Broadband Point-to-Multipoint Planning Services
The FCC recently[1] began accepting license applications for Wireless Point-to-Multipoint Systems in the frequency band 3650 MHz – 3700 MHz.
Micronet offers a number of services for planning and coordinating systems in this frequency band. These are discussed individually in the next section, and pricing is attached to each service.
This frequency band has a number of unusual requirements. Prospective clients are encouraged to read the description of each service carefully to understand both the positives and negatives of operating in the band.
The Nationwide License Application
Before a base station or other fixed site can be operated under the nationwide license, it has to be registered on an FCC Schedule M, and details of the site provided.
One of the questions on the Schedule M involves proximity to a series of grandfathered earth stations that remain active in this band. If the site being registered falls within 150 km of a grandfathered earth station, a coordination procedure is required. The Site Registration service will identify whether or not this site requires coordination with the owners of the grandfathered earth stations, but does not include the coordination procedure.
Site Coordination
Micronet will provide site coordination through the frequency coordination representative of the grandfathered earth stations, in the same manner that frequency coordination is performed in Part 101 of the FCC rules. This service will only be required if the Site Registration service establishes that the facility being registered is within 150 Km of a grandfathered earth station. The price for this service per site containing six sectors or less on that site, is $500. Sites with over six sectors are counted as multiple sites.
The FCC requires that prospective licensees have a negotiated agreement with each grandfathered earth station, but left the mechanics of this process up to the parties for earth stations in the private sector. They did not require a formal frequency coordination, but indicated that coordination such as defined in Part 101 was acceptable[2]. The hard reality is that no other vehicle is readily available, and the owners and operators of telecommunications equipment rely on frequency coordination companies such as Micronet to accomplish such negotiations routinely under Part 101 rules for Microwave Systems and Part 25 rules for Earth Stations. In this case, since the FCC left the vehicle up to the parties, Micronet cannot guarantee that the other party will agree to negotiate, although it is quite reasonable that they will expect their frequency coordination companies to deal with these negotiations. However, because the FCC did not mandate guidelines for the coordination process, clients should be aware that Micronet cannot gaurantee successful completion of these negotiations, even if the calculations of potential interference show no interference conflicts.
Analysis of Surrounding Base Stations (Optional)
Micronet offers an additional service that is not required for FCC licensing, but which may be quite important to clients wishing to establish a quality system.
Since the license granted is non-exclusive, and the mobile and fixed client locations of nearby base stations operating in the same frequency bands, have the potential for significant interference, it is prudent that a search be conducted for nearby FCC base station applications and license grants. The FCC is fully aware of this, and lists this as step 2 in the Background section of the Public Notice of Footnote 1.
Formally, they anticipate the use of a contention based protocol to resolve interference concerns. However, anyone who has ever used an Ethernet LAN understands that when an excessive number of transmitters try to use a common channel, the throughput of everyone suffers.
Micronet will search the database of FCC license applications and grants in order to determine their proximity to the proposed base station.
Base Station Coverage Analysis (Optional)
Micronet can provide a coverage pattern for each base station with up to six sectors, that defines typically three levels of receive signal strength calculated using 10 meter resolution terrain data. The output can be in a variety of formats, including a KMZ file that can be loaded into Google Earth. This is particularly helpful in market planning. If the Analysis of Surrounding Base Stations service has been ordered, Micronet will include the locations of those surrounding Base Stations as another overlay level in the Google Earth KMZ file whereby the user can either view the coverage of a planned base station with or without the presence of the surrounding base stations of others.
Online Tracking Service
Micronet offers an online - accessible through Internet - service where all of the license applications, equipment registrations, license grants, returns, etc. are summarized for each client. This is updated frequently from FCC records, and provides a single point of access where a client can see all of his/her facilities and easily get a printed report.
[1] PUBLIC NOTICE – FCC – WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES START DATE FOR LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR THE 3650-3700 MHz Band., DA 07-4605, Released November 14, 2007
[2] MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER – FCC 07-99, In the matter of Wireless Operations in the 3650-3700 MHz Band, ET Docket No. 04-151, D.FSS Satellite Issues, 3. Satellite Coordination Requirements, para 63, page 24