Satellite digital audio radio service (DARS) operators could inst...
Satellite digital audio radio service (DARS) operators could install more than 1,000 high-power terrestrial repeaters under rules proposed to FCC by DARS operators, Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) said. In ex parte filing at FCC, WCA said “such proposed rule…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
is unacceptable” but said it would be willing to consider more limited approach. DARS officials said they don’t plan to use nearly 1,000 high-power repeaters, but rules were crafted to allow some flexibility. “We currently plan to install only about one hundred repeaters nationwide,” Sirius Senior Vp- Gen. Counsel Patrick Donnelly told us. XM Satellite Radio has indicated it plans to use mostly low-power repeaters. DARS terrestrial repeaters, which are used to fill gaps in satellite- delivered service caused by terrain or buildings, use same frequency as microwave transmitters used by wireless communications service (WCS), former wireless cable. WCA didn’t object to low-power repeaters (below 2 kw), but said too many high-power repeaters (up to 40 kw) would cause undue interference. Rules proposed by Sirius Satellite Radio would allow unlimited number of low-power repeaters, plus hundreds of high-power repeaters based on several criteria, including specific numbers per geographic area and unlimited numbers where they have been coordinated “on a co-equal basis” with WCS. WCA said it urged DARS operators to provide information on exact deployment plans as soon as possible so it could fully analyze impact of proposed rules.