About
Rule Part
47 C.F.R, Part 101
Radio Service Code(s)
- MM - Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz
At these frequencies, radio signals attenuate more rapidly with distance than at other frequencies and antennas that can narrowly focus transmitted energy are practical and of modest size. While the limited range of such transmissions might appear to be a major disadvantage for many applications, it does allow the reuse of frequencies within very short distances and, thereby enables a higher concentration of transmitters to be located in a geographical area than is possible at lower frequencies.
Details of the licensing, link registration, and interference protection are explained in the Report and Order (FCC-03-248), Public Notice DA-04-1493, and the Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC-05-45).
Licensing
The Commission adopted a flexible and innovative licensing framework for the 70/80/90 GHz bands that does not require separate FCC license applications for most links or traditional frequency coordination among non-Federal Government users. Rights with regard to specific links are established based upon the date and time of link registration.
A license (FCC authority) to operate a link in the Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz Radio Service consists of two parts: (1) a non-exclusive nationwide license (see below), combined with (2) registration of each link (see link registration tab).
The non-exclusive nationwide license does not authorize operation until the link is registered as an approved link in the Link Registration System administered by third party database managers (see link registration tab).
Filing Procedures
Nonexclusive Nationwide License
The nationwide license serves as a prerequisite for registering individual point-to-point links.
A licensee is not authorized to operate a 70/80/90 GHz link unless/until the link is registered as an approved link in the Link Registration System administered by third-party Database Managers.
Because the 70/80/90 GHz bands are allocated on a shared basis with Federal Government users, each link must be coordinated with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with respect to Federal Government operations as part of the registration process (see link registration tab).
Applicants for non-exclusive nationwide licenses will be required to file FCC Form 601 Main Form and Schedule B. Because the non-exclusive nationwide license serves as a prerequisite for registering links, an applicant will initially receive a single license for all available frequency bands (71-76, 81-86, 92- 94.0, and 94.1 - 95 GHz).
Notice to Common Carriers
EXAMPLE: On June 30, 2004, the Bureau releases the weekly Public Notice of applications filed between June 21-25, 2004, that are acceptable for filing. The 31st day following this public notice is Saturday, July 31, 2004, making Monday, August 2, 2004, the first day on which a common carrier application can be granted. A license is required to file link registrations. Given that July 19, 2004, is the starting date for filing link registrations, and that no common carrier licenses can be granted prior to August 2, 2004, applicants seeking to operate under more than one regulatory status may wish to file one application for common carrier regulatory status and a second application for non-common carrier and/or private, internal regulatory status, as applicable.
Link Registration
The non-exclusive nationwide license (see licensing tab) is a required prerequisite for registering individual links in the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz (70/80/90 GHz) bands. Individual links cannot be registered until a non-exclusive nationwide license is obtained.
Licensees must register links through one of the approved Third Party Database Managers (see below). In a few special circumstances an application must also be filed in ULS (e.g., if the link has received a “yellow light” response from NTIA, requires environmental assessment; requires coordination because of a quiet zone; or is subject to international coordination requirements). Licensees may contact any of the Database Managers for more information about link registration and each Database Manager provides public access online to link registration data.
The interference protection afforded to a link is based on the date and time that a licensee submits a link registration (new or modified) to a third-party database manager with an electronic copy of an interference analysis that demonstrates that the potential for harmful interference to or from all previously registered non-government links has been analyzed according to the standards of the FCC rule section 101.105 and generally accepted good engineering practice, and that the proposed link will neither cause harmful interference to, nor receive harmful interference from, any previously registered non-government link.
Further information about registering links is provided in Public Notice DA 05-311 (pdf).
Third Party Database Managers