests. The frequency coordinator may act as a central clearinghouse to
obtain consent from other potentially affected Commission licensees
and/or federal spectrum users for Innovation Zone operations.
Alternatively, Program Licensees may coordinate their own arrangements
with these authorized spectrum users. In such cases, Program Licensees
must still coordinate specific operations through the PAWR Project
Office. Note that designating PAWR as the Innovation Zone frequency
coordinator does not confer operating authority on PAWR nor does it
confer sole authority for PAWR to permit operations as Program
Licensees must also register on OET's Innovation Zone Registration web
page. Additionally, current Commission rules do not allow airborne use
in certain bands including active as well as passive receive-only bands
(e.g., 2495-2690 MHz and 3450-4000 MHz); therefore, Program Licensees
that plan to engage in experimental operations involving airborne
transmissions in any Innovation Zone must take extra care to coordinate
such operations (potentially over distances much greater than that
necessary for terrestrial experimental operations) to ensure that
authorized users will not experience harmful interference.
10. Interested Program Licensees may contact Mari Silbey, PAWR
Program Director, at ignite.org">[email protected]ignite.org.
North Carolina State University Innovation Zone
Location
11. The NC State Innovation Zone will encompass two separate areas
and program licensees will be permitted to use either or both areas.
12. The first area encompasses approximately 10.5 square miles for
testing over the NC State University campus, a suburban residential
area and
[[Page 52677]]
a rural research farm. This area is defined as the area roughly between
the Western Boulevard at the northern boundary, south of the Lake
Wheeler Agricultural Research Station at the southern boundary, Gorman
Street on the western boundary and South Saunders Street on the eastern
boundary. The boundary for this area is within the polygon defined by
the following coordinates:
35[deg]46'23.4'' N, 78[deg]39'12.7'' W
35[deg]47'06.3'' N, 78[deg]41'13.0'' W
35[deg]45'03.3'' N, 78[deg]42'42.2'' W
35[deg]43'21.1'' N, 78[deg]42'11.9'' W
35[deg]42'59.5'' N, 78[deg]41'16.8'' W
35[deg]43'01.5'' N, 78[deg]40'08.1'' W
13. To minimize the risk of harmful interference to incumbent
operations and avoid areas where airborne operations may be restricted,
PAWR states that their primary area for airborne transmissions within
the larger Innovation Zone will be over approximately 3 square miles in
the Lake Wheeler area in the southern portion of the Innovation Zone.
This area is defined by the following coordinates:
35[deg]44'29.9'' N, 78[deg]40'20.0'' W
35[deg]44'38.7'' N, 78[deg]41'32.3'' W
35[deg]43'58.3'' N, 78[deg]42'22.0'' W
35[deg]43'23.5'' N, 78[deg]42'12.3'' W
35[deg]42'59.5'' N, 78[deg]41'16.8'' W
35[deg]43'01.5'' N, 78[deg]40'08.1'' W
14. The second area of NC State Innovation Zone will extend into
the Town of Cary, North Carolina and cover approximately 3 square
miles. This area is anticipated to support four fixed towers with
permanent wireless transceivers. The tower locations are yet to be
determined, but will be restricted to ensure all testing is confined
within the Innovation Zone as defined by the following coordinates:
35[deg]48'32.49'' N, 78[deg]47'39.64'' W
35[deg]48'30.14'' N, 78[deg]45'53.70'' W
35[deg]46'16.16'' N, 78[deg]45'51.17'' W
35[deg]46'19.55'' N, 78[deg]47'47.80'' W
Technical Limits and Band Information
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Fixed station Mobile station
Frequency band Type of operation Allocation maximum EIRP maximum EIRP
(dBm) (dBm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
617-634.5 MHz (DL).............. Fixed.............. Non-federal........ 65 .................
663-698 MHz (UL)................ Mobile............. Non-federal........ ................. 20
907.5-912.5 MHz................. Fixed & Mobile..... Shared............. 65 20
1755-1760 MHz (UL).............. Mobile............. Shared............. ................. 20
2155-2160 MHz (DL).............. Fixed.............. Non-federal........ 65 .................
2390-2483.5 MHz................. Fixed & Mobile..... Shared............. 65 20
2500-2690 MHz \1\ \2\........... Fixed & Mobile..... Non-federal........ 65 20
3550-3700 MHz \1\ \2\ \3\....... Fixed & Mobile..... Shared............. 65 20
3700-3980 MHz \1\ \2\........... Mobile............. Non-federal........ ................. 20
5850-5925 MHz................... Fixed & Mobile..... Shared............. 65 20
5925-7125 MHz \2\............... Fixed & Mobile..... Non-Federal........ 65 20
27.5-28.35 GHz.................. Fixed & Mobile..... Non-federal........ 65 20
38.6-40.0 GHz................... Fixed & Mobile..... Non-federal........ 65 20
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\1\ Commission rules do not permit airborne use on all or portions of these bands.
\2\ Any experimental use must be coordinated with authorized users and registered receive-only fixed satellite
earth stations.
\3\ Operations must be coordinated with a spectrum access system administrator.
Northeastern University Innovation Zone
Location
15. The Northeastern University Innovation Zone will encompass two
separate areas and program licensees will be permitted to use either or
both areas.
16. The first area is on Northeastern University's main campus in
Boston, MA and will cover a triangular tract of approximately 0.8
square miles. This area is defined as the area roughly between 361
Huntington Avenue as the northern vertex, Carter Playground as the
eastern vertex, and 860 Columbus avenue as the southern boundary. The
coordinates for this area are:
Northwest: 42[deg]20'24.00'' N, 71[deg]05'25.00'' W
Southwest: 42[deg]20'12.12'' N, 71[deg]05'16.22'' W
Northeast: 42[deg]20'20.33'' N, 71[deg]05'2.90'' W
17. The second area of the Northeastern University Innovation Zone
is on Northeastern University's satellite campus in Burlington, MA and
will cover a polygon of approximately 0.9 square miles. This area is
defined as the area west of Cambridge Street in Burlington MA and
bordering Mary Cummings Park. The coordinates for this area are:
Northwest: 42[deg]28'44.54'' N, 71[deg]11'37.43'' W
Northeast: 42[deg]28'45.59'' N, 71[deg]11'20.62'' W
Northeast: 42[deg]28'41.88'' N, 71[deg]11'22.2'' W
South: 42[deg]28'37.67'' N, 71[deg]11'32.64'' W
Southwest: 42[deg]28'38.89'' N, 71[deg]11'38.83'' W
Technical Limits and Band Information
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Type of Fixed station maximum Mobile station
Frequency band operation Allocation EIRP (dBm) maximum EIRP (dBm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
746-787 MHz................... Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 10 W................. 100mW.
880-960 MHz 1 2............... Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 10 W................. 100mW.
1920-2170 MHz................. Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 10 W................. 100mW.
2305-2360 MHz 1 2 4........... Mobile.......... Non-federal..... ..................... 100mW.
2500-2690 MHz 1 2............. Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 10 W................. 100mW.
3000-3100 MHz................. Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 10 W................. 100mW.
3300-3600 MHz 1 2 3 4......... Fixed and Mobile Federal......... 10 W................. 100mW.
3700-3980 MHz 1 2............. Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 1 W.................. 100mW.
[[Page 52678]]
4620-4990 MHz 1 2 4........... Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 1 W.................. 100mW.
27-30 GHz..................... Fixed and Mobile Non-federal..... 10 W................. 100mW.
37-40 GHz 1 2 5............... Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 10 W................. 100mW.
71-86 GHz 4 5................. Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 10 W................. 100mW.
122.5-140 GHz 4............... Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 1 W.................. 100mW.
209-225 GHz 4................. Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 1 W.................. 100mW.
232-235 GHz................... Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 1 W.................. 100mW.
238-250 GHz 4................. Fixed and Mobile Shared.......... 1 W.................. 100mW.
1-1.05 THz.................... Fixed........... Shared.......... 100 mW...............
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1 Commission rules do not permit airborne use on all or portions of these bands.
2 Any experimental use must be coordinated with authorized users and registered receive-only fixed satellite
earth stations.
3 Operations in the 3550-3600 MHz band must be coordinated with a spectrum access system administrator.
4 Note that this band includes frequency ranges covered by footnote US342; all practicable steps should be taken
to protect radio astronomy operation, including sites near the Innovation Zone.
5 Operations in the 37-40 GHz band and in the 80-86 GHz band must be coordinated with the Haystack Observatory
in Westford, MA.
New York City Innovation Zone
Location
18. The New York City Innovation Zone is being modified to cover
the three Columbia University and City College of New York campus areas
and will be defined as the area contained within:
W 116 St from the Hudson River to Morningside Avenue
(Through Riverside and Morningside Parks and The Columbia University
Campus).
Morningside Ave from W 116 St to W 124 St.
W 124 from Morningside Ave to St Nicholas Ave.
St Nicholas Ave from W 124 St to W 138 St.
W 138 from St. Nicholas Ave to Broadway (through St.
Nicholas park and the CCNY campus).
Broadway from W 138 St to W 133 St.
W 133 St from Broadway to the Hudson River (through the
park).
Hudson River from W 133 to W 116.
Technical Limits and Band Information
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Maximum EIRP
Frequency band Type of operation Allocation (dBm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2500-2690 MHz........................... Fixed..................... Non-federal............... 20
3700-4200 MHz 1......................... Mobile.................... Non-federal............... 20
5850-5925 MHz........................... Mobile.................... Shared.................... 20
5925-7125 MHz........................... Fixed & Mobile............ Non-federal............... 20
27.5-28.35 GHz.......................... Fixed..................... Non-federal............... 2 40
38.6-40.0 GHz........................... Fixed..................... Non-federal............... 2 40
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1 Commission rules do not permit airborne use in this band. Any experimental use must be coordinated with
authorized users and registered receive-only fixed satellite earth stations.
2 These power limits are an increase from the previously permitted 20 dBm limit.
(Authority: 47 U.S.C. 301-303; 47 CFR 5.1.)
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-20138 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
