RF Report readers have probably noticed the requests for special temporary authorization (STA) for satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) terrestrial repeaters in the Satellite Update section. These requests have to be processed as STAs because the FCC has not yet established a regulatory framework for SDARS repeaters. The FCC advanced the process this week by adopting a proposed rulemaking (FCC 07-215) to resolve potential interference issues between SDARS repeaters and the proposed operations of terrestrial licensees in the Wireless Communications Service (WCS) in adjacent frequency bands in a way that will permit the two services to co-exist.
SDARS occupies 25 MHz (equally divided between Sirius and XM) in the center portion of the 55 MHz of the S-band spectrum between 2305 and 2360 MHz. The rest of this spectrum is allotted to WCS. The proposed rulemaking includes a graph showing the relationship of the SDARS bands and WCS allotments. Recently WCS licensees have warned the U.S. will fall behind other countries in the deployment of wireless broadband WiMAX services in the S-band unless the FCC adopts rules that provide for the reasonable coexistence of WCS and SDARS.
The WCS Coalition proposed adoption of a 2 kW average EIRP per 5 MHz limit, with a 6 dB peak-to-average ratio for both WCS base stations and SDARS repeaters. WCS subscriber stations would be limited to twenty watts average power. Other recommendations included adoption of uniform restrictions on out-of-band emissions for both WCS and SDARS operations.
Sirius seeks grandfathering existing SDARS repeaters placed into commercial service prior to the effective date of any final repeater rules from power level restrictions and collocations restrictions outlined in its proposal. The WCS Coalition opposed grandfathering existing SDARS repeaters and asked that all repeaters transition to new power limits within one year of the date of the release of the order adopting the repeater rules.
In addition to the technical issues, FCC 07-215 discusses retransmission of regional spot beams and local programming origination from SDARS repeaters. NAB requested the FCC incorporate a no-local-origination condition for repeaters. XM did not object to the language proposed by NAB, provided the FCC affirms the slight delay caused by retransmission of the satellite signal through a terrestrial receiver does not violate the final rule.
For additional information on these and other proposed rules and their impact on both WCS and SDARS licensees, refer to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 07-215).
