Simington Urges FCC Focus on Receiver Standards

Commissioner Nathan Simington wants the FCC to focus more on receiver standards, told a Hudson Institute webinar Wednesday. They “could prove very useful in allowing for more efficient use of spectrum in bands where there’s a need to protect or coordinate against in-band interference with incumbents in the band, or in bands where there’s currently a large guard band,” he said. Most receivers lack an emissions mask, which can mean “spurious emissions that contribute to intermodulation interference,” he said. The commission has emissions mask rules for transmitters, he said. “Having them apply to both the transmitter and receiver ends may allow for further spectral efficiency.” Simington said an agency proposal would have risks: Many in industry “would be worried that the FCC would prejudge the issue and start imposing standards.” It could have a role as a coordinator, he said. The FCC Technological Advisory Council recommended creation of a multistakeholder group (see 1212110072). Simington said TAC should revisit how standards might work. The FCC didn't comment.