In an Order released last week, the FCC supplemented and modified the rules adopted in the Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 04-135) that established the Broadband Radio Service, modified the MDS and ITFS band plans and adopted new and modified rules for the services using the 2150-2162 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz bands.
The FCC said the modifications were necessary "so that existing and future operations will not be adversely affected." The Order revises Section 27.50(h) for the rules to provide for adjustments in power levels for the lower and upper band segments (LBS and UBS) to reflect bandwidths other than 6 MHz and beamwidth of less than 360 degrees that were not included in the previous Report and Order, The FCC also recognized that the new emission limits inadvertently created a situation where current digital video operations violate the rules. The Order adds a new provision to the rules that provides for the grandfathering of existing digital video operations until the transition to the new band plan has occurred.
For more information on these and other changes to the MDS, ITFS and BRS rules, refer to the Order (FCC 04-258). For information on the earlier Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 04-135) see RF Report for June 15, 2004 and RF Report for August 3, 2004.
