# Presentation: 570140

## Office of Engineering and Technology2006 ANNUAL REPORT

- January 17, 2007

**Notes:**
Good morning Mr. Chairman and Commissioners.

On behalf of the outstanding staff in the Office of Engineering and Technology, I am pleased to present this report on some of the highlights of OET’s accomplishments over the past year.

## OET’s Mission

**   ****Manage the spectrum and provide technical leadership to create new opportunities for  innovation and economic growth. **

**Notes:**
OET’s core mission is to manage the radio spectrum and provide technical leadership to create new opportunities for  innovation and economic growth. 

## Broadband 

- Internet
- Access

- Affirmed rules for
- Broadband Over Power Lines

- Determined that airport Wi-Fi
- devices are subject to the over-the-air
- reception device (OTARD) rules

- Continued to support
- broadband deployment
- by WISPs

**Notes:**
OET has been instrumental in a number of areas in advancing the Commission’s objective to promote the deployment of broadband services.

The Commission adopted an Order declaring that unlicensed Wi-Fi devices deployed in the Continental Airlines lounge at Boston’s Logan airport are subject to the protections afforded under the provisions for Over the Air Reception Devices.  The Commission found that OTARD applies to the antennas of unlicensed devices operating under Part 15 of our rules to the same extent as to the antennas of licensed services.  

The Commission also affirmed its rules for broadband over power line systems to provide regulatory certainty and stimulate investment in this new technology.

OET has also continued its outreach to Wireless Internet Service Providers to facilitate the deployment of broadband services, by helping them understand the Commission’s rules and address any technical questions that arise.

## Competition

**New Wireless Services**
**Advanced Wireless Service**
**Technical support for various****Commission proceedings**** **
**Hearing Aid Compatibility**
**Oversight of standards development**
**Ensure product compliance**** **
**Equipment Authorization**
**Speed of Service**
**Telecommunications Certification Bodies**
**Mutual Recognition Agreements**

**Notes:**
OET has also helped the Commission to facilitate competition through the introduction of new services and technologies.

We have prepared a number of policy and rule making actions to address spectrum allocation and relocation issues to pave the way for advanced wireless services, including the 90 megahertz of spectrum the Commission recently auctioned in the 2 GHz region. 

We have worked closely with the hearing impaired and wireless community to improve hearing aid compatibility standards and to ensure wireless devices comply with the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility rules.

Competitive markets and services rely on the rapid availability of new and innovative products.  I am proud to say that our equipment authorization program stands out as a shining example to the world.  We work closely with telecommunications certification bodies that often are able to certify products as complying with the Commission’s rules within a day or two.  And we have continued to implement and expand mutual recognition agreements to facilitate access and speed to markets around the world.

## Spectrum

- Presidential Spectrum
- Initiative

- Unlicensed Devices

- Medical Devices

- TV White Spaces

- TV

- TV

- For Other
- Devices

**Notes:**
Spectrum has always been one of OET’s core competencies.

The Commission adopted a First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making to provide for wireless devices to operate in unused TV broadcast spectrum, referred to as the TV White Spaces.  We have laid out a vigorous testing program to support this effort as the Commission considers in the future adoption of final rules.

The Commission also proposed new rules for implantable medical devices and asked for comment on new types of medical devices that may require access to the spectrum in the future.

Our rules for unlicensed devices continue to be a resounding success and isan  explosive area of growth for new technologies and products.  Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have become household names and new, but not so well known standards are emerging from ZigBee, Z-wave, Homeplug, Wi-Media and others for a wide variety of applications such as home and business automation and controls.

We are also working closely with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on the Presidential Spectrum Initiative. 

## Media

- DTV Table of Channel Allotments
- Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reporting Act
- DTV Receiver Testing

- FCC Digital Television Lab

**Notes:**
OET is also supporting the Commission’s Media objectives.

OET and Media Bureau staff together developed the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making proposing the final Table of Digital TV allotments.

We prepared a Notice of Proposed Rule Making to develop measurement standards for digital television signals pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004.

We have continued our program to test digital television receivers at our Laboratory in Columbia, Maryland so that we have a full and complete understanding of their ability to receive or reject harmful interference.  

## Homeland Security

- Waiver for Safeview System

- Remington Eyeball

- OET provides technical support on a wide variety of homeland security
- matters including public safety spectrum and interoperability, CALEA, E-911 location technology and emergency alert services.

**Notes:**
Although OET’s responsibilities in the area of Homeland Security have been transferred to the new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, certain of the work remaining in OET has Homeland Security applications.

For example, OET granted a waiver of certain of the unlicensed device rules to Safeview to enable deployment of a new airport screening system.

A bit over a year ago the Commission granted a waiver of the unlicensed device rules to Remington for a remote camera that can be used in public safety situations and we are working on a pending waiver request from Chang Industries for a similar device. 

We have continued to provide technical support for a variety of homeland security and public safety issues.

## Modernize the FCC

- OET Frequency Assignment and Coordination System
- Excellence in Engineering and Engineer in Training Programs
- Modernize Equipment at the FCC Lab

**Notes:**
OET is modernizing the frequency coordination process between federal and non-federal users of the spectrum.  Today, the NTIA and FCC automated frequency assignment and coordination systems have to communicate the old-fashioned way - - by people passing information back and forth by paper.  The new OET frequency assignment and coordination system will enable the computers to exchange and process the information directly and automatically, greatly speeding access to shared spectrum.

We are continuing to ensure that the Commission’s engineering expertise is second to none through our Excellence in Engineering and Engineer in Training Programs.

And we have continued to purchase equipment for our Lab consistent with the capabilities our agency requirements.