[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 47, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 47CFR101.3]



[Page 607-612]

 

                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

 

        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

 

PART 101_FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES--Table of Contents

 

                            Subpart A_General

 

Sec.  101.3  Definitions.



    As used in this part:

    24 GHz Service. A fixed point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and 

multipoint-to-multipoint radio system in the 24.25-24.45 GHz band and in 

the 25.05-25.25 GHz band consisting of a fixed main (nodal) station and 

a number of fixed user terminals. This service may encompass any digital 

fixed service.

    Antenna power gain. The ratio of the maximum radiation intensity to 

that of an isotropic (omnidirectional) radiator in the far field of its 

main (forward direction) lobe.

    Antenna power input. The radio frequency peak or RMS power, as the 

case may be, supplied to the antenna from the antenna transmission line 

and its associated impedance matching network.

    Antenna structure. The antenna, its supporting structure and 

anything attached to it.

    Assigned frequency. The center of the frequency band assigned to a 

station.

    Assigned frequency bandwidth. The frequency band within which the 

emission of a station is authorized; the width of the band equals the 

necessary bandwidth plus twice the absolute value of the frequency 

tolerance.

    Authorized bandwidth. The maximum bandwidth authorized to be used by 

a station as specified in the station license. (See Sec.  2.202 of this 

chapter)

    Authorized frequency. The frequency, or frequency range, assigned to 

a station by the Commission and specified in the instrument of 

authorization.

    Authorized power. The maximum power a station is permitted to use. 

This power is specified by the Commission in the station's 

authorization.

    Automatic Transmitter Power Control (ATPC). ATPC is a feature of a 

digital microwave radio system that adjusts the transmitter output 

power. ATPC allows the transmitter to operate at less than maximum power 

for most of the time. In a radio employing ATPC, the transmit power is 

reduced during normal operation conditions. When the receiver detects a 

reduction in signal level, a control signal is sent to the far end 

transmitter, instructing it to increase the power output to compensate 

for the signal reduction. The power



[[Page 608]]



output is limited to the licensed (maximum) transmit power. Guidelines 

for use of ATPC are set forth in the TIA Telecommunications Systems 

Bulletin TSB 10, ``Interference Criteria for Microwave Systems (TSB 

10).''

    Bandwidth occupied by an emission. The band of frequencies 

comprising 99 percent of the total radiated power extended to include 

any discrete frequency on which the power is at least 0.25 percent of 

the total radiated power.

    Bit rate. The rate of transmission of information in binary (two 

state) form in bits per unit time.

    Carrier. In a frequency stabilized system, the sinusoidal component 

of a modulated wave whose frequency is independent of the modulating 

wave; or the output of a transmitter when the modulating wave is made 

zero; or a wave generated at a point in the transmitting system and 

subsequently modulated by the signal; or a wave generated locally at the 

receiving terminal which when combined with the side bands in a suitable 

detector, produces the modulating wave.

    Carrier frequency. The output of a transmitter when the modulating 

wave is made zero.

    Central office. A landline termination center used for switching and 

interconnection of public message communication circuits.

    Common carrier fixed point-to-point microwave service. A common 

carrier public radio service rendered on microwave frequencies by fixed 

and temporary fixed stations between points that lie within the United 

States or between points to its possessions or to points in Canada or 

Mexico.

    Communication common carrier. Any person engaged in rendering 

communication service for hire to the public.

    Control point. An operating position at which an operator 

responsible for the operation of the transmitter is stationed and which 

is under the control and supervision of the licensee.

    Control station. A fixed station, the transmissions of which are 

used to control automatically the emissions or operations of a radio 

station, or a remote base station transmitter.

    Coordination area. The area associated with a station outside of 

which another station sharing the same or adjacent frequency band 

neither causes nor is subject to interfering emissions greater than a 

permissible level.

    Coordination contour. The line enclosing the coordination area.

    Coordination distance. The distance on a given azimuth from a 

station beyond which another station neither causes nor is subject to 

interfering emissions greater than a permissible level.

    Digital Electronic Message Nodal Station. A fixed point-to-

multipoint radio station in a Digital Electronic Message Service 

providing two-way communication with Digital Electronic Message User 

Stations.

    Digital Electronic Message Service. A two-way end-to-end fixed radio 

service utilizing digital termination systems for the exchange of 

digital information in the frequency bands 10,550-10,680 MHz, 18,820-

18,920 MHz, and 19,160-19,260 MHz. This service may also make use of 

point-to-point microwave facilities, satellite facilities or other 

communications media to interconnect digital termination systems to 

comprise a network.

    Digital Electronic Message User Station. Any one of the fixed 

microwave radio stations located at users' premises, lying within the 

coverage area of a Digital Electronic Message Nodal Station, and 

providing two-way digital communications with the Digital Electronic 

Message Nodal Station.

    Digital modulation. The process by which some characteristic 

(frequency, phase, amplitude or combinations thereof) of a carrier 

frequency is varied in accordance with a digital signal, e.g., one 

consisting of coded pulses or states.

    Drop point. A term used in the point-to-point microwave radio 

service to designate a terminal point where service is rendered to a 

subscriber.

    Earth station. A station located either on the Earth's surface or 

within the major portion of Earth's atmosphere and intended for 

communication:

    (1) With one or more space stations; or

    (2) With one or more stations of the same kind by means of one or 

more reflecting satellites or other objects in space.



[[Page 609]]



    Effective Radiated Power (ERP). The product of the power supplied to 

the antenna and its gain relative to a half-wave dipole in a given 

direction.

    Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP). The product of the 

power supplied to the antenna and the antenna gain in a given direction 

relative to an isotropic antenna.

    Exchange. A unit of a communication company or companies for the 

administration of communication service in a specified area, which 

usually embraces a city, town, or village and its environs, and 

consisting of one or more central offices, together with the associated 

plant, used in furnishing communication service in that area.

    Exchange area. The geographic area included within the boundaries of 

an exchange.

    Fixed satellite earth station. An earth station intended to be used 

at a specified fixed point.

    Fixed relay station. A fixed station associated with one or more 

stations, established to receive radio signals directed to it and to 

retransmit them automatically on a fixed service frequency.

    Fixed service. A radio communications service between specified 

fixed points.

    Fixed station. A station in the fixed service.

    Frequency tolerance. The maximum permissible departure by the center 

frequency of the frequency band occupied by an emission from the 

assigned frequency or, by the characteristic frequency of an emission 

from the reference frequency.



    Note: The frequency tolerance is expressed as a percentage or in 

Hertzs.



    General communication. Two-way voice communication, through a base 

station, between:

    (1) A common carrier land mobile or airborne station and a landline 

telephone station connected to a public message landline telephone 

system;

    (2) Two common carrier land mobile stations;

    (3) Two common carrier airborne stations;

    (4) A common carrier land mobile station and a common carrier 

airborne station.

    Harmful interference. Interference that endangers the functioning of 

a radionavigation service or of other safety services or seriously 

degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication 

service operating in accordance with these regulations.

    Internodal link. A point-to-point communications link used to 

provide communications between nodal stations or to interconnect nodal 

stations to other communications media.

    Landing area. A landing area means any locality, either of land or 

water, including airports and intermediate landing fields, which is 

used, or approved for use for the landing and take-off of aircraft, 

whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, servicing, or 

repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo.

    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Backbone Link. A point-to-

point radio service link in a Local Multipoint Distribution Service 

System that is used to interconnect Local Multipoint Distribution 

Service Hub Stations with each other or with the public switched 

telephone network.

    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Hub Station. A fixed point-to-

point or point-to-multipoint radio station in a Local Multipoint 

Distribution Service System that provides one-way or two-way 

communication with Local Multipoint Distribution Service Subscriber 

Stations.

    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Subscriber Station. Any one of 

the fixed microwave radio stations located at users' premises, lying 

within the coverage area of a Local Multipoint Distribution Service Hub 

Station, capable of receiving one-way communications from or providing 

two-way communications with the Local Multipoint Distribution Service 

Hub Station.

    Local Multipoint Distribution Service System. A fixed point-to-point 

or point-to-multipoint radio system consisting of Local Multipoint 

Distribution Service Hub Stations and their associated Local Multipoint 

Distribution Service Subscriber Stations.

    Local television transmission service. A public radio communication 

service for the transmission of television material and related 

communications.



[[Page 610]]



    Long haul system. A microwave system licensed under this part in 

which the longest radio circuit of tandem radio paths exceeds 402 

kilometers.

    Master station. A station in a multiple address radio system that 

controls, activates or interrogates four or more remote stations. Master 

stations performing such functions may also receive transmissions from 

remote stations.

    Message center. The point at which messages from members of the 

public are accepted by the carrier for transmission to the addressee.

    Microwave frequencies. As used in this part, this term refers to 

frequencies of 890 MHz and above.

    Microwave link. A link is defined as a simplex communications 

circuit between two points utilizing a single frequency/polarization 

assignment. A duplex communications circuit would require two links, one 

link in each direction.

    Miscellaneous common carriers. Communications common carriers that 

are not engaged in the business of providing either a public landline 

message telephone service or public message telegraph service.

    Mobile earth station. An earth station intended to be used while in 

motion or during halts at unspecified points.

    Mobile service. A radio communication service between mobile and 

land stations or between mobile stations.

    Mobile station. A station in the mobile service intended to be used 

while in motion or during halts at unspecified points.

    Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS). A fixed 

microwave service licensed in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band that provides 

various wireless services. Mobile and aeronautical operations are 

prohibited.

    Multiple address system (MAS). A point-to-multipoint or point-to-

point radio communications system used for either one-way or two-way 

transmissions that operates in the 928/952/956 MHz, the 928/959 MHz or 

the 932/941 MHz bands in accordance with Sec.  101.147.

    National Spatial Reference System. The National Spatial Reference 

System (NSRS) is the name given to all Geodetic Control information 

contained in the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Data Base. This 

includes: A, B, First, Second, and Third Order horizontal and vertical 

control observed by NGS as well as data submitted by other agencies 

(i.e., USGS, BLM, States, Counties, Cities, and private surveying 

organizations).

    Necessary bandwidth. For a given class of emission, the width of the 

frequency band that is just sufficient to ensure the transmission of 

information at the rate and with the quality required under specified 

conditions. The necessary bandwidth may be calculated using the formulas 

in Sec.  2.202 of this chapter.

    Nodal station. The central or controlling stations in a microwave 

radio system operating on point-to-multipoint or multipoint-to-

multipoint frequencies with one or more user stations or internodal 

links.

    Occupied bandwidth. The width of a frequency bandwidth such that, 

below the lower and above the upper frequency limits, the mean powers 

emitted are each equal to a specified percentage, B/2 of the total mean 

power of a given emission. Unless otherwise specified by the CCIR for 

the appropriate class of emission, the value of B/2 should be taken as 

0.5%.



    Note: The percentage of the total power outside the occupied 

bandwidth is represented by B.



    Operational fixed station. A private fixed station not open to 

public correspondence.

    Passive repeater. A re-radiation device associated with a 

transmitting/receiving antenna system that re-directs intercepted 

radiofrequency energy. For example, it may consist of reflector(s) or 

back-to-back parabolic or horn antennas.

    Path length. The total distance of a path from the transmit to the 

receive antenna, inclusive of all passive repeaters, if any.

    Periscope antenna system. An antenna system which involves the use 

of a passive reflector to deflect radiation from or to a directional 

transmitting or receiving antenna which is oriented vertically or near 

vertically.

    Prior coordination. A bilateral process conducted prior to filing 

applications which includes the distribution of the technical parameters 

of a proposed



[[Page 611]]



radio system to potentially affected parties for their evaluation and 

timely response.

    Private carrier. An entity licensed in the private service and 

authorized to provide communications service to other private service 

eligibles on a commercial basis.

    Private line service. A service whereby facilities for communication 

between two or more designated points are set aside for the exclusive 

use or availability for use of a particular customer and authorized 

users during stated periods of time.

    Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave service. A 

private radio service rendered by fixed and temporary fixed stations on 

microwave frequencies for the exclusive use or availability for use of 

the licensee or other eligible entities for communication between two or 

more designated points. Service may be provided between points within 

the United States, points within United States possessions, or between 

the United States and points in Canada or Mexico.

    Public correspondence. Any telecommunication which the offices and 

stations must, by reason of their being at the disposal of the public, 

accept for transmission.

    Public message service. A service whereby facilities are offered to 

the public for communication between all points served by a carrier or 

by interconnected carriers on a non-exclusive message by message basis, 

contemplating a separate connection for each occasion of use.

    Radio station. A separate transmitter or a group of transmitters 

under simultaneous common control, including the accessory equipment 

required for carrying on a radiocommunication service.

    Radiocommunication. Telecommunication by means of radio waves.

    Rated power output. The maximum radio frequency power output 

capability (peak or average power) of a transmitter, under optimum 

conditions of adjustment and operation, specified by its manufacturer.

    Record communication. Any transmission of intelligence which is 

reduced to visual record form at the point of reception.

    Reference frequency. A frequency having a fixed and specified 

position with respect to the assigned frequency. The displacement of 

this frequency with respect to the assigned frequency has the same 

absolute value and sign that the displacement of the characteristic 

frequency has with respect to the centre of the frequency band occupied 

by the emission.

    Relay station. A fixed station used for the reception and 

retransmission of the signals of another station or stations.

    Remote station. A fixed station in a multiple address radio system 

that transmits one-way to one or more central receive sites, controls a 

master station, or is controlled, activated or interrogated by, and may 

respond to, a master station.

    Repeater station. A fixed station established for the automatic 

retransmission of radiocommunications received from one or more mobile 

stations and directed to a specified location; for public mobile radio 

operations, a fixed station that automatically retransmits the mobile 

communications and/or transmitter information about the base station, 

along a fixed point-to-point link between the base station and the 

central station.

    Secondary operations. Radio communications which may not cause 

interference to operations authorized on a primary basis and which are 

not protected from interference from these primary operations.

    Short haul system. A microwave system licensed under this part in 

which the longest radio circuit of tandem radio paths does not exceed 

402 kilometers.

    Signal booster. A device at a fixed location which automatically 

receives, amplifies, and retransmits on a one-way or two-way basis, the 

signals received from base, fixed, mobile, and portable stations, with 

no change in frequency or authorized bandwidth. A signal booster may be 

either narrowband (Class A), in which case the booster amplifies only 

those discrete frequencies intended to be retransmitted, or broadband 

(Class B), in which case all signals within the passband of the signal 

booster filter are amplified.



[[Page 612]]



    Signaling communication. One-way communications from a base station 

to a mobile or fixed receiver, or to multi-point mobile or fixed 

receivers by audible or subaudible means, for the purpose of actuating a 

signaling device in the receiver(s) or communicating information to the 

receiver(s), whether or not the information is to be retained in record 

form.

    Standby transmitter. A transmitter installed and maintained for use 

in lieu of the main transmitter only during periods when the main 

transmitter is out of service for maintenance or repair.

    Symbol rate. Modulation rate in bauds. This rate may be higher than 

the transmitted bit rate as in the case of coded pulses or lower as in 

the case of multilevel transmission.

    Telegraphy. A form of telecommunication which is concerned in any 

process providing transmission and reproduction at a distance of 

documentary matter, such as written or printed matter or fixed images, 

or the reproduction at a distance of any kind of information in such a 

form. Unless otherwise specified, telegraphy means a form of 

telecommunication for the transmission of written matter by the use of 

signal code.

    Telemetering. The use of telecommunication for automatic indicating 

or recording measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.

    Telephony. A form of telecommunication set up for the transmission 

of speech, or in some cases, other sounds.

    Television. A form of telecommunication for transmission of 

transient images of fixed or moving objects.

    Temporary fixed station. A station established in a non-permanent 

mode (temporary) at a specified location for a short period of time, 

ranging up to one year. Temporary-fixed operations are itinerant in 

nature, and are not to be confused with mobile-type operations.

    Universal Licensing System (ULS). The consolidated database, 

application filing system and processing system for all Wireless 

Telecommunications Services. The ULS offers Wireless Telecommunications 

Bureau (WTB) applicants and the general public electronic filing of all 

applications requests, and full public access to all WTB licensing data.

    User or subscriber station. The station(s) in a microwave radio 

system operating at the users' premises on point-to-multipoint or 

multipoint-to-multipoint frequencies and communicating with one or more 

nodal stations.

    Video entertainment material. The transmission of a video signal 

(e.g. United States Standard Monochrome or National Television Systems 

Committee 525-line television) and an associated audio signal which is 

designed primarily to amuse or entertain, such as movies and games.



[61 FR 26677, May 28, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 29693, June 12, 1996; 61 

FR 31052, June 19, 1996; 61 FR 44181, Aug. 28, 1996; 62 FR 23163, Apr. 

29, 1997; 63 FR 68981, Dec. 14, 1998; 65 FR 17448, Apr. 3, 2000; 65 FR 

38326, June 20, 2000; 65 FR 59357, Oct. 5, 2000; 67 FR 43037, June 26, 

2002; 68 FR 4955, Jan. 31, 2003]