Receiver Principles, Proposal for Wireless Alerts Approved 4-0 by FCC

The FCC approved 4-0 Thursday “high-level principles” for spectrum management, focused on receivers. Industry observers say the effects could be limited (see 2304050046). Commissioners at the open meeting also approved a Further NPRM looking at more requirements for wireless emergency alerts, as expected (see 2304190027), which has proven more controversial.

Commissioner Nathan Simington, who initially pushed for a deeper look at receivers (see 2109100068), said while he supports the statement he still hopes to see the FCC go further and launch an NPRM.

The policy statement “lays out a common sense approach for how the commission will conduct spectrum management going forward ... by measuring and managing the efficient use of spectrum by both transmitters and receivers,” Simington said. He said he hoped the focus will help head off similar problems like those the FCC saw with the C band, where deployment was delayed in some markets because of concerns over radio altimeters (see 2303200069).

“To date, most discussions of spectrum efficiency have been a one-way effort -- they focus almost exclusively on transmitters,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The policy statement is just “a first step,” she said. The FCC will continue to review the record and will consider taking “further actions,” she said.

Wireless communications needs both transmitters and receivers and is “a two-way proposition,” Rosenworcel said: “Both are vital. Both matter.” The policy statement recognizes “there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum management and different systems and different use cases may have different needs,” she said.

“As spectrum use across the radio frequencies becomes more intensive and services are packed more closely together,” said FCC Chief Engineer Ron Repasi. The commission’s spectrum management policies “must consider potential efficiencies across all aspects of wireless systems, not just looking at the transmitters but the receivers as well,” he said: “Receiver performance also can significantly affect the commission’s ability to introduce new wireless services.”

Commissioner Brendan Carr quoted Robert Frost’s admonition that good fences make good neighbors. “When we step back and think about America’s leadership in wireless, it really is vital to our geopolitical interest,” he said: “When we free up spectrum, whether it’s licensed or unlicensed, the world takes notice.” Carr noted many nations would like to see U.S. leadership “across the board” decline.

“The Policy Statement is part of the Commission’s effort to reorient its spectrum management framework to a holistic consideration of both transmitter and receiver components of wireless systems,” said an FCC news release: The statement “underscores the important role that improved receiver performance can play in promoting more efficient spectrum use and enabling valuable new services to be introduced that will benefit the American public.” Officials said there were no substantial changes made to the draft.

Public Knowledge applauded release of the policy statement. “New entrants must still show that they will not cause harmful interference, but existing services must expect that old receivers designed for a quieter world may need to be upgraded to modern standards,” PK said: “Objections must be based on real-world conditions rather than ideal laboratory performance or unlikely worst case scenarios.”

“The wireless industry appreciates the FCC’s attention to receiver performance, which is an important element of efficient spectrum management and can help free up additional spectrum to meet growing consumer demand,” emailed Scott Bergmann, CTIA senior vice president-regulatory affairs: “Developing a pipeline full of full-powered, exclusive-use licensed spectrum and reinstating auction authority are critical next steps as we look to bolster our 5G economy.”

WEAs

The WEA item was also approved 4-0. It proposes to require participating wireless providers to ensure that mobile devices can translate alerts into the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. aside from English, to send thumbnail-sized images in WEA messages and other changes. CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association have asked the FCC to proceed with caution.

Rosenworcel invited New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) to address commissioners in livestreamed remarks. WEAs are “the best way to notify Americans of severe weather,” James said: “Indeed, WEAs have saved countless lives during severe weather events and other emergencies. I am deeply concerned therefore that the wireless industry has not yet developed the capability to transmit WEA's in languages other than English and Spanish.” An estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers have limited proficiency in English and Spanish, she said.

“We have to be mindful of making sure we have the incentive structure right so that consumers don’t opt out, that they feel like this is relevant information to them,” Carr said. Carriers also need “the right incentives" to not opt out of the WEA system, he said. Participation by carriers remains voluntary.

“The days when mobile handsets were only capable of displaying text alerts are long behind us, and this would get the best information to the public when seconds and minutes count,” Simington said. The use of automatic, machine translation could mean alerts in more languages, but the FCC needs to be wary of “inaccurate or dangerously misleading translations,” he said.

WEAs are “one of the most effective, efficient, and reliable public alert and warning tools,” emailed Amy Bender, CTIA vice president-regulatory affairs. “As the Commission explores new proposals, it is important to be guided by the significant stakeholder input developed through the [Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council] process and take into account the key design features which are integral to WEA’s success.”