• The University of Iowa filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to transmit a 2.5 MHz signal from an aircraft trailing-wire antenna to measure the thickness of Alaskan glaciers. The antenna is 60 meters long. Transmit power is 10 watts. The modulation is specified as a 1 MBytes/sec. FM chirp 6 microseconds long with a duty cycle is 1%.

• Amateur Radio operator Frank Ravenswood filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to conduct experiments with spread spectrum on HF and VHF Amateur Radio frequencies. Operation will be from Hillsboro, Oregon in several Amateur bands between 1.8 and 54 MHz.
• ATSC Laboratories filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct white-space equipment tests within the television broadcast bands 54-72 MHz, 76-88 MHz, 174-216 MHz, 470-608MHz, and 614-698 MHz. “ATSC will conduct research and experiments of fixed and personal/portable devices within the White Spaces to analyze the potential utility and feasibility of such operations and technology. In particular, ATSC wishes to determine the impact of such operations and technology in a densely packed ‘in use’ channel structure, consisting of underserved rural and urban populations.” Operation will be in Reno, Nevada.
• Amateur radio operator Brian D. Justin, Jr. filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to transmit on 70 MHz from Bedford, Virginia in support of trans-Atlantic Sporadic E propagation (E-skip) testing.
• Curtiss-Wright Controls filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to demonstrate its ground-penetrating 3d-Radar to prospective customers. Curtiss-Wright says it filed a Part 15 waiver request with the FCC in June 2010 seeking authorization to operate its 3d-Radar for non-federal use. That request was granted on January 11, 2012. The device, however, does not yet have FCC equipment authorization, thus this application. Operation will be at various, yet to be determined, locations and in the frequency range 140-3000 MHz.
• Lockheed Martin filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct developmental testing of an AXCP ocean probe designed for NOAA and intended to profile water velocity and temperature. The probe’s transmitter has an integral monopole antenna that points toward the sky. In normal operation seawater acts as the ground plane. Operation will be at Marion, Massachusetts on 170.5, 172, and 173.5 MHz.

• NorthWestern Corporation, an electricity and natural gas utility, filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to test the usefulness of white-space frequencies and technologies for real-time communications with remote smart grid devices. “This includes point-to-multipoint wireless communications to capacitor banks, reclosers, voltage regulators and voltage sensors. This specific project is focused on improving power quality, power efficiency and outage restoration to rural customers in Montana along an unusually long distribution line.” The utility says it “has already installed smart grid devices which behave autonomously along the line without communications. Although power quality has improved, the line continues to experience problems. The expectation is that real time communications coordinated among the existing smart grid devices will improve power quality and efficiency.” This experimentation is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Operation will be on up to four 500 kHz-bandwidth channels between 174 and 216 MHz in the vicinity of Philipsburg, Montana.
• Fugro Earthdata Inc. filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to operate in support of research on determining the thickness of multiyear arctic ice associated with offshore ice flows using GeoSAR Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR). The applicant says P-band radar is known to penetrate several tens of meters into glaciers. The ability to accurately and simultaneously measure the top and bottom of the arctic ice from a high flying sensor, however, has not yet been established. Operation will be in an area centered on Barrow, Alaska on 270-430 MHz and 9.63-9.79 GHz.

• The University of Washington filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority transmit from a free-flying balloon over Washington state on 433.845-433.995 MHz. This is in support of a class project entailing the building and operating of inexpensive equipment to collect atmospheric temperature-profile data.
• CBS filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to allow testing to “determine if digital spectrum efficient communication radios, capable of simultaneous voice and data channels, will improve the efficiency of its remote field news gathering and if the known latency and ‘cliff effect’ resulting from digital communications might adversely effect news gathering operations. While CBS believes that the benefits of using digital spectrum efficient radios are well advertised, the resulting audio latency issues experienced by the ‘on-­air’ talent during live broadcasts could be problematic.” CBS goes on to state that “As live broadcasts can be affected by digital latency, CBS seeks to determine if this will limit using digital cues and ‘on‐air’ program audio foldback to live talent broadcasting from remote locations. In addition to voice communications, GPS tracking of news crews, electronic script transfers, and teleprompter data will be tested using the proposed equipment and emission.” Operation will be in Denver, Colorado and vicinity on several frequencies near 450 MHz.
• Qualcomm filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to operate in San Diego, California on 536-548, 578-590, and 656-668 MHz (TV channels 25-26, 32-33, and 45-46, respectively). This is for white-space testing of up to 10 devices, each having a maximum transmit power of 100 mW and bandwidth up to 10 MHz.
• Microsoft filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to conduct femtocell research, including development of software techniques “to improve the user experience.” Microsoft “plans to operate 3GPP Femtocell Reference Platform (‘FRP’) units from Qualcomm. At the radio layer, the Qualcomm FRP is no different than commercially-available femtocells that use Qualcomm chips. At higher software layers, the biggest difference is that the FRPs will connect to core network emulators instead of connecting to a Home NodeB gateway inside a commercial mobile operator. These core network emulators will run on PC servers, and the FRPs will connect to them via Ethernet. The FRPs will be configured to advertise a particular test mobile network to particular UEs. These UEs will be standard, commercially-available 3GPP cellular phones with SIM cards that allow them to connect to the FRPs.” Operation will be in Redmond, Washington on 824-835, 869-880, 1850-1885, and 1930-1965 MHz.
• Coldplay Inc., a wholly-owned affiliate of the musical group Coldplay, filed an the application with exhibit for special temporary authority to transmit a 60 kHz-wide signal centered at 869.5 MHz during the 2012 Grammy Awards on February 12 in Los Angeles. According to the application, “Coldplay has recently integrated a distinctive, innovative audiovisual component into its live performances throughout Europe. Specifically, in recent performances, each audience member has received a Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) wristband that is synchronized with the group’s music and stage lighting. These wristbands, which are controlled by a single, centrally located radiofrequency transmitter flash en masse in coordination with the band’s music and stage lighting to create a stunning visual effect throughout the concert hall while simultaneously enabling individual audience members to immerse themselves in the live performance. Coldplay seeks STA authority from the FCC to test and demonstrate the underlying RF transmitter that provides command/control instructions to the aforementioned LED wristbands during its performance at the 2012 GRAMMY Award Show.” Coldplay says it received consent from AT&T Mobility LLC, the licensee of that frequency in that area.

• Cosmoglia, Inc. filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to operate in support of it’s “Dove 2” satellite project.  As the company states, “The Dove 2 mission is an internal company technology demonstration experiment to test the capabilities of a low-cost spacecraft constrained to the 3U cubesat form factor to host a small payload. Dove 2 will do this by transmitting health and payload data to the ground. The payload data consists of image data taken from an on board nadir pointing camera. The images will be downlinked over the ISM frequency band at 2.4 GHz and the earth observation frequency band at 8.2 GHz. The dimensions of the spacecraft are consistent with CubeSat and P-POD standards. It is a single unit with the dimensions of 10 cm X 10 cm X 33 cm. The total mass is about 5.8 kg. One important metric of mission success is the ability to build a solar panel/battery/power distribution system that will last for years in orbit, so the mission duration will be one year. The spacecraft will launch on August 31st into an elliptical orbit of 290 km by 575 km with a 64.9 degree inclination.” Operation will be on 1616-1626 MHz, 2401.6-2441.0 MHz, and 8.221-8.229 GHz. The operation on 1616-1626 MHz has been coordinated with Iridium.
• The MITRE Corporation filed an application and exhibit for experimental license to operate in Bedford, Massachusetts and McLean, Virginia on 1915-1920 MHz. According to the exhibit, “MITRE is developing innovative solutions for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). The main goal of the research is to develop network routing algorithms working on peer-to-peer prototype radios supplied by Qualcomm Corporation to enable multi-hop wireless communication networks. Prior explorations in this area have focused on the use of such radios as one- hop peer-to-peer devices. MITRE will perform research, development, testing, and demonstrations. This experimental work will be performed over a 2-year period.”
• Orbital Sciences Corporation filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to operate three spacecraft telemetry (return) links with its Cygnus spacecraft in support of a mission to the International Space Station. These links are to monitor spacecraft operation. Return links include: Mode 1: spread spectrum operation with NASA TDRSS, Mode 2: low data rate operation with NASA TDRSS (contingency mode only), and Mode 3: high data rate operation with ground stations. Operation will be on 2202.9-2207.1, 2213-2219, 2214.5-2217.5, and 2215.958-2216.042 MHz.
• Bran Ferren Corp. filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 2215-2245 MHz at various locations in southern California, Nevada and Utah. This is for the development, testing and demonstration of a “unique airborne video production vehicle” that operates up to 400 feet above ground.
• Sprint filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to test wireless backhaul systems in the Overland Park, Kansas area on 2305-2310 and 2350-2355 MHz. The tested systems are intended to support Sprint’s Network Vision and related broadband deployment initiatives. The requested frequency bands are in the WCS A-block and are licensed to Nextwave, which has given its consent.
• Google Fiber filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to “test Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols and performance (including coordination of Wi-Fi channels between devices and in the presence of foreign signals) within an integrated access point as part of a fiber residential gateway.” Operation will be in Palo Alto, California on 2400-2483 and 5470-5725 MHz.
• Huawei filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to build an experimental network in Plano, Texas operating on 2578-2602 MHz. This is to demonstrate TDD-LTE backhaul technology to wireless operators. Huawei has permission to use the frequencies from their licensee, Clearwire.
• Enterprise Electronics Corp. filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to “investigate and refine weather surveillance methods to enhance the detection accuracy of severe weather phenomenon. This involves enhancing the design of radar hardware, (transmitters, receivers), and refining software algorithms used to detect, model and display the resulting data. Case studies of weather events are analyzed throughout multiple seasons and refinements are thus integrated into existing radar detection schemes.” Operation will be at Enterprise, Alabama on 2700-2900, 5300-5600, and 9300-9400 MHz.
• Northrop Grumman filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to operate at Hanover and Linthicum, Maryland on 3.1-3.5 GHz. This is for “tests and demonstrations of newly-designed equipment being developed for sale to the U.S. military. Six 50-MHz channels . . . are required for these purposes, with 50 MHz spacing between the channels. The antenna center will be pointed at 237 degrees from North, elevated 15 degrees above horizontal, and capable of scanning +/- 60 degrees in azimuth and elevation. Equipment is Northrop Grumman prototype.”
• General Dynamics filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to operate in support of development of a government system known as Prophet, not described but apparently a signals intelligence and electronic warfare system. Operation will be in Scottsdale, Arizona on 3424-3452 and 3524-3552 MHz.
• Qualcomm filed an application for special temporary authority to complete “propagation testing in support of developing next generation wireless technologies and advanced receivers.” “A single fixed transmitter will be configured per the requested frequencies. Receive power will be measured in the immediate area of the fixed transmitter.” Operation will be in San Diego, California on 3650-3700 MHz and 5790-5820 MHz.
• iRobot Corporation filed an application for special temporary authority to test range, mobility, and other attributes of robots. Operation will be on 4940-4990 MHz in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
• Electronic Warfare Associates filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to test its “Counter – Unmanned Aerial System” radar, said to be capable of acquiring and tracking multiple low-radar-cross-section targets. Operation will be in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey on 5.4-5.9 GHz.
• Georgia Tech Research Institute filed an application for special temporary authority to “Support testing of the recently launched WGS-4 satellite under Army contract. The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) provides test and measurement support to the U.S. Army via contract W911W5-11-D-0001. Under this contract, the U.S. Army has tasked GTRI to support testing of the recently launched WGS-4 satellite located at 121.9 degrees west. GTRI will utilize an approved ground terminal to generate various waveforms to test the satellite. The average duty cycle for the overall test is projected to be 3 minutes ON and 8 minutes OFF. All testing will be monitored by the U.S. Air Force Space Protection Program.” Operation will be on 7.90-8.02 and 8.345-8.400 GHz.
• 3 Phoenix Inc. filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to operate in support of development of an improved periscope detection radar. This work is part of a contract with the U.S. Navy. Operation will be in Wake Forest, North Carolina on 8.51-8.99 GHz.
• Telephonics Corporation filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to test an Advanced Radar Surveillance System (ARSS). The ARSS is to be used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the southern U.S. border.   Operation will be in Huntingdon and Farmingdale, New York on 8850 MHz.

• Lockheed Martin filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to conduct “verification of performance of new radar technology for domestic border security for state officials. Data of this improved radar sensor will be used to show performance improvements compared to current operating sensors used by state law enforcement officials for border security.” Operation will be in Syracuse, New York and Sierra Blanca, Texas on 9.2-10.0 GHz.

• Ultra Electronics Advanced Tactical Systems filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test a ground surveillance radar system in support of a response the company is preparing to an RFP by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The RFP pertains to an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system for the U.S. Border Patrol. Operation will be in the Marana, Arizona area on 9300-9500 MHz and 15.75-17.20 GHz.

• Qualcomm filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test Next Gen Air-Ground System antenna performance using a single fixed transmitter on the ground and measuring the received power in an aircraft.  As background, Qualcomm says it “recently filed a Petition for Rulemaking to Amend The Commission’s Rules To Establish A Next-Generation Air-Ground Communications Service On A Secondary Licensed Basis In The 14.0 to 14.5 GHz Band, RM-11640. Comments and Reply Comments were filed on the Petition in September and October 2011.” “Qualcomm has also met with the FCC staff in IB, OET, and WTB to discuss the request and the expected performance of the Next- Gen Air-Ground system.” Operation will be on 14.0-14.5 GHz at Bakersfield and San Diego, California.
• General Dynamics filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to test a prototype border protection system to support “US Government contract pursuits.” The system includes a surveillance radar capable of detecting moving ground targets out to a distance of about 20 miles. Operation will be in Wittman, Arizona on 16.2-17.2 GHz.
• The Technische Universitaet Darmstadt Institute of Phys. Geodesy filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 17.1-17.3 GHz in Princeton, New Jersey. This is to determine the oscillation of steel cables during construction of a building using a microwave interferometer. “Attached to the cables are big glass planes as part of the construction of the building. The measured eigenfrequency shall give information about the tension of the cables.”
• Peabody Powder River Mining filed an application for special temporary authority to test technology designed to detect movement in the walls of a mine by measuring the return-time of a reflected RF signal. Operation will be in Wright, Wyoming on 17.2 GHz. During processing of the application, FCC staff asked the applicant for details on the mine; here’s the response: “Peabody’s mine is a surface mine where holes are dug into the ground’s surface, much like a rock quarry. The holes run as high as several hundred feed deep and up to approximately 750 feet wide. As a result, the walls are hundreds of feet high from the base of the large hole.”
• Google filed an application to extend the duration of previously-granted special temporary authority to “Conduct experiments using test vehicles equipped with automatic cruise control radars in a manner that extends the sensing range of the radars when a vehicle is not in motion. Google is developing advanced driver assistance systems with the goal of improving the safety and convenience of vehicular transportation. Each Google test vehicle contains several off-the-shelf automatic cruise control (ACC) radars certified for use in the 76.0-77.0 GHz band. These radars are used to sense the environment around the vehicles.” Google goes on to say that “Testing the vehicles performance in complex traffic situations (for example, when the vehicle is stopped at intersections, or when a vehicle is about to make a right turn on to a busy road, in which case the range of a left-sensing radar must be sufficient to inform the vehicle to allow high-speed traffic to pass before proceeding) will provide critical data that will guide the development of more effective driver assistance technology. The results of these experiments will inform the need for a longer term experimental license. The location of the proposed experiments will be the San Francisco Bay, California area, extending south to Santa Cruz, California and north and east to South Lake Tahoe, California.” Google says that current FCC radar power limits will be exceeded in its tests when the vehicles are not in motion, but it does think that interference will be a problem.
• Raytheon Missile Systems filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to “demonstrate the effectiveness of using solid state W-band technology for improving high-bandwidth point-to-point communications in harsh environments.” Operation will be in Van Nuys, California on 92-93 GHz or 91-93 GHz (the application and exhibit are inconsistent with regard to frequency). The exhibit states that “Raytheon is working on a new product that uses high bandwidth solid state W-band (91-93 GHz) technology, making it possible to deliver compact, secure communications systems with orders of magnitude reductions in size, weight and power. Reducing the size, weight and power needed by broadband data links is essential when working in harsh climates. Traditional point to point technologies operating in this frequency band use large antennas that are buffeted by wind. The buffeting causes a significant drop in data rates, which leads to inefficient communications, lowering of available bandwidth, slowing of vital communications, and wasted power by the transmitters. This technology offers significant advances in power consumption, rapid deployment, and effective high-speed data transmissions under all conditions.” Raytheon expects to achieve 320 Mbps on a 1 km link.

Gerald Whitney filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to test a prototype AM broadcast transmitter system covering 2-16 MHz at a carrier power of 1 kW. The system, part of a U.S. Department of Defense project, includes a frequency-agile transmitter, antenna tuning unit, and antenna. Testing will be done in Victor, New York.

Curtis-Wright Controls filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to demonstrate its 3d-Radar brand of ultra-wideband ground penetrating radar (GPR) for prospective non-federal customers as it awaits expected FCC grant of its Part 15 waiver request for the device. Operation will take place at various locations in the U.S. on 140-3000 MHz, with frequency notching to preclude transmissions in the bands 608-614 MHz, 1400-1427 MHz, 1660.5-1668.4 MHz, and 2690-2700 MHz, in accordance with an NTIA authorization. The company filed its Part 15 waiver request with the FCC in June 2010 seeking authorization to operate the device for non-federal use (ET Doc. No. 10-167). The company understands the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology is working on an order that would permit non-federal use of the device. The company notes that NTIA, with FCC coordination, has already approved the use of the device for federal use on a nationwide basis.

Carlson Wireless Technologies filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test voice and data connections among multiple Chevron Oil oil-field facilities using TV white space frequencies. Test results will be compared to the performance of a current 900 MHz system. Operation will be at several California locations in the 174-216 MHz and 470-698 MHz bands.

Southern Methodist University filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to operate a cognitive radio testbed. The testbed is backed by a National Science Foundation grant.  Operation will be on several frequency bands between 400 MHz and 6100 MHz in the Dallas area. The testbed will be used to study wireless performance in mobile and stationary environments. Featured in the testbed is real-time multi-band operation, which can be used to aid design of context-aware and cognitive algorithms that use multiple frequency bands to adapt to dynamic environmental conditions. One goal of the research is to develop an open-access database of wireless performance in multiple scenarios.

L3 Nova Engineering filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to demonstrate a seismic activity sensor network. Testing will take place in Great Falls, Virginia on 420-440 MHz.

Sierra Nevada Corp. filed an application for special temporary authority to test equipment that will facilitate formation flight between two aircraft. This supports DARPA’s Global Hawk autonomous aerial refueling demonstration program that is intended to accomplish the first-ever fully autonomous rendezvous, refueling, and formation flying of two unmanned aircraft. Each node of the system consists of a GPS receiver, processor, and other equipment including the UHF data link that is the subject of this application; one node would transmit data to the other such that the receiving node would be able to calculate its position and orientation relative to the transmitting node. The testing will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah on 420.25-426.60 MHz.

Raytheon BBN Technologies filed an application for special temporary authority test distributed-transmit beamforming using RF modules developed under DARPA’s Precision Electronic Warfare (PREW) program. “Specifically, BBN Technologies seeks to demonstrate the capability to synchronize clocks from up to 10 RF modules remotely using UHF band frequencies, and project RF energy at specified frequencies that results in the coherent combining of focused power within a small geographic area of interest using the these radios to enable high data rate transmissions and longer ranges.” According to DARPA, “the goal of the Precision Electronic Warfare (PREW) program is to demonstrate technologies and a prototype system that will enable the fielding of an ad hoc sparse array consisting of multiple airborne and/or ground nodes that can perform surgical jamming. The PREW system should be able to project RF energy that results in the coherent combining of focused power within a small geographic area of interest (AOI). When operating outside the AOI, the system must minimize the coherency of the RF energy to limit the impact to collateral systems.” Testing will occur at Sky Meadow State Park, Delaplane, Virginia on 437-493 MHz, 877-953 MHz, and 2400-2480 MHz.

Airvana filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to develop and test prototype LTE infrastructure equipment on 698-716 MHz, 728-757 MHz, 776-787 MHz, 806-824, MHz, 851-869 MHz, 1910-1915 MHz, and 1990-1995 MHz. Airvana says it will evaluate handoff performance among sectors, network capacity, quality of service, multi-path performance, average data rates, and interference performance. The testing is to take place nationwide.

Lockheed Martin filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct testing in support of the Extended Area Protection System (EAPS) missile test program under sponsorship of the U.S. Army. The EAPS interceptor is a small ground-launched missile system under development as a performance demonstration program of hit-to-kill technology. The hardware requiring licensing consists of two systems. The first is the telemetry system providing downlink of flight telemetry data from the interceptor to a launch control trailer. The second is the unmanned ground system that provides uplink of flight control data from the launcher control trailer to the interceptor. Testing will take place in Texas on 2270.5, 2280.5, 2281.5, 4401.5, 4410.5, and 4411.5 MHz.

Bell Helicopter Textron filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct testing and development in support of eventual unmanned helicopter flights. Testing will take place in the vicinity of Arlington, Texas on 2282.50 MHz.

Teletronics Technology Corp. filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to test a new transceiver with both OFDM and burst-mode shaped-offset QPSK (SOQPSK). The transceivers are said to provide “maximum transmission and reception distance under harsh environmental conditions.” Operation will be in the vicinity of Newtown, Pennsylvania on 2360-2390 MHz.

North American Eagle, a project testing the capability of a land-based vehicle to safely transition through supersonic speed, filed an application and exhibits for experimental license to operate a Wi-Fi network consisting of five Tropos model 7320 mesh routers mounted on eight-meter towers and one Tropos model 4310 mobile-mesh router mounted in the vehicle’s nose cone. Video and vehicle operational data will be sent to the base stations. Operation is to take place on dry lake beds near Black Rock, Nevada and Diamond Valley, Nevada on 2400-2483MHz (for data) and 5725-5850 MHz (for video). Transmitter output power will be 30 watts. (Wi-Fi at 800 MPH will be a challenge.)

Raytheon filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test a critical-infrastructure-protection radars system. The system uses a 90-degree-quadrant staring radar with moving target indication designed for perimeter intrusion detection applications around secure facilities such as airports, seaports, utilities and other critical infrastructure. The system is based on Raytheon’s SR1500 Short-Range radar, which is under development. The plan is to deploy a network of low-power, short range (1.5 km) radars at fixed locations around critical infrastructure sites of the Port Authority for New York and New Jersey to provide perimeter security. An Ethernet-based network provides communication between multiple radar and electro-optic sensors. Testing will take place at various locations around New York City on 3100-3500 MHz.

L3 Communications filed an application and exhibits for special temporary authority to test a SONAR telemetry transmission system for military use. The system would send SONAR data from a small boat at a rate of 10 Mbps. The link will also carry video from cameras on the boat to allow operators to confirm normal operation of the hardware. The SONAR data and video will be transmitted to a larger manned ship at a range of a few miles. Testing will take place on the Pacific Ocean, between San Pedro and Catalina Island, in the bands 5200-5679 MHz and 5689-5800 MHz.

Laufer Wind Group filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct tests in connection with the development of a radar-activated FAA obstruction lighting system for wind farms. Testing will take place in New York and New Hampshire on 9380-9440 MHz.

Lockheed Martin filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to evaluate Ku-band satellite technology for high-data-rate communication to helicopters. It intends to test ViaSat’s proprietary technology said to maintain the flow of data transmission in the presence of momentary path blockage from rotor blades. Test antennas will be mounted on stands underneath the rotor blades. Testing will be in Owego, New York on 14.0-14.5 GHz.

Raytheon filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test a radar system for mobile surveillance system based on the DRS MSTAR commercial-off-the-shelf radar. The radar, in conjunction with electro-optical/infrared cameras, is intended for use in monitoring international borders. Testing will take place near McKinney, Texas on 16.75-17.25 GHz.

General Dynamics filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to operate an airborne radar system in support of ground imaging research using synthetic aperture radar techniques. Separate transmit and receive antennas would be mounted to a rotational pedestal on the underside of an aircraft. The gain of the antennas is 40 dB at 94 GHz, and they have a 1.5 degree half-power beamwidth in both the azimuth and elevation planes. The radar will use a pulsed linear-FM chirp waveform, centered at 94 GHz with a bandwidth of 600 MHz. The width of the waveform pulse will be approximately 20 microseconds and operate at a pulse repetition frequency of approximately 10 kHz. Peak ERP will be 5,000 Watts. Operation will be in the vicinity of Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Ducommun LaBarge Technologies filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to test its model SG-DDR50 security system, a directed-energy weapon that uses millimeter-wavelength energy to “stop, deter, turn back, and otherwise discourage a trespasser, thief, or belligerent and threatening person at relatively long distances.” “The system consists of an electrical power source, a device producing millimeter wavelength electromagnetic energy, an energy director projecting a narrow energy beam towards a target, and mounting and connecting equipment.” “The SG-DDR50 uses the susceptibility of skin nerve endings to millimeter-wavelength electromagnetic energy to report a sensation of intense undesirable heat on the skin of the person in the energy beam, all while doing no harm.” “The purpose of the experimental license is to align the system to operational specifications using infrared imaging of patterns on a sensitive carbon impregnated teflon [sic] target . . ..” Testing will occur in Huntsville, Arkansas on 94.5-95.0 GHz. Transmitter power and ERP are both specified as 800 Watts on the FCC application form. According to the applicant, “[t]he nature of this test configuration does not lend itself to be characterized by traditional measures, such as ERP, ERIP, Peak Power, and the like.”

• Brian D. Justin, Jr., an amateur radio operator, filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to operate a propagation test beacon on 70.005 MHz at Bedford, Virginia. In his application, he reports an increasing interest in trans-Atlantic VHF communications by amateur radio operators, in part because of recent changes in EU regulations. A beacon would help operators know when sporadic E propagation (E-skip) conditions were good for communications near that frequency. (E-skip is enabled by scattered regions of relatively dense ionization that develop seasonally and reflect signals up to about 150 MHz.) Today, there are beacons on 50 MHz, and FM broadcast stations act as beacons in the 100 MHz range. There’s a gap at 70 MHz; AM video carriers once served as beacons (e.g., VHF channel 4 with a video carrier at 67.25 MHz), but those have gone away with the DTV transition.

• The University of Michigan’s Professor James Cutler filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to operate communication links for the Michigan Multipurpose Minisat (M-Cubed), a small student-built satellite that will capture images of Earth and transmit them to a ground station. The satellite weighs 1.3 kg and forms a cube 10 cm on a side. The imaging system consists of a 2.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) coprocessor. The test is to prove the reliability of the radiation-hardened FPGA in the space environment and assess the performance of the processing algorithm that will resolve the images in the satellite. M-Cubed will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta-II rocket in the fall of 2011. The uplink will be on 144-146 MHz. The downlink will be on 437-439 MHz using an Astrodev Li-1 radio.

• Carlson Wireless Technologies filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test TV white-space radios in rural, rugged, and forested areas. Testing will take place in various areas around New England on 174-216 MHz.

• Rockwell Collins filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to demonstrate its FlexNet software-defined radio technology at the 2011 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration,  an annual event directed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that is intended to showcase new information technology. Operation will be on 245-327 MHz at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

• Telephonics Corporation filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test an existing 2.4 GHz ISM band product modified for operation in the 300-400 MHz military band. In addition to the change in frequency, the multiple-access method will be changed to frequency-hopping spread spectrum. The objective is to achieve superior communications in urban environments compared to 2.4 GHz operation. Testing will occur in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

• Panasonic Avionics Corp. filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to conduct ground testing in support of the Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite, featuring the eXConnect Ku-band aeronautical mobile-satellite service (AMSS) system, providing broadband connectivity to passengers in flight. Panasonic wants to test the potential for interference from transmitting portable electronic devices to aircraft avionics and communications. The test will use a signal generator to simulate the operation of multiple devices. Test results will be used to support certification of Panasonic’s aircraft equipment with the FAA. The tests will occur in Roswell, New Mexico on various frequencies between 410 MHz and 5.825 GHz.

• Carlson Wireless Technologies filed an application with exhibits for special temporary authority to test fixed white-space devices with attached cellular femtocells. Carlson Wireless and Vergennes Broadband are working jointly with Spectrum Bridge to investigate the applicability of white space spectrum for use in rural broadband applications, including support of femtocells. Operation will be in Vergennes, Michigan on 470-698 MHz.

• Microsoft filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to demonstrate interactive Xbox Live HD (1080p) video streaming over TV-band white-space spectrum during the April 11-14 NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The demonstration was to incorporate Microsoft Research’s prototype white-spaces database, which controls white-space device access to help protect incumbents from interference. The frequency bands requested were 512-608 MHz and 614-698 MHz.

• Shared Spectrum Company filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to conduct tests as part of DARPA’s Wireless Network after Next (WNaN) program. The goal of the program is to “develop and demonstrate technologies and system concepts enabling densely deployed networks in which distributed and adaptive network operations compensate for limitations of the physical layer of the low-cost wireless nodes that comprise these networks.” Operation will be on 902-928, 2400.0-2483.5, 4400-4900, and 5650-5925 MHz in Stafford and Prince William Counties in Virginia.

• LightSquared filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to communicate with SkyTerra-1, a licensed and in-orbit satellite, and conduct a six-month test of two prototype models of Access Terminals (ATs) using the L-band spectrum coordinated for LightSquared’s satellite system. The ATs will transmit on 1626.5-1660 MHz and receive on 1525-1559 MHz. Testing will occur throughout North America.

• Lockheed Martin filed an application with exhibit for experimental license for flight tests of real-time video transmission using the company’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The video source will be the F-35’s Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS).  EOTS video data will be compressed and routed to an L-3 VORTEX transmitter. The transmitted signal will be received by an L-3 ROVER 5 handheld transceiver with the video displayed on a screen in the device. Operation will be at several locations around the US on 1710-1850 and 2200-2500 MHz.

• GBL Systems filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to develop, test and validate homeland security applications based on a peer-to-peer system under development by Qualcomm. Operation will be in Camarillo, California on 1915-1920 MHz.

• Row 44 Inc. filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to conduct tests using its aeronautical-mobile satellite service (AMSS) network. The tests will use a GSM picocell connected to Row 44′s Ku-band network in a simulated aircraft cabin environment. The objective is to understand the operation of GSM devices in the on-board environment. The tests will take place in Lombard, Illinois on 1930-1990 MHz.

• L-3 Communications filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 2025-2120 MHz at Simi Valley, California. L-3 builds antennas for satellite tracking, telemetry, and control. The company says it has been experiencing high passive intermodulation (PIM) distortion that “causes transmitter noise to bleed into the receive band.” The testing is intended to resolve this problem.

• AeroVironment Inc. filed an application with exhibits for experimental license to conduct experiments with small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) technologies intended for use by to state and local public safety agencies. Operation is to be on 4940-4990 MHz in the Camp Roberts and Simi Valley areas of California.

• Kongsberg Seatex AS, a Norwegian company, filed an application with exhibit for experimental license to test its Embedded Maritime Broadband Radio (EMBR) system. The system is intended to provide maritime users with reliable broadband data links using a system with no moving parts such as mechanically-steerable antennas. The system can operate at 5 Mbps when the distance between the nodes is up to 10 km. To eliminate the mechanically-steerable antenna, the system uses an electronically-steerable antenna array comprised of 60 antenna/transceiver sub-units. While there are other maritime broadband data link systems, such as those based on Wi-Fi and WiMAX, this system is said to outperform those due in part to a custom Physical Layer and Media Access Control Layer. Operation will be at 5220-5240 MHz on a route between Galveston, Texas and a Shell oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Raytheon Network Centric Systems filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test its Pathfinder maritime radar system in border surveillance applications.  Operation will be on 9.41-9.71 GHz in McKinney and Falcon, Texas.

• SRC Inc. filed an application for special temporary authority to conduct demonstrations of the SR Hawk ground surveillance radar at Fort Benning, Georgia. Operation will be on 16.21-16.50 GHz.

• Laurel Technologies Partnership filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test the operating capability of the Manportable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) after its integration into a border and force protection ground surveillance system. The system is comprised of a trailer-mounted telescoping mast that supports a sensor package. That package includes the MSTAR radar and two video cameras (for day and night). The experiment will test and evaluate target detection and tracking capabilities of the radar and visual capabilities of the cameras once a target is acquired. Testing will be on 16.75-17.25 GHz in the Largo, Florida area.

• Samsung filed an application for special temporary authority to conduct sounding and propagation measurements on 28 GHz in Richardson, Texas. Samsung wants to better understand the outdoor mobile environment and impacts to path loss, angular spread, delay spread, non-line-of-sight beamforming, and blocking issues.

First, note that the FCC’s NPRM on changing the experimental licensing rules was published in the Federal Register on February 8. That means the comment deadlines are set. Comments are due March 10, and Reply Comments are due April 11. Consider filing comments in support of relaxed rules for industry as well as for academia. A few good comments have been filed already.  I point to the comments of Hans Schantz as exemplary.

On to the applications, which I list in order of frequency:

• BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate in Wayne, New Jersey on several frequency bands between 27 and 2003 MHz. This is to support development of a more cost-efficient and robust Ground Mobile Radio system for the Army.

• Raytheon Missile Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to conduct propagation tests in Tucson, Arizona on the following frequencies: 86, 87.5, 87.7, and 87.9 MHz (in the broadcast band). This is to aid in the development of transmission systems on those frequencies. (For a missile company, an unusual band in which to conduct experiments.)

• Michigan Technological University Aerospace Enterprise filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to operate on 145.97, 435.52, and 2400.0-2483.5 MHz to support the Oculus-ASR satellite project. The frequencies are for downlink control at 1200 bps, uplink control at 1200 bps, and downlink image data at 230 kbps, respectively. “Oculus-ASR is a nanosatellite currently being developed to aid in the advancement of U.S. Space Situational Awareness as part of the University Nanosatellite Program. The program gives students the opportunity to work with industry sponsors in an effort to construct the best nanosatellite in a nationwide competition, hosted by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).”

• Carlson Wireless Technologies filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test a TV white space system using a TV broadcaster’s tower. The intent is to show how white space and broadcasting radios can coexist without objectionable interference. Operation is requested on 174-216 MHz (TV channels 7-13) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• Harris filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to conduct field testing of software-defined radio (SDR) equipment in Melbourne, Florida on 232.375, 300.375, and 362.250 MHz. The testing will verify line-of-sight communication capabilities of radios ultimately deployed by the military abroad. This testing precedes more stressful at Army test ranges.

• BAE Systems Unmanned Aircraft Programs Inc. filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to develop radio link equipment used in the unmanned aircraft systems operated by military branches for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance  (C4ISR) applications. More specifically, the testing will involve the testing of a Microhard Systems model MHX320 wireless modem at BAE Systems’ factory in Tucson, Arizona. The MHX320 is a 310 to 390 MHz frequency hopping modem, which can be optimized for long distance communications of over 60 miles with throughput up to 230 kbps. Testing will be on 310.0-328.6 and 335.4-390.0 MHz.

• Raytheon Network Centric Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test its Aurora and Wireless IP-capable Network (WIPN) radios, which provide a Mobile Adhoc Network (MANET) data network capability able to provide effective throughput up to 11 Mbps. Operation will be on 420-450 MHz in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This may be related to DARPA’s Mobile Ad-Hoc Interoperable Network GATEway (MAINGATE) program, which was initiated to develop systems required to enable network-centric warfare among Coalition and U.S. Forces, as well as to facilitate military operations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and first responders.

• Stark Aerospace filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to test a remotely piloted aircraft for public safety and military applications.  Communications from ground to aircraft is by two uplink modes; a primary mode and a backup mode. The primary mode uses the bands 4500-4800 and 4940-4990 MHz. The backup uses the 465-510 MHz band. No information on the downlink is found.

• 4 Tech Media filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to conduct white spaces experiments in Washington DC. This work is to be done jointly with District of Columbia government and the Community College of the District of Columbia, and is to investigate the usefulness of available white space spectrum for use in home networking applications.  The network is to consist of 5 base stations and 1,200 access points.  Although the request is for frequencies that span the entire UHF portion (470-698 MHz) of the white space band, only channels permitted for use by FCC rules are to be used. From the exhibits, it appears this experiment is supported by about $30 million of government grants, most by way of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

• Motorola Solutions filed an application (with associated exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate in the 758-768 and 788-798 MHz bands to conduct tests in connection with the development of Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadband equipment. The testing will be conducted from up to three sites near the offices of Motorola Solutions in Schaumburg, Illinois. The requested frequencies encompass both the 758-763 and 788-793 MHz bands known as the upper 700 MHz D block, which has not yet been licensed for regular operation, and the 763-768 and 793-798 MHz public safety block licensed on a nationwide basis to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust.

• Florida Atlantic University filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 824-849, 880-915, and 1850-1910 MHz in and around Boca Raton, Florida. The intent is to support lab exercises in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Equipment to be used includes a GSM and a CDMA base station, operating at up to 100 watts effective radiated power. The University says it will coordinate with other licensees, which would include cellular and PCS operators.

• BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to conduct in-flight calibration and verification of a radio direction finding system on an unmanned aircraft at Victorville, California. Several frequency bands will be used between 880 MHz and 15.35 GHz. This test supports the company’s work for the US Air Force and DARPA.

• The University of California, Berkley, Computer Science Department filed an application for special temporary authority to operate in support of OpenBTS technology investigations. Testing would be on 890-915 and 935-960 MHz.

• DRS ICAS, LLC filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator equipment that is being developed under a contract with the Italian Air Force. Operation will be on 1030 and 1090 MHz at Cheektowaga, New York.

• Lockheed-Martin filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to test IFF systems part of a sale to the Royal Saudi Air Force. The system uses the TPS-77 transportable radar platform. Operation will be on 1030 MHz.

• Qualcomm filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to operate on Cambridge, Massachusetts on 1915-1920 MHz.    Qualcomm is collaborating with faculty and students at MIT to further its testing, validation and application concepts around a peer-to-peer system currently under development. It appears to allow peer-to-peer communications over licensed spectrum without infrastructure support. Qualcomm says the primary objective is to explore creative application ideas which are enabled by this technology, validate system performance, and get feedback on the networking architecture from those studying the subject at MIT. There has been some press attention of this technology at this writing. For better information, a Qualcomm acquaintance has pointed me to this presentation and to this IEEE magazine article.

• Boeing filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to operate on 2345?2390 MHz in air-to-ground mode at three locations in Delaware, New Jersey, and Texas.  No further details are publicly available due to a confidentiality request; flight test telemetry is a likely purpose. The Navy is not enthusiastic about the proposal, and the application has yet to be granted.

• Sportvision filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate an auto race track wireless data system that would allow television viewers to see, displayed on-screen, the real-time location of cars during a racing event. Vehicles equipped with GPS receivers and radios would provide updates every 200 milliseconds. Operation will be on 2395-2400 MHz at 23 motor speedways across the US. Modified Wi-Fi hardware will be used. The requested frequency band is just below the 2 GHz ISM band (high noise levels preclude operation there) and is allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. No interference is expected due to the short duration of operation and low power involved (1 watt). Operation will be coordinated with the ARRL.

• Florida International University filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate a WiMAX base station on 2590 MHz in Miami, Florida in support of the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) project.

• 4-D Security Solutions filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test surveillance radar on 8.75-8.95 and 10.32-10.48 GHz at locations in New Jersey and Wisconsin. The radars to be tested are Elta Systems models EL/M-2105 and EL/M-2129. This testing is in support of the company’s development of homeland security systems intended to provide protection for sensitive installations, borders, and coastlines.

• Denso Corporation filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate nationwide on 24.125 and 25.5 GHz. Due to a confidentiality request, details of the experimental plan are not publicly available. This experiment is likely related to Denso’s ongoing work developing vehicle radar systems to detect preceding vehicles and obstacles as input to anti-crash and pre-crash systems.

• Battelle filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate an experimental point-to-point communications link operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. The link uses optical components to generate and modulate the signals, and has the capability of transmitting 10 Gbps on a 100 GHz carrier. Operation will be at three locations on 95-105 GHz. The proposed study includes investigation of candidate modulation formats at distances up to 1 km.

• ShawnTech Communications filed an experimental application about which nothing is known due to a request for confidentiality. ShawnTech provides phone and related services to the corrections industry. This may be an experiment of cell phone jamming or managed access technology to address contraband wireless devices.

A basic idea in these systems is to take advantage of the time a user is not transmitting, and let someone else use that spectrum until the original user needs it again. If the second user is in the middle of something when the first user needs it back, the second user identifies another piece of spectrum to move to. Both users, ideally, notice no degradation of performance. Overall spectrum capacity is increased.

For the purpose of the FCC’s inquiry, dynamic spectrum access is a broad term that includes cognitive radio; radio that is aware of the RF environment and uses that information to make decisions based on its objectives. The term Software Defined Radio (SDR) is sometimes used in this context, but an SDR device may be used for other purposes.

The following issues are some of those identified in a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) that the Commission adopted at its November 30 meeting:

• Technical advances. The Commission wants information on the state of the art of spectrum sensing, interference suppression, propagation models, and policy-based radios, whose emissions are governed by a set of rules. Information is sought on how radios could be tested as part of the equipment authorization process. A related issue is how the Commission should police interference complaints in an increasingly-dynamic radio environment.

• Development and deployment. The Commission looks for opportunities to progress dynamic radio systems. It wants comment on how its database and Spectrum Dashboard can be made more useful. It asks how existing secondary-spectrum market rules might be revised to accommodate dynamic radios. (Existing rules are described as providing “wide latitude” for flexible spectrum use and spectrum leasing, and there’s a suggestion that the public doesn’t fully realize that.) The Commission asks which bands are most appropriate for dynamic spectrum access techniques, discusses the opportunity to aggregate “scraps” of narrower-band spectrum into something more useful, and asks about the feasibility of using spectrum in the 40 GHz range and higher.

• Test-beds. A test-bed would be an area in which certain frequencies are set aside, and guidelines established, for dynamic radio experimentation beyond that contemplated by the experimental licensing rules. The Commission looks for opportunities to fund such a test-bed and encourage participation.

• Real-time databases. It’s possible to take the database model used for TV white spaces and apply it to other bands. Dynamic radio systems could use such databases to determine current spectrum availability. The experience with TV white space operation can inform this and subsequent dynamic spectrum access proceedings.

• Real-time spectrum monitoring. The Commission has a vision of deploying spectrum monitoring equipment throughout the country, in a manner similar to weather monitoring stations seen along highways and atop some schools. A dynamic radio system could query the monitoring equipment for a specific area, and would then have current information on the RF environment. The Commission asks if such a system is practical, and who should run it.

• Public safety. The Commission asks about the potential use of dynamic radios by the public safety community to address ongoing interoperability problems.

The Commission does not address the issues of the definition of harmful interference, the rights of incumbent spectrum users, and receiver standards, except to say that they are matters of general spectrum policy that might be addressed in future proceedings.

Some of the issues in the NOI are interrelated. When a dynamic radio system queries a spectrum database, the information received is processed and an appropriate message is sent to the radio. This introduces latency, and the messaging over the air interface can consume a substantial portion of the data capacity one had hoped to gain. One way to relieve this, depending on the state of the art, is to add functionality to the radio that allows it to make more decisions on its own. This increased processing, however, reduces battery life. These and other tradeoffs are being explored by system developers. It would help them, and the FCC’s goal of promoting these systems, if the rules eventually adopted give them sufficient freedom to innovate.

• Lockheed Martin filed an application (with associated exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 76, 78, 4590, and 4640 MHz in Orlando, Florida to demonstrate and collect operational information from voice and data communication links between a fixed ground station and a rotary-wing aircraft. Testing will use a Raytheon model RT-1808A transceiver for the lower frequencies, and an L3 Communications model 60057879+001 transmitter for the higher frequencies.

• Motorola filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test a prototype radio system designed to support the internal communications requirements, including those related to public safety, an electric power generation and transmission cooperative in Kentucky. Motorola wants to demonstrate the functionality and capability of the system, determine user acceptability, and get feedback for improvement. Operation will be on 151.4725-154.5675 MHz and 157.1875-162.9625 MHz in 26 locations.

• Carson Wireless filed an application (with associated exhibits) to conduct testing of TV white space devices on 174-216 and 470-698 MHz at Klamath, California. Equipment to be used is manufactured by Koos Technical Services and includes a base stations connected to the internet. The base stations provide 3 Mbps connections (using FSK modulation) to fixed client devices. One goal is demonstrate a practical solution for providing broadband connectivity in a rural community, including in challenging terrain. Applications for utilities are to be tested as part of the experiment.

• Telephonics Corporation filed an application (with associated exhibit) for experimental license to operate on 200-400 MHz at Farmingdale, New York. The company has an existing product, the TruLink Wireless Intercommunication System, that operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and is currently used by US Armed Forces. The experimental operation is to support a redevelopment of the product for use on the Armed Forces’ “preferred” band. The FCC has instructed the applicant to coordinate frequency use with the FAA which operates on 328.6-335.4 MHz, and with NTIA’s Military Assignment Group as the bands 225-328.6 MHz and 335.4-399.9 MHz are used for military purposes.

• NIITEK filed an application (with accompanying exhibits) for special temporary authority to operate on 200-7000 MHz to develop a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) that uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The GPR is a component of NIITEK’s landmine detection system designed to detect and locate various buried explosive devices, including mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The system is for use by the US Army in the Middle East.

• Microsoft filed an application (with associated exhibits) for experimental license to conduct testing of TV white-space fixed devices on 470-698 MHz. The system will consist of one base station and five access points operating at 10 Mbps using OFDM modulation. One goal is to show how TV white-spaces equipment provides broadband coverage and connectivity within a home or neighborhood network, even in non-line-of-sight environments. Applications for utilities will be part of the test.

• Qualcomm filed an application for special temporary authority to test UMTS technology in Manhattan on three frequency bands: 722-728, 1720-1730, and 2120-2130 MHz.

• Wireless Seismic filed an application (with associated exhibit) for experimental license to operate on 2400.0-2483.5 MHz in all 50 states. The company is a provider of seismic data acquisition systems, and is finalizing development of a new wireless networking product that will connect geophones used to record acoustic reflections off underground layers. (Those reflections are used to determine the presence of oil and natural gas fields.) The equipment replaces that using wired connections. The system will soon be sent for equipment authorization, and before that the applicant wants to test it in typical deployments to confirm its operational capability.

• Raysat Antenna Systems filed an application (with associated exhibit) for experimental license to test up to five Land Mobile Satellite Service (LMSS) earth stations in the 11.7-12.2 and 14.0-14.5 GHz bands. (There is a discrepancy between the frequencies listed on the application form and in the exhibit.) The earth stations are to communicate with the AMC-5 and AMC-6 satellites at 79° W.L. and 72° W.L., respectively. The satellites will also communicate with the Spacenet hub earth station in McLean, Virginia. This testing is in in connection with a Department of Defense/Logistics Innovation Agency satellite communications program contract. Part of the test is the applicant’s SR-70 antenna for mobile applications, featuring a 6 inch-by-6 inch antenna panel array capable of simultaneous transmission and reception within the 11.7-12.7 and 14.0-14.5 GHz bands. The antenna allows tracking in three axes: azimuth, elevation and polarization.

• Ingegneria Dei Sistemi filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 17.1-17.3 GHz at Bingham Canyon, Utah. The company has developed a system, based on microwave interferometry, for monitoring displacement of land and structures, and wants to demonstrate land-slope-stability monitoring at an open-pit mine. The demonstration is to show that the system can monitor land movement as slow as a few millimeters per month.

• In connection with a US Army contract, Battelle filed an application (with associated exhibits) for experimental license to test a millimeter-wave communications system at 95-105 GHz having a data rate of 10 Gbps. Testing was to have been done at several locations in Ohio. The FCC dismissed this application, however, due to “potential harmful interference to Federal Government operations.”

• Northrop Grumman filed an application for special temporary authority in support of airborne experimental testing of the STARLite Tactical Radar System a small, lightweight (65 pounds) radar used for tactical reconnaissance by Unmanned Aerial Systems. Transmissions will be between 16.2 to 17.3 GHz. The radar has three modes: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), and Maritime Moving Target Indicator. In the SAR mode, the radar imagery can be one of three forms: parallel to the aircraft flight vector, along a specified ground path independent of the aircraft flight path, or a higher-resolution spot image. In the GMTI mode, the radar provides moving target locations overlaid on a digital map. The MMTI mode performs a similar function for targets over water.

• DRS Tactical Systems, a supplier of rugged computer equipment for military environments, filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test a mobile radio gateway. In the test, the mobile node will be a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (Humvee) with a mast. Equipment will be Harris model RF-7800W-OU440 broadband Ethernet radios attached to a DRS gateway system. This system is intended aid military and commercial entities by providing complex gateway functionality while in motion. Operation will be on 4.94-4.99 GHz.

• Raytheon Network Centric Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate on 420-450 MHz to demonstrate a communications system that can be used without infrastructure: for example, in times of natural disaster. The system uses the company’s MicroLight RT 1922 software-defined radio in mobile units. It acts as a repeater to route communications through the network.

• Raytheon IDS filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to operate on 3101-3399 MHz to test a prototype radar system. The system will use either pulsed Linear FM (LFM) 100 KHz, pulsed LFM 300 KHz, or pulsed unmodulated carriers.

• SpectraCom filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate a GPS simulator on 1575.42 MHz. This is to test GPS receivers. The testing will use the company’s own 8-channel GPS simulator. The signal is to be transmitted indoors-only and the applicant intends to meet NTIA emission limits on devices that radiate GPS signals (Section 8.3.28 of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management).

• Universal Avionics Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to flight-test its UniLink UL-801, an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) Communication Management Unit (CMU) that contains an embedded VHF Data Radio (VDR). The VDR supports data communications in two modulation modes, D8PSK and MSK.

Operation will be on 131.550, 136.850, and 136.975 MHz. The frequencies are coordinated by Aviation Spectrum Resources Inc (ASRI), the band manager for aeronautical en route spectrum.

• Clearwire filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to test WiMAX equipment at several sites in California. Operation is to be on 2502-2568 MHz. Clearwire is going to evaluate the capability of WiMAX equipment to operate satisfactorily when collocated with equipment on other frequencies.

• NJ TRANSIT filed an application for special temporary authority to test TETRA radio technology within its operations area and on its current frequencies, which are in the 800 MHz band. This application is being filed because the TETRA equipment to be tested is not type-accepted by the FCC. In addition, the standard TETRA emission mask does not meet current FCC guidelines. One issue for evaluation is whether the TETRA equipment can coexist with NJ Transit’s legacy systems.

• Northrop Grumman filed an application for special temporary authority to test electronically-scanned-array radar that is to be used to support a missile interceptor system. Operation will be on 16.2 – 17.3 GHz.

• General Dynamics filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to conduct demonstrations of its CrossComm land mobile interoperability system. The system of hardware and software components is intended to bind disparate communication systems together enabling network layer interoperability, an approach General Dynamics finds superior to radio interoperability. Public Safety is one target market. The demonstrations will be on several frequencies around 420 MHz.

• Northrop Grumman filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test a Furuno model 1945 marine radar for target detection, perimeter intrusion, and operation in the presence of line-of-sight terrain obstructions. (This is another in a string of applications by various entities proposing unconventional use of this radar system.)

• Tideland Signal filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to test and demonstrate Automatic Identification System (AIS) Aid to Navigation (AtoN) equipment. According to the application, “AIS AtoN equipment works with the international ship-based AIS and provides AtoN position and health status information to the mariner. AIS AtoN is also used to report AtoN status information to the shore-based owner or operator of the AtoN.” The frequencies requested are international AIS channels: 161.975 and 162.025 MHz (AIS 1 Marine VHF Channel 87 and AIS 2 Marine VHF Channel 88B, respectively)

• Intellibs filed an application for special temporary authority to test WiMAX in indoor and outdoor environments. The user-experience in general, and handover in particular, will be evaluated. Operation will be on 2624.25-2640.25 MHz.

• ShawnTech Communications filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to operate on US cellular and PCS bands (in the 800 and 1900 MHz regions) in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Confidentially was requested by the applicant for some exhibits, so there is not much detail available. The geographic coordinates resolve to a prison. As part of its business, ShawnTech provides communications systems to prisons. This may be a test of technology to suppress unauthorized cellphone use by inmates.

• Mustang Technology Group filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test a pulsed Doppler radar with a variable duty cycle from 1% to 25%, capable of frequency hopping in the frequency range of 33.5 – 35.5 GHz. This radar is to be used for development and refinement of detection and tracking capabilities.

• Raytheon Network Centric Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to operate on 894-896 MHz, a band used for Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. Raytheon maintains an FAA-approved repair station for the MagnaStar digital telephone system, which is designed for aviation applications.  There is not much detail in the application, and I expect FCC staff to ask for more. For now, it seems that operation under the requested license is intended to support these repair services, which would be an unusual use of an experimental authorization.

• FreeFlight Systems filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 978 MHz in support of development and testing of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transmitter. ADS-B is a cooperative surveillance technique being developed as part of the Next-Generation Air Transportation System. FreeFlight sells a variety of ADS-B products.

• BelAir Networks filed an application (with associated exhibits, one confidential) for experimental license to operate at McCormick Place in Chicago on 1930-1990 MHz. From what can be gleaned, the company plans to demonstrate its model 100SP Strand Picocell at 4G World. This device is basically a small base station that can hang on a cable system, provide wireless services over both 3G and Wi-Fi, and leverage existing cable infrastructure for power and backhaul.

• ComTech Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test its Transportable Fast Link Antenna product. Testing will be on 4400, 4700, and 4935 MHz.

• AAI / Textron Systems Corporation filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to test its Aerosonde, a small (34 pounds) gas-powered Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)  that supports tactical applications and scientific missions for the US military. Testing will be done at the NASA flight test range at Wallops Island, Virginia. Several frequencies will be used from 310 to 4999 MHz.

• Lockheed Martin filed an application (with associated exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 956-959 MHz in support of testing of “edge communications architecture.” This architecture is intended to provide robust, on-demand, end-to-end communications for tactical and first responders who currently have limited or no communications in the field. Moreover, the architecture is for applications in which the user may be unpredictable. The architecture attributes include low power, low probability of detection and interception, self-forming and healing, support of heterogeneous RF waveform/modulation schemes and heterogeneous data transport protocols, and fixed and mobile router/bridging nodes.

• ViaSat filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license for over-the-air testing of ViaSat’s SurfBeam 2 Consumer Satellite Terminal in advance of the launch of the ViaSat-1 satellite. Operation will be at 29.5-30.0 GHz. ViaSat says the “SurfBeam 2 terminal is a second generation consumer broadband terminal very similar to the current SurfBeam 1 terminals operating under Blanket License E050033 on the WildBlue-1 and ANIK-F2 satellites. The new SurfBeam 2 terminal is designed to take advantage of the higher performance of the ViaSat-1 satellite and is intended to offer higher data rates to the consumer while still meeting FCC 25.138 off-axis EIRP density requirements.” The reflector size is 77 x 72 cm and the nominal terminal EIRP at full power is 48.4 dBW. Tests will include throughput, RF performance, and modem performance.

• Commtact filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test a low-profile mobile satellite antenna system on 13.75-14.50 GHz and 27.50-30.00 GHz. Commtact says the system “combines transmission, reception and polarization tracking capabilities with advanced stabilization system, making it possible to build compact, low profile antennas that are suitable for various mobile platforms.”

• Harris filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test its Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) mobile ad hoc radio system. Harris describes WIN-T as the US Army’s on-the-move, high-speed, high-capacity backbone communications network, linking Warfighters on the battlefield with the Global Information Grid. Operation will be at 4.44-4.99 GHz and 14.50-15.35 GHz.

The demand is, in part, from the smart grid community, who like it for linking to smart meters because of the band’s greater range and lower obstruction losses.  A problem, though, has been lack of interoperability. Each vendor has its own implementation, and smart grid customers don’t want to be tied to one vendor.

Today the IEEE Standards Association’s Standards Board approved a request by IEEE 802 Working Group 802.11 to start a project that will amend the 802.11 standard to include sub 1 GHz operation. This project, under new Task Group 802.11ah, does not include TV white space frequencies; that’s being handled under Task Group 802.11af.

The most important thing this amendment will do is establish standard RF channel widths and center frequencies. Because 802.11 is an international standard, non-US allocation schemes will be considered as well.

IEEE 802.11 Wireless Milestones:

• September 1990 – IEEE 802.11 project initiated with the concept of creating a WLAN standard for shared local communications interworking with the successful wired IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) product
• 1997 – Standard released, supported 2 Mb/s data rates in the 2.4 GHz band
• 1999 – Improvements were added for increased data rates in the 2.4 GHz band and availability in the 5 GHz band
• 1999-2009 -The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN blossomed in the home market. Also, users started to apply the devices to build community networks where incumbent telecommunications providers did not offer service
• 2009 – The IEEE 802.11n amendment provided another ten-fold increase in data rate (now peaking at 600 Mb/s) and added other radio range extension enhancements such as beamsteering
• 2010 and Beyond – The IEEE 802.11 Working Group celebrates 20 years of achievements
• IEEE 802.11 is working to increase data rates another ten-fold, to 5 Gb/s
• IEEE 802.11ac task group will extend IEEE 802.11n-like capabilities in the 5 GHz spectrum
• IEEE 802.11ad task group will develop an extension for operation at 60 GHz
• Other projects underway will provide dynamic management of the air interface, adaptations for vehicular use, mesh operation, interworking with cellular systems, and peer-to-peer link establishment

• INOVA Geophysical Equipment Limited filed an application (with supporting exhibits) to test a proprietary mobile radio system in the 30-36 MHz and 150-174 MHz bands. The radio links would be used to control remote geophysical seismic recording equipment, which INOVA manufactures. At the end of testing, INOVA plans to put the radio equipment into production and lease it to customers.

• Fortress Technologies filed an application for experimental license to test several of its secure mesh-networking products developed for military applications. Several exhibits are included but they are not publicly available due to a confidentiality request. Operation is to be on 4.9425-4.9875 GHz.

• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey filed an application for special temporary authority to operate on 5250-5500 MHz while testing to find the best location for an Elta 2127 ground surveillance and movement detection radar at JFK Airport. Three similar applications were filed for testing at La Guardia, Newark, and Teterboro Airports.

• General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to operate on 1760-1850 MHz and 2200-2300 MHz to conduct testing based on Department of Defense requirements for fully-digital data links for small unmanned aircraft systems to allow for higher concentrations of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in the same battle space. A new data link is to be tested. The new data link is compatible with ground based Remote Video Terminals (ROVERs) allowing for real-time reception of video imagery by ground troops.

• Fujitsu Ten Limited filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 76-77 GHz. The exhibits are not available for viewing, presumably because of a confidentiality request. From other information, this appears to be a test of radar for safe-driving assistance systems. This application was granted on August 27.

• Sikorsky Aircraft filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 30-400 MHz. This is to test Rockwell-Collins AN/ARC-210 radios on military helicopters being sold to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the applicant, the “Rockwell-Collins AN/ARC-210 radios will have several unique frequency hopping waveforms which are proprietary to Rockwell-Collins. These waveforms are called TALON and Quicklook waveforms, respectively. The AN/ARC-210 TALON/Quicklook radios will be used aboard the [helicopters] to communicate with UAE ground forces. The Quicklook frequency hopping waveform is used in the 30-90 MHz band. The TALON frequency hopping waveform is used in the 90 to 400 MHz bands.”

• Abbott Diabetes Care filed two applications to test equipment at 433 MHz. The company has requested confidential processing of its application, and few other details are publicly available from the FCC. This may be related to Abbott’s wireless glucose monitoring products. The company announced in April 2010 that it had supply problems with a wireless product.

• WCA Holdings III, LLC filed an application (with associated exhibits) for special temporary authority to operate on 14.00-14.47 GHz for on-ground and flight testing of a single aircraft earth station antenna. This is to assist with Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certification testing, as well as further testing and demonstration of the functionality of the antenna with the eXConnect Ku-band Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite Service (AMSS) system. WCA has partnered with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, proponent of the eXConnect System.

The eXConnect System is Panasonic’s. It is designed for in-flight passenger internet access and other communication services. It can be looked at as a replacement for the now-defunct Boeing Connexion system. Lufthansa, for one, plans to use eXConnect on the majority of its 70 aircraft already fitted with Connexion hardware.

This application was received on August 6. On September 1, the application record was updated to note that WCA’s operating partner, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, is in the process of developing a detailed coordination agreement with NASA to protect existing and future Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) operations from potential interference from Ku-band AES operations. The application was granted on September 7.

• Pro Xplor Services filed an application but few details are available due to a request for confidential processing, which FCC staff has asked the company to justify. It also requested a nationwide license, and FCC staff has suggested that a smaller operating area would suffice.

On July 7 of this year, the FCC denied the company’s request for waiver of the technical rules in Section 90.259 of the Commission’s Rules in order to permit certain proposed secondary telemetry operations.  At the time, it had sought authorization to operate in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas on 217/219 MHz frequencies with up to fifteen watts output power on 600-kilohertz and 800-kilohertz channels.

• INSITU filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for special temporary authority to test the SeaLancet IP network radio in a flight test on 2367 MHz.

• Boeing filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to test an Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system installed on a modified Boeing 767. Operation is to be on 800 MHz, 5.4 GHz, and 9.4 GHz. “The test involves personnel walking around the aircraft with a signal generator and horn antenna directed at the aircraft to stimulate ESM sensors mounted on the aircraft skin.” This application was granted on August 27.

• Sensus Spectrum filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for special temporary authority to test Smart Grid devices on 410-430 MHz. Sensus manufacturers similar products on 900 MHz for the US market. The requested frequencies are for testing of devices intended for Europe and the Middle East.

• Lockheed Martin filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate on 9.595-9.750 GHz and 10.15-10.43 GHz to operate a ground station used to exchange data with an airborne system. The equipment is said to be an improved version of a system previously delivered to a customer under the US Government Foreign Military Sales for the Peace Krypton program. According to the Federation of American Scientists, the “mission of the Peace Krypton system program (known internally to Lockheed Martin Corporation as the Eagle program) is to collect reconnaissance imagery of selected areas during long range missions using an airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery intelligence collection system.”

• Bowling Green State University filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to use a Furuno FR-1525Mk3 marine radar to track bird and bat activity in areas of existing and planned wind turbine development as well as comparative control sites. Operation will be on 9.3-9.5 GHz.

• SET Corporation, founded by former DARPA scientists and now a subsidiary of SAIC, filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate in and around Denver, Colorado on 35.75 GHz. Details of the proposed test are confidential.

• Raytheon Missile Systems filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to test advanced antennas operating in the 80-200 MHz range. The testing will be used to determine three-dimensional far-field radiation patterns of the antennas.