Initial comments are due on September 12, 2000 for the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning ultra-wideband (UWB) devices. In this NPRM, the FCC seeks comments on a host of issues, including which types of UWB devices should be permitted and under what conditions should such devices be allowed.

This proceeding will be extremely important to many industries and companies. Because UWB devices typically operate over a wide band of spectrum, they often operate in frequencies used by others. There is expected to be significant opposition to the use of UWB devices from the airline, television broadcast and many other industries that will claim that such devices will interfere with those industries’ use of spectrum previously assigned to them. For example, the airline industry will likely claim that UWB devices will raise safety issues because they may interfere with navigational tools. The FCC, of course, will seek to ensure that its ruling will adequately address such concerns.

On the other hand, UWB technology may provide great public benefits in a variety of industries, including the following:

• Communications - UWB devices may be used to transmit very high data rates over short distances, and therefore they may be utilized to wirelessly distribute services such as phone, cable, and computer networking throughout a building or home.
• Automotive - Potential uses include collision avoidance systems, backup warning systems, automobile burglar alarms, sensors that automatically adjust suspension systems to compensate for bumps in the road, and fluid level detectors for oil, gas and radiator.
• Medical - Potential uses include more effective heart monitors and mattress-installed breathing monitors to guard against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Construction - UWB devices may be used to determine the structural soundness of bridges, roadways, and runways; determine the location of underground utility lines; and locate buried containers that have hazardous wastes.
• Police, Fire and Rescue Personnel - UWB devices may enable police, fire, and rescue personnel to locate persons hidden in buildings or under debris in situations such as hostage