About

Rule Part

47 C.F.R, Part 101

Radio Service Code(s)

  • MM - Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz

The term “millimeter wave” derives from the wavelength of radio signals on frequencies between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, which ranges between 1 and 10 millimeters.
 

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.

 
Because of shorter wavelengths, the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz (70/80/90 GHz) bands permit the use of smaller antennas, than would be required for similar circumstances in the lower bands, to achieve the same high directivity and high gain. The immediate consequence of this high directivity, coupled with the high free space loss at these frequencies, is the possibility of a more efficient use of the spectrum for point-to-multipoint applications. Since a greater number of high directive antennas can be placed than less directive antennas in a given area, the net result is higher reuse of the spectrum, and higher density of users, as compared to lower frequencies. Furthermore, due to the fact that one can place more voice channels or broadband information using a higher frequency to transmit the information, this spectrum could potentially be used as a replacement for or supplement to fiber optics.
 
On October 16, 2003, the Commission adopted a Report and Order establishing service rules to promote non-Federal Government development and use of the “millimeter wave” spectrum in the 70/80/90 GHz bands on a shared basis with Federal Government operations, and subsequently modified the Report and Order with a Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 05-45) (pdf).   The Commission adopted a flexible and innovative regulatory framework for the 70/80/90 GHz bands, allowing links to be registered with third party database managers after they are issued a geographic nationwide license by the Commission.
 

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).  

 
In 2016, in the context of the Commission's spectrum frontiers proceeding, the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands were considered as a potential candidate for mobile services.  See GN Docket No. 14-177.
 
In 2017 the Commission found broad support in the record of the spectrum frontiers proceedings for focusing on and enhancing the existing rules for fixed use of the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands, but little consensus among the proponets of mobile use as to how to coexist with fixed links. The Commission also found that, under the existing licensing mechanism, these bands can play an important role in 5G development by facilitating backhaul and other fixed uses. The Commission stated that it is important not only to protect existing links but also to provide an opportunity for future growth of fixed service in these bands as demand for backhaul and other related services increases.  The Commission also noted that several proposals are pending to modify the existing rules for these bands, and reserved the right to revisit this issue as mobile use deploys in other millimeter wave bands, technology develops, and as further thought is given to mobile/fixed coexistence.  See GN Docket No. 14-177 for more information.

Licensing

On October 16, 2003, the Commission adopted a Report and Order establishing rules to promote non-Federal Government development and use of the “millimeter wave” spectrum in the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 92-95 GHz (70/80/90 GHz) bands on a shared basis with Federal Government operations. In the Report and Order, the Commission adopted rules for both unlicensed (Part 15) and licensed (Part 101) use of portions of these bands.  This webpage concerns licensed use of the bands, which involves all of the bands except for 100 megahertz of spectrum at 94.0-94.1 GHz.  For convenience, we refer to the licensed spectrum herein as the “70/80/90 GHz bands”; such references do not include 94.0-94.1 GHz.

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).

 
All interested parties must have a non-exclusive nationwide license prior to registering a link.

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

 
Information relevant to obtaining a non-exclusive nationwide license is contained in the Interim Procedures Public Notice DA-04-1493 (pdf).      

 

Filing Procedures Public Notices
Public Notice DA 05-311 (Permanent Procedures) (pdf)

Public Notice DA-04-1493 (Interim Procedures) (pdf)     

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

 
Applications to provide non-common carrier service or for private, internal communications (Codes "N" and "P," respectively on FCC Form 601 Item 35) may be granted anytime after they are accepted for filing. Applications that include a request for common carrier regulatory status (Code "C," FCC Form 601 Item 35) will not be granted prior to the 31st day following the issuance of a Public Notice of the acceptance for filing of such application.
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.
Ordinarily, in requesting authority to offer both common carrier and non-common carrier service, an applicant would choose to file a single FCC Form 601 and enter Codes C and N on it in response to Item 35. However, the entire application would be processed under the "common carrier" track, i.e., the "notice and 30-day waiting period" of Section 1.945(b), because system limitations preclude us from processing the non-common carrier request separately when filed on the same form as the common carrier request.     

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

On September 29, 2004, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released an Order announcing the appointment of Comsearch, Micronet Communications, Inc., and RadioSoft, Inc., as independent database managers (Database Manager or, collectively, Database Managers) responsible for the design and management of the third-party 70/80/90 GHz bands link registration system. See DA-04-3151 (pdf). Each Database Manager executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commission memorializing its obligations and responsibilities as a 70/80/90 GHz bands link registration database manager. The terms of the MoUs were for five years and were renewed for additional five-year terms in 2009 and 2014.  See DA-09-2572 (pdf) and DA-14-1797 (pdf). On August 26, 2016, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released an Order designating a fourth Database Manager, see DA-16-974 (pdf) but that company did not execute an MoU.  Effective December 9, 2019, Comsearch and Micronet each executed a renewal MoU with a term expiration of December 9, 2024.
 
Licensees must register links in the 70-80-90 GHz Millimeter Waver Service through one of the Database Managers. The public can also access the third party database system to obtain information about registered links. Contact information and links to the Database Manager's systems are as follows:
 
Comsearch
19700 Janelia Farm Boulevard
Ashburn, VA 20147
P: 703-726-5500
F: 703-726-5599
E: customersupport@comsearch.com
 
Micronet Communications, Inc.
812 Lexington Drive
Plano, TX 75075-2357
P: 972-422-7200
F: 972-422-1900
 

Bureau/Office: 
Wireless Telecommunications
Tags: 
Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz Service - Wireless Services

Updated: 
Tuesday, May 5, 2020