1. Presentation to ICTS: Domestic and International Issues for AMT
San Diego, CA.
October 22, 2014
Ken Keane Duane Morris LLP 505 9th Street, NW Washington, DC

2. MBANs
Order on Reconsideration resolved AFTRCC’s principal concern; namely, the Commission’s failure to limit the universe of entities eligible to access the MHz band to hospitals and other institutions offering beds for at least 24 hour care.
Order narrows the definition as AFTRCC sought and, thus, AFTRCC and AMT users need not be concerned with a flood of coordination requests from no-appointment/walk-in health clinics

3. MBANs (cont.)
Registration to be required for all MBANs systems capable of operating in MHz, even if not intended for such operation initially
Order provides clarification that notification to AFTRCC is required and its concurrence necessary, in the case of changes to an authorized MBANs location or operation beyond line-of-sight, before the MBANs systems may be operated with the changed parameters

4. MBANs (cont.)
With respect to equipment authorization procedures, the Order agreed with AFTRCC that it is important to disseminate attestation and certification requirements for MBANs equipment authorizations. Current resources, such as OET’s Knowledge Database, referenced to publicize MBANs authorization procedures
Other technical issues also addressed, such as permitting one body-worn device to communicate with another body-worn device, and one P/C to communicate with another P/C -- but without communication of control message

5. MBANs (cont.) In the Second Report and Order, determined:
there should be one MBANs coordinator with an initial ten-year term
selection of coordinator delegated to the Wireless Bureau
coordinator must offer service on a non-discriminatory, not-for-profit basis at reasonable charges
MBANs coordinator may delegate its duties and include charges for, a third-party technical consultant (like Comsearch).

6. MBANs (cont.)
The Commission expects selected MBANs coordinator and AFTRCC to reach agreement within six months of selection of the MBANs coordinator, and the MBANs coordinator to so notify the Commission. In the event the notification is not made, “we direct the Bureau to take all necessary action to promote such an agreement.” (id. at para. 81).
ASHE reservation about costs of developing database

7. AT&T/WCS
Two issues working at present: 1) finalization of terrestrial (LTE) coordination agreement; and 2) finalization of air-ground coordination agreement.
Terrestrial agreement
AFTRCC and AT&T finalizing negotiations for coordination methodology -- WCS vis-a-vis AMT at 2360 MHz

8. AT&T/WCS (cont.) Air-Ground Proposal
AT&T plans use of the band MHz for uplink transmission from ground to aircraft (the D Block), and use of MHz for downlink transmission from aircraft to ground (the C Block)
AFTRCC position is that coordination will be required to avoid harmful interference to AMT facilities

9. AT&T/WCS (cont.) Air-Ground Proposal (cont.)
Based on preliminarily analysis, protection will be required for any AMT ground station to be located within 10 kilometers of an eNodeB
Protection of AMT ground stations from downlink transmissions could require a zone having a maximum vertical distance of 5600 feet, and a maximum horizontal distance of 12.6 km

10. C-Band Implementation
FCC Report and Order implementing MHz allocation currently under review. Item may contain further notice posing possibility of allocating and MHz for secondary AMT
AFTRCC has registered its willingness to coordinate new band
AFTRCC has also stressed need for reciprocal coordination as between AMT and FAA for FAA’s airport surface communication system (“AeroMACS”)

11. C-Band Implementation (cont.)
AFTRCC Comments supported addition of Boeing facility at North Charleston, as well as West Palm Beach and a few other locations, to the proposed list of 52 flight test areas
possible new Boeing facility
Proposals regarding 4/6 GHz not completely settled
FCC apparently concerned about interference to microwave incumbents

12. Wireless Mics Wireless mic allocation proposed for L-band
Proposed conditions include:
any wireless mic allocation would be secondary to AMT
operation of mics be on a licensed basis with eligibility restricted to professional users such as Broadway theater companies requiring large quantities of mics (e.g. 100 or more)
use subject to prior coordination with AFTRCC for aerospace industry and AFCs 

13. Wireless Mics (cont.)
With respect to technological means of enforcement such as electronic key and a location-awareness capability to tie operation of the mic to location coordinated by AFTRCC, Commission has endorsed conditions, or some variation thereof. 
Other issues also raised, such as whether there should be an interim process for permitting wireless microphone operations in the band as any new devices are being made
FCC says it intends to complete proceeding in time for incentive auction next year

14. AWS-3 65 MHz on the auction block:
MHz, MHz, and MHz bands ("AWS-3" bands)
DOD and wireless industry negotiated adjustments in protection zones for AMT operations during several year transition period based on terrain blockage
Adjusted zones form part of basis for AWS-3 auction
Auction starts November 13

15. International
Joint Task Group held its last meeting in Geneva in July, and produced CPM draft on agenda items 1 and 2.
U.S. study on the lack of compatibility between and AMT and IMT included in Draft New Report (“DNR”) along with other, more optimistic studies.
DNR up for final approval in three weeks at Study Group 5 meeting.
MHz likely will be identified/allocated for IMT at the Conference

16. International (cont.)
Mike Ryan has covered recent CITEL meeting in his Region 2 report
Timeline
CITEL meeting in February and again in August for development of Inter-American Proposals
CPM meeting in March 2015 to finalize Report to the WRC
WRC in November 2015
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