1. Coordination and Licensing in the Point-to- Point Microwave Bands Presented by Jeremy Boyce Micronet Communications, Inc. Connectronics Partner Experience 2015

2. Coordination Background  FCC established prior coordination process in 1971 to handle non-mutually exclusive (non-interfering) frequency use  Only a handful of established (licensed band) frequency coordinators  Micronet has been coordinating since the early 1980’s

3. Coordination Background (Cont.)  Proper coordination leads to the ability to license and protect those desired channels for as long as the licensee is willing to maintain the license  “First-in” grants priority over later coordinated paths  In contrast to unlicensed bands, licensed bands offer protection of coordinated (and licensed) frequencies  Protection is licensee’s responsibility (more later!)

4. Coordination Outline  Frequency coordination is the process whereby operation in licensed bands at proposed frequencies is negotiated with surrounding licensees who are already operating (or at least prior coordinated) in the same frequency band  Study proposed paths against current coordinated paths as well as licensed paths  ULS provides complete license picture only  Notification of proposed path to other licensees called Prior Coordination Notice (PCN)

5. Coordination Outline (Cont.)  Coordinators send proposed path data to licensees in the same band within a large, variable radius  Licensee must receive and respond within 30 days confirming no expected interference – or provide an objection  Licensees can opt to have coordinator respond all PCN’s on their behalf (Frequency Protection)  This removes the burden of tracking and analyzing all new PCNs that come out that may affect operation

6. Coordination Misconceptions  The coordination process includes the PCN notification and sometimes the two are used interchangeably  What coordination IS :  Request for comment on proposed paths/frequencies  Process by which 99.999% of interference concerns are addressed  Process outlined by the FCC (CFR 47 101.103)  What coordination PROVIDES :  Opportunity to submit applications to FCC for licensure  “First in” protection against later coordinations (6 months, renewable)  What coordination is NOT :  Authorization to transmit  Guaranteed acceptance  FCC review

7. Link Licensing Overview Link needed. Select sites, confirm Line of Sight (LOS) and design link configuration CoordinationFiling Customer Input to Coordination : link location and equipment configuration Pre-Coordination : Confirm LOS and perform link design – separate from actual coordination process.

8. First Things First…  Good pre-coordination checklist :  LOS – *** Google Earth kmz and path profile ***  Site viability  Coordinates confirmed  Location viable  Mounting location on structure  *** ASR needed? (45-60 day lead time minimum) ***  Structure type and height  *** Licensee information (for filing) ***  FRN and password  Signature information for filing  Correct address  Etc…

9. First Things First…  Equipment need not be ordered before starting coordination, but it is important to consider at least 2 factors :  Lead time for radios  Band limitations (sub-band availability etc…)  Frequency congestion? (may limit banding)

10. Basic Design Considerations  Reliability  Capacity  Cost  (Others)

11. Path Reliability  99.999%  Vigants-Barnett vs. ITU (and others)  Multiple methods each have different strengths  Adaptive Modulation minimum capacity reliability  Obstructions?  Google Earth okay for guideline  Field survey needed for definitive path study

12. Rain Affected Bands  Bands above 10 GHz can be affected by rain  Vertical polarity  Rain models used in the United States  Crane Rain Model  ITU Rain Model  Effects of rain increase with higher frequency band  Effects of rain increase with longer path length  Some bands may not be feasible for critical links

13. Capacity  Higher capacity bands are generally higher frequency bands. Microwave bands (900 MHz – 90 GHz)  Below 10 GHz largest FCC channels are 60MHz (approximately 400 MB/s at 2048QAM)  Increase throughput (bps) with  Digital Compression  Increase modulation/ACM  Multiple Channels  XPIC  MIMO  50% capacity within 30 months, per Part 101.141

14. Coordination Inputs  Once a proposed path is determined, it can be studied  Minimum deliverables to Coordinator at initial request :  Path endpoints (coordinates)  Frequency band  Radios and antennas desired  Antenna centerlines  This is minimum input ONLY to begin studying the path. Other data will be required at various stages of coordination and licensing.  This includes :  Site address  ASR (if any) and/or tower height  Licensee contact information

15. PCN Preparation/Input Basic Inputs: Endpoints Freq. Radios Antennas Centerlines Frequency Study Study output : Proposed path(s) with assigned frequencies

16. Coordination Process Frequency study based on customer design Assign frequencies CUSTOMER APPROVAL OF DATASHEET Coordinate proposed datasheet (PCN) Resolve any objections to PCN Ready to File with FCC Customer Input: Process cannot proceed until customer approves proposed datasheet. This may involve multiple (and possibly partial) iterations of these first 3 steps. Revision required

17. Coordination (PCN) Process  30 day PCN period (14 days expedited)  All carriers and coordinators within a predefined radius of proposed path are notified.  Common objections  Direct Interference  Hi/Lo Conflict (“Bucking”), Near Zone  Conditional Authorization  In most cases, link can be turned up as soon as app submitted to FCC  Exceptions are “Quiet Zones”, areas less than 35 miles from an international border, any applications requiring a waiver, and most of 23GHz band

18. Major Modifications to Licenses  Any change made to an existing license that introduces additional potential or direct interference is considered a major modification and must be re-coordinated.  Examples:  Any change in transmit antenna location greater than 5 seconds  Any change in emission type  Increase in EIRP greater than 3 dB (antenna change could cause this)  Change in transmit antenna height AMSL greater than 3 meters  Any increase in transmit antenna beamwidth  Any change in transmit antenna polarity  Any change in transmit antenna azimuth greater than one degree  Any change that may result in causing additional interference from previous frequency coordinations.

19. Minor Modifications to License or PCN  Any change made to an existing license/coordination that does not directly impact or cause potential interference.  Examples:  Equipment model change  Licensee name change  Lowering output power, antenna centerline  “Information Only” PCN must be sent to coordinators to maintain accurate database.  Amendment to FCC application/license can be made the same day for minor mods.

20. Filing Process Submit 601 forms to FCC for licensure If conditional authorization applies, link can be turned up at any time after filings submitted If conditional authorization does NOT apply, must wait until license grant to turn up License Granted File Buildout Notification (Schedule K) once up and running (no sooner than grant date)

21. FCC Licensing & Considerations  10 Year FCC License  Current License Fee - $200 (just changed)  Current Application Fee - $290  *** 601K Buildout Notification ***  Must be completed no later than 18 months after license grant  Extension can be filed, not guaranteed.  If not completed, license will enter “Termination Pending” status with the FCC.  *** License Renewal doesn’t require coordination ***

22. Frequency Protection  NOT DONE YET….!  After license grant :  File buildout notification (Schedule K) within 18 mos.  Keep track of and respond to other coordinations within coordination distance  You are responsible for protecting your own licenses against newer coordinations (response time and volume)  2014 Coordinations (each coordination may have multiple paths) :  AZ – 600+, PA – 2500+, IL – 2500+, SoCal – 1250+  Even Montana – 225+  No response is considered acceptance  Micronet protects frequencies and responds as protection agent with monthly reports  Separate service from coordination and licensing

23. PCN, Application and License Tracking  In order to aid management of coordination and licensing for our frequency protection clients, Micronet tracks all :  Current PCNs  Current FCC applications  Current licenses  Micronet tool allows licensee to keep track of all these themselves  Notifies the licensee if there are any impending buildout deadlines or licenses about to expire (email + phone call)

24. “Recent” Regulatory Changes  Adaptive Modulation below minimum bit rate  Updated antenna standards  More conditional authorization spectrum (23 GHz)  7 GHz and 13 GHz spectrum available for Part 101 licensure  Wider channel bandwidths in 6 and 11 GHz  3.65 GHz update  70-80-90GHz “E-band”

25. Adaptive Modulation Below Minimum Bit Rate Frequency Emission bandwidth ≤5 MHz Emission bandwidth >5 MHz and ≤20 MHz Emission bandwidth >20 MHz 3,700-10,550 MHz2.4 bits/second/Hertz4.4 bits/second/Hertz4.4 bits/second/Hertz. 10,550-13,250 MHz2.4 bits/second/Hertz4.4 bits/second/Hertz3.0 bits/second/Hertz.  Adaptive Modulation below minimum bit rate allowable where lowest bit rate meeting minimum efficiency standards can operate on path with at least 99.95% reliability  18GHz and 23GHz efficiency minimum  1bps/Hz  Lower frequency bands have variable efficiency standards (see table below)

26. Note on Antenna Standards  FCC has 2 general categories of antenna - Category A and B  B sometimes divided into B1 and B2  Category A - higher performance standard  Category B - acceptable but loosened performance standard  Category B antennas are liable to being forced to upgrade to Category A if such an upgrade would allow another licensee to access spectrum otherwise totally blocked

27. Note on Antenna Standards (cont.)  B2 standards now allow for:  3’ in lower and upper 6 GHz  2’ in 11 GHz  1’ in 18 GHz  9” in 23 GHz  Not all antennas of these sizes meet the FCC requirements so the specific antenna will need to be verified before use

28. 23 GHz Band  Band shared with Federal Government  Conditional authorization is not allowed for shared frequencies  Unless using the 25% of channels designated “low power” channels, cannot radiate until FCC license grant  Additional 100 MHz of low power channels added for conditional authority; total is now 300 MHz  Low Power Channels  Maximum EIRP: 55 dBm  Output power not to exceed 20 dBm/.1W  Maximum beamwidth less than or equal to 4 degrees  Immediate FCC conditional authorization

29. 7 and 13 GHz Part 101  7 GHz (6875-7125 MHz)  Max 25 MHz Channels  13 GHz (12700-13200 MHz)  Max 50 MHz Channels  Bands shared with TV Temporary Fixed/Mobile (ENG) and fixed PTP applications (Part 74)  Exclusion zones in each band based on existing TV Mobile licenses

30. 7 GHz Exclusion Zones

31. 13 GHz Exclusion Zones

32. Larger Channel Bandwidths in 6 and 11GHz Bands  Wider channels are now available:  60 MHz in Lower 6 GHz  30 MHz in Upper 6 GHz (Waiver no longer required if following channel plan)  80 MHz in 11 GHz

33. 3.65 GHz “WiMax” Band  Being combined with the coming 3.5GHz Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band for a total of 150MHz of spectrum  Current registrations prior to April 17 th 2015 will be protected until at least April 17 th, 2020  All registrations after that date to be subject to new 3.5GHz rules as soon as fully implemented  These newer registrations must be able to communicate with SAS and be tunable to full 150MHz spectrum  SAS  Priority/General Access levels

34. 3.65 GHz “WiMax” Band

35. 70-80-90GHz E-Band  Nationwide callsign  No coordination  Registration with NTIA check  Registration usually completed within 24 hours of submittal of path  3 FCC-Authorized Database managers  Micronet  Comsearch  Frequency Finder

36. Auctioned Bands  BRS Formerly MMDS (2.1 & 2.5-2.7 GHz)  Shared with EBS (Educational Broadband Service)  24 GHz (24.25 – 25.25 GHz)  LMDS (27.5 – 28.5 GHz), (29.1-29.25 GHz), (31.0 – 31.3 GHz)  39 GHz (38.6 – 40.0 GHz) – owned largely by Straight Path  Spectrum can be leased from auction winners.  28 GHz and 39 GHz both Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint

37. Useful Links  “ULS Central” - http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home  FAA Obstruction Evaluation - https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp  Part 101 Antenna Standards - http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?SID=76ba7a63dab4a7d4200a5427ce9ebb26 &mc=true&node=se47.5.101_1115&rgn=div8 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?SID=76ba7a63dab4a7d4200a5427ce9ebb26 &mc=true&node=se47.5.101_1115&rgn=div8  Part 101 Capacity Requirements – http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?SID=76ba7a63dab4a7d4200a5427ce9ebb26 &mc=true&node=se47.5.101_1141&rgn=div8 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?SID=76ba7a63dab4a7d4200a5427ce9ebb26 &mc=true&node=se47.5.101_1141&rgn=div8

38. Micronet Contact  Jeremy Boyce – Senior Systems Engineer  972-422-7200 x 108  boyce@micronetcom.com boyce@micronetcom.com  Daniel Abate – Systems Engineer  972-422-7200 x 119  danielabate@micronetcom.com danielabate@micronetcom.com 720 F Avenue Suite 100 Plano, TX 75074 Fax: 972-422-1900