f2c 2012: mike marcus

Michael J. Marcus, Sc.D., F-IEEE

Former Associate Chief for Technology FCC Office of Engineering and Technology

Director, Marcus Spectrum Solutions, LLCCabin John, MD, USA

www.marcus-spectrum.com

Adjunct ProfessorDepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Virginia Tech

www.marcus-spectrum.com

Technology Regulation

N3JMM/ 7J1AKO

OverviewWill review interaction of regulation and technology in wireless

technology

How a bipartisan political movement for deregulation unexpectedly removed roadblocks that kept a promising wireless technology & underutilized bands locked in “Pandora’s box”Serendipity and (generally good) unexpected consequences Today’s ubiquitous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and other useful

niche applications


Why Is Wireless Different than Other Technologies?

Basic spectrum policy concepts were formed in aftermath of Titanic sinking 100 years ago

Many regulators resemble Soviet economic planners, projecting demands and allocating resources

Classically, entrepreneurs, “disruptive innovation” and niche applications get little attentionWi-Fi started as a niche application!


Birth of Unlicensed in US4

US legislation does not provide explicitly for unlicensed use

1st system was a Philco remote control system for radio receivers in late 30s

FCC ruled that since it was unlikely to cause interference license was not needed

Subsequent legislation has noted unlicensed but never explicitly authorized it ARRL claims FCC has no legal basis for

unlicensed


5The Strange Case of iTrip:

The Classic Problem for Unlicensed in Some Countries

Prescriptive nature of spectrum regulation in many countries held back unlicensed innovation, e.g.

iTrip is a low power FM transmitter user to connect iPod music to nearby FM broadcast receivers

In US, FCC has allowed such low power systems for decades

But were banned in Europe for several years because of lack of rules in this area

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/11/nr_20061123b


Traditional Spectrum Policy

Prioritize uses of spectrum

Controls interference and market entry

Pick technological winners and losers

GSM was extremely successful and came from such a policy environmentOnly GSM equipment can be sold in Europe and

some other countries (prior to 3G)


But Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can from a Very Different Background than GSM!Rest of presentation will explore technical and regulatory

roots of of Wi-Fi

If traditional spectrum management is similar to Soviet economic policy, the origins here are based on Field of Dreams concepts


“If you believe the impossible, the incredible can come true.”

Госплан

Roots of Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth)

Wi-Fi came about as a result of spectrum deregulation creating a “blank slate” for innovators

Spread spectrum (SS) was the basis for creation of spectrum that became the home of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Prior to FCC 1981-1985 action, SS was implicitly banned in generalCarter-era FCC sought to remove barriers from technology to stimulate

economySS was selected as initial area

SS was the core technology of Wi-Fi until 802.11(g) and continues as Bluetooth core


Hedy Lamarr:Legendary Inventor of Spread Spectrum

As is often reported in popular press, Hedy Lamarr was awarded an early frequency hopping spread spectrum* patent during WWIIBut invention was not reduced to practice

Like with the computer, it is probably impossible to identify a single inventor of spread spectrum

• Spread spectrum comes in 2 “flavors”: direct sequence/pseudonoise and frequency hopping. Wi-Fi started as DS/PN, Bluetooth is FH


1953 MIT Lincoln Lab SystemDeveloped by Paul Green

(later of IBM) as a thesis project

One of earliest SS/PN systemsMore related to early Wi-Fi and

Qualcomm CDMA than Lamarr concept

Technology of the day required large size


Early LiteratureIn the 1950-1970’s spread spectrum generally remained a

classified technology with only occasional references in the open literature.

My first exposure was at a classified 1972 conference

Only textbook-like discussion was a classified Sylvania report for NSA


Dixon’s Book 1975First comprehensive, though

mathematically inelegant, unclassified treatment of spread spectrum

Introduced a generation of designers to the technology


Commercial Spread Spectrum c. 1979

Magnavox produces a “civil” version of AN/ARC-50/90Unit shown is modem,

separate transceiver needed

Japan MPT purchases and tests for possible civil applicationsConcludes no practical value

for civil use!


Setting the Stage for Wi-Fi: Prophets of Deregulation

Pres. Carter Alfred Kahn Pres. Reagan

Cornell University ProfessorFormer Chairman of New York PUC US Civil Aeronautics Board


FCC Chairman Ferris (1977-81)Makes Deregulation FCC Focus

Translates Kahn’s concepts and Carter’s mandate into more specific program:Identify technologies that are being held back by anachronistic

regulations and “liberate” them - so they can sink or swim under their own merits

Hires former (D)ARPA Director Steve Lukasik to implement program

Spread spectrum identified as a candidate technology


FCC Chairman Fowler (1981-87)Makes Spread Spectrum Deregulation Part of “Reagan Agenda”

Chmn. Fowler replaces Chmn. Ferris after the Reagan election

While disagreeing with predecessor on many issues, he embraces the spread spectrum initiative seeing its connection to Reagan’s deregulatory agenda – despite mainstream industry opposition “Looking back, it is clear that adoption of these rules was one of the

significant achievements of the Reagan FCC —though I doubt if anyone thought so at the time.” 4/08


Early FCC Action

1980 MITRE Corp. report to study options for civil use of spread spectrum

Best 70K FCC ever spent!!

Raises unlicensed option

Available from NTIS as PB81-165284 and on MITRE site


Early FCC Action

1981 2 initiative begun:Docket 81-413 – General useDocket 81-414 – Amateur radio use

While H-P (now Agilent) was supportive, most industry opposed

IEEE IT Society filed support


1985May 9, 1985 FCC adopts spread

spectrum rules in ISM bands 1 W limit PN or FH Almost any application

But no explicit mention of Wi-Fi-like RLANs

Same basic rules until 2002

incorporated July 1985 CDMA becomes major cellular player Key part of most 3G mobile systems


“First Light”In 1988 the first real

commercial spread spectrum product appeared – a LAN

“Spontaneous generation” – developer was a Canadian startup aiming at using new FCC rules!


Creation of IEEE 802.11

5 years after 81-413 decision - after several proprietary products tested the market and explored technologies - 3 pioneering firms joined in IEEE 802.11 to explore 2 niche applications:Wireless cash registersWarehouse mobile bar codescanners (building on supermarket scanners)

Vic Hayes of NCR’s lab in Holland leads standardization discussions

1991 Snapshot

Many key players went to Quebec woods to discuss the future of spread spectrum

“Myth or Reality” Future was still not clear


Wi-Fi Growth

Niche applications worldwide demand!


Early Growth

Unexpected Uses of Wi-Fi& Related Systems

Municipal Wi-Fi

Bathtub with Wi-Fi iPod music link §15.249 Equipment – Cousin of ISM Band rules

Supermarket customer product scanning while

shopping


Public system at marina

The FCC Team That Lead ISM Band Policy 1979-1985

From left: Robert Powers, Stephen Lukasik, Elliot Maxwell, MM, Marjorie "Peggy" Reed Greene May 2010

Are “Unlicensed” or “802” Magic Elixirs of Success?

“.com” once seen as magic elixir

Some other unlicensed initiatives, some with broad industry support, have had little success:U-PCS, U-NII, UWB, HiperLan

Unlicensed with detailed regulations may not be able to adapt to meet demand

802 efforts to standardize UWB were unsuccessful802.16 (WiMax) has had mixed success

Today’s 802 is very different than 1990

Conclusions

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth had their roots in White House-directed deregulation to stimulate economic growth

A major break from previous “Soviet style” planning of radio spectrum where bureaucrats tried to predict markets, technologies, and demands years in advance

Deregulatory concepts grew into a new worldwide market serving unanticipated needs for mobility

Synergy of unlicensed and regulatory flexibility is powerful approach to facilitate wireless innovation and economic growth


“If you believe the impossible, the incredible can come true.”

Questions?

More details and other sources at:http://www.marcus-spectrum.com/SSHistory.htm


f2c 2012: mike marcus

Technology

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