[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3367-3369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1854]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 15
[ET Docket 95-177; FCC 95-488]
Biomedical Telemetry Devices
AGENCY: Federal Communication Commission.
ACTION: Proposed Rule.
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SUMMARY: By this action, the Commission proposes to expand the
available frequencies and increase the permitted power for unlicensed
biomedical telemetry devices operating on VHF and UHF television
channels. This is in response to a petition for rule making, filed on
December 23, 1994, by the Critical Care Telemetry Group (CCTG). The
Commission seeks to provide reasonable access to additional spectrum to
meet the needs of CCTG and the health care industry while protecting
existing television and future advanced digital television services
from potential interference.
DATES: Comments are due on or before April 16, 1996. Reply comments are
due on or before May 16, 1996.
[[Page 3368]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Serafini, Office of
Engineering and Technology, (202) 418-2456.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rule Making adopted December 5, 1995, and released January
25, 1996. The full text is available for inspection and copying during
normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M
Street NW., Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the
Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription
Service, (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC
20037.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. By this action, the Commission proposes to amend Part 15 of the
its rules to expand the available frequencies and increase the
permitted power for unlicensed biomedical telemetry devices operating
on VHF and UHF television channels. We recognize the need for
additional spectrum for biomedical telemetry devices and believe that
TV spectrum may be appropriate for use by biomedical telemetry devices.
We request comment on the extent to which sharing between TV operations
and biomedical devices is feasible. We note that UHF channel 37 (608-
614 MHz) is reserved exclusively for the radio astronomy service, and
we seek comment on whether sharing this spectrum with biomedical
telemetry devices is viable and/or preferable to sharing with the
television broadcast service. Additionally, we note that Land Mobile
services are authorized to operate in parts of the 470-512 MHz band in
some localities, and invite comment on the ability of biomedical
telemetry devices to share this spectrum without creating or receiving
harmful interference. We seek comment on the total amount of spectrum
that is needed to support biomedical telemetry devices and whether
there may be a range of operating frequencies that may be more
favorable than others.
2. We note that any effort to accommodate biomedical telemetry
devices in TV spectrum during the DTV transition period will require
flexibility that could include changing of the frequency used by an
existing biomedical telemetry device to avoid interfering with DTV
channels. Therefore, we propose that biomedical telemetry devices be
designed to be frequency selectable to operate over a given range of
television channel frequencies. This proposal is intended to help avoid
interference and minimize the economic impact of requiring biomedical
telemetry device users to purchase new equipment due to changes in
television frequency usage during the DTV transition period. We seek
comment on this proposal and whether devices should be required to
implement a minimum number of selectable channels. We also propose that
biomedical telemetry devices be required to vacate existing TV spectrum
that is reallocated to other use as a result of the implementation of
DTV.
3. The low operating field strength allowed in the 512-566 MHz band
does not appear to be adequate for a viable service. We propose to
allow biomedical telemetry devices to operate, as proposed by CCTG, at
transmitter power levels not to exceed 5 milliwatts. We note that this
power level is considered high compared to other operating limits for
unlicensed Part 15 devices. We seek comment on the appropriateness of
this power level considering the intended use of these devices. The
proposed operating power necessitates provisions to protect the
television broadcast service. We propose to adopt the co-channel
separation requirements proposed by CCTG.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 15
Communications equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Amendatory Text
PART 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed
to be amended as follows:
PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES
1. The authority citation for part 15 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), 303(r),
304 and 307.
2. Section 15.209 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
Sec. 15.209 Radiated emission limits; general requirements.
* * * * *
(g) Perimeter protection systems may operate in the 54-72 MHz and
76-88 MHz bands under the provisions of this section. The use of such
perimeter protection systems is limited to industrial, business and
commercial applications.
3. Section 15.241 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 15.241 Operation in the bands 174-216 MHz, 470-608 MHz and 614-
806 MHz.
(a) Operation under the provisions of this section is restricted to
biomedical telemetry devices.
(b) Emissions from a biomedical telemetry device operating under
the provisions of this section shall be confined within a 200 kHz band
which shall lie wholly within the frequency ranges of 174-216 MHz, 470-
608 MHz and 614-806 MHz.
(c) The maximum peak transmitter output power of any biomedical
telemetry device operating under the provisions of this section shall
not exceed five (5) milliwatts. The field strength of emissions
radiated on any frequency outside of the specified 200 kHz band shall
not exceed 150 microvolts/meter at 3 meters.
(d) Biomedical telemetry devices shall be designed to include a
frequency selection mechanism that permits selection or retuning of
operating frequencies. Biomedical telemetry devices must not cause
harmful interference to licensed TV broadcast stations or to land
mobile stations operating in the 470-512 MHz band. If interference
occurs, the device must immediately cease operation on the occupied
frequency. If an alternate frequency meeting the requirements of
paragraph (e) of this section can be found, the biomedical telemetry
device, may be retuned to operate on the alternate frequency. The user
is responsible for resolving any interference that occurs subsequent to
installation of these devices.
(e) Biomedical telemetry device installers and users must ensure
that the following minimum distance separations are maintained between
a biomedical telemetry device operating under the provisions of this
section and television broadcast stations, authorized under part 73 of
this chapter, operating within the same channel bandwidth (minimum
distance separations vary depending upon the frequency and zone, within
which the relevant television station is operated, as specified in
Sec. 73.609 of this chapter):
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Separation
Frequency Zone(s) (km)
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174-216 MHz band.................... I..................... 107.1
174-216 MHz band.................... II, III............... 131.8
470-806 MHz band.................... I, II, III............ 113.2
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(f) The marketing and the use of biomedical telemetry devices
operating under the provisions of this section
[[Page 3369]]
shall be confined to hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
[FR Doc. 96-1854 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
