National Science National Science FoundationFoundation

Symposium Symposium

Ed ThomasEd Thomas

Chief, Office of Engineering and Chief, Office of Engineering and TechnologyTechnology

Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission

FCC’s MissionFCC’s Mission

Ensure that the American Ensure that the American people have available – at people have available – at reasonable cost and without reasonable cost and without discrimination – rapid, discrimination – rapid, efficient, nation and world-efficient, nation and world-wide communication wide communication services; whether by radio, services; whether by radio, television, wire, satellite, or television, wire, satellite, or cable.cable.

FCC’s Strategic GoalsFCC’s Strategic Goals

Spectrum Spectrum BroadbandBroadband CompetitionCompetition MediaMedia Homeland SecurityHomeland Security Modernize the FCCModernize the FCC

Commission InitiativesCommission Initiatives

Broadband ServicesBroadband Services Unlicensed DevicesUnlicensed Devices BPLBPL Cognitive RadioCognitive Radio Interference TemperatureInterference Temperature Public SafetyPublic Safety Network SecurityNetwork Security Rural ServicesRural Services

High Demand for BroadbandHigh Demand for Broadband

High-speed lines to homes and businesses High-speed lines to homes and businesses increased by 55% from 12.8M to 19.9M in 2002increased by 55% from 12.8M to 19.9M in 2002

Cable Modem Service - - 11.4M linesCable Modem Service - - 11.4M lines Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) -- Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) --

6.5M lines 6.5M lines Satellite& fixed wireless & fiber optic -- about 0.8M Satellite& fixed wireless & fiber optic -- about 0.8M

connections connections

Current Broadband DeploymentCurrent Broadband Deployment

Unlicensed Wireless Unlicensed Wireless

Unlicensed Wireless Devices and Networks Unlicensed Wireless Devices and Networks

Unlicensed devices and networks being used to provide Unlicensed devices and networks being used to provide Broadband solutions Broadband solutions

Unlicensed Device ExplosionUnlicensed Device Explosion Wi-Fi - 25 Million Units Shipped in 2002Wi-Fi - 25 Million Units Shipped in 2002 Bluetooth - 25-28 Million Units Shipped in 2002Bluetooth - 25-28 Million Units Shipped in 2002

Sales of unlicensed Wireless Local Area Networking Sales of unlicensed Wireless Local Area Networking equipment expected to increase from $1.1B in 2001 to equipment expected to increase from $1.1B in 2001 to $5.2B in 2005$5.2B in 2005

Cognitive RadioCognitive Radio

Dynamic New Technology Dynamic New Technology Senses RF Environment and Senses RF Environment and

modifies frequency, power or modifies frequency, power or modulation modulation

Allow for Real Time Spectrum Allow for Real Time Spectrum ManagementManagement

Significantly Increases Spectrum Significantly Increases Spectrum EfficiencyEfficiency

Interference Interference TemperatureTemperature Sets a maximum “Threshold” for Sets a maximum “Threshold” for

RF energy within a band thereby RF energy within a band thereby protecting incumbent operationsprotecting incumbent operations

Allows sharing by devices that Allows sharing by devices that stay below the “Threshold”stay below the “Threshold”

Creates opportunities for new Creates opportunities for new services and innovative services and innovative technologiestechnologies

Broadband Over Power Broadband Over Power LineLine

Provides broadband services to Provides broadband services to consumers over existing power linesconsumers over existing power lines

Third “Pipe” into the home providing Third “Pipe” into the home providing competition to DSL and Cable competition to DSL and Cable ModemsModems

““In House” BPL allows for In House” BPL allows for networking of electronic devices networking of electronic devices over existing house wiringover existing house wiring

Advanced Wireless Advanced Wireless Services (3G)Services (3G)

New voice, data, and broadband services New voice, data, and broadband services Competitive services with other CMRSCompetitive services with other CMRS 1710-1755 MHz/2120-2155 MHz1710-1755 MHz/2120-2155 MHz

– 45 MHz Reallocated from Federal Government 45 MHz Reallocated from Federal Government – Difficult and technical challenging negotiationsDifficult and technical challenging negotiations

Considering additional spectrum from Considering additional spectrum from 2 GHz MSS and other services2 GHz MSS and other services– 1910-1920 MHz, 1990-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 1910-1920 MHz, 1990-2000 MHz, 2020-2025

MHz, 2165-2180 MHzMHz, 2165-2180 MHz

Unlicensed Unlicensed TechnologiesTechnologies

U-NII (5 GHz WiFi) - 255 MHz new U-NII (5 GHz WiFi) - 255 MHz new unlicensed spectrumunlicensed spectrum

Using White Spaces – Unused TV Using White Spaces – Unused TV ChannelsChannels

Unlicensed Spectrum – 3650-3700 Unlicensed Spectrum – 3650-3700 MHzMHz

Smart AntennasSmart Antennas Above 90 GHzAbove 90 GHz

OET Homeland OET Homeland Security InitiativesSecurity Initiatives

NRICNRIC– Commission’s post 9/11 InitiativeCommission’s post 9/11 Initiative– Network Reliability ConcernsNetwork Reliability Concerns– Best PracticesBest Practices

800 MHz Public Safety Interference800 MHz Public Safety Interference– Interference AnalysisInterference Analysis

CALEACALEA– Coordinate Agency CALEA ActivitiesCoordinate Agency CALEA Activities

UWBUWB– Ground Penetrating RadarGround Penetrating Radar– Through Wall ImagingThrough Wall Imaging

Emerging Business Emerging Business OpportunitiesOpportunities

Hotspot Service ProviderHotspot Service Provider Wireless ISPWireless ISP Carrier Class Equipment ProvidersCarrier Class Equipment Providers UWBUWB Cognitive RadioCognitive Radio

Potential Regulatory Potential Regulatory IssuesIssues

As unlicensed use spreads, what As unlicensed use spreads, what types of issues will the Commission types of issues will the Commission face while attempting to ensure the face while attempting to ensure the continued viability of unlicensed continued viability of unlicensed operation?operation?

Asymmetric Regulation of Asymmetric Regulation of Licensed and Unlicensed Licensed and Unlicensed

SpectrumSpectrum What happens when What happens when

unlicensed devices start to unlicensed devices start to provide the same services provide the same services as license-holders?as license-holders?– VoIPVoIP– BPLBPL– MicrowaveMicrowave

Questions??Questions??