FCC Allows Fixed Service Microwave Operators to Use Smaller 11 GHz Antennas

By Doug Lung
published

Earlier this week, the FCC released a Report and Order approving the use of smaller antennas in the 10.7-11.7 GHz band. Nextlink Wireless, First Avenue Networks, Telecom Transport Management, Inc. and Conterra Ultra Broadband, LLC requested the change. In granting the rule changes, the FCC said, “We find that these modifications would serve the public interest by facilitating the efficient use of the 11 GHz band while protecting other users in the band from interference.”

Applicants wanting to use smaller antennas will have to coordinate their facilities with other users in the band. The smaller antennas were approved despite opposition from satellite operators concerned the smaller antenna might increase interference to their gateway earth stations. The FCC said “it expected FS applicants in the 11 GHz band to carefully coordinate their operations with the authorized feeder link operations of any licensed geostationary (GSO) Mobile Service Satellite (MSS) gateway earth station in the 11 GHz band so as to avoid harmful aggregate interference.”

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.