Ultra-wideband (UWB)developer XtremeSpectrum said Wed. it believe...

Ultra-wideband (UWB)developer XtremeSpectrum said Wed. it believed FCC decision on operation of UWB devices under Part 15 rules still was on track for later this year. Xtreme, which was founded in late 1998 and has hq in Vienna, Va., is positioned to offer products as soon as FCC grants approval, CEO Martin Rofheart said at news briefing in Washington. While company isn’t releasing details such as pricing for products, announcements are expected shortly on funding and other issues, he said. Rofheart said UWB technology offered advantages over other 2.4 GHz technologies such as 802.11b and Bluetooth because it simultaneously delivered high data rates, low power consumption and low cost. Washington attorneys Michelle Farquhar and Mitchell Lazarus said Xtreme had been meeting this month with FCC 8th floor advisers on UWB proceeding, already had spoken with FCC Comr. Martin and sessions with other commissioners were in works for this month. Rofheart said company had rebutted interference concerns raised by GPS community and related industries by proposing protection margin that went beyond limits in FCC notice of proposed rulemaking. XtremeSpectrum sent letter to Dept. of Defense, Dept. of Transportation, NASA and Commerce Dept. that it said rebutted UWB interference claims made to those agencies by wide array of GPS providers, satellite interests, others (CD July 10 p4). Coalition of 39 companies and trade groups said pending FCC rule that would allow UWB operations in Part 15 spectrum would mark change in “historic prohibition on intentional transmissions” into and across restricted frequency bands. Xtreme said groups didn’t “mention the remarkably low levels of UWB emissions. Over much of the spectrum, the FCC has proposed UWB levels equal to the permitted radio noise levels from an ordinary personal computer.” It said it had proposed lower emission levels than in NPRM to provide additional assurance against interference, including spectral mask to limit UWB emissions in bands ranging from Digital Audio Radio Systems, PCS, GPS. Rofheart said proposal in GPS band would limit power to one-billionth of watt, which is 1/64th of limit for digital devices. He said company supported test for spectral lines that GPS community backs. Device passing that test would show it didn’t generate spectral lines that could interfere with GPS operations. Rofheart also cited several studies that said UWB signals didn’t aggregate. Xtreme said that means that “even if hundreds of UWB devices operate in close proximity (as in an office network), a GPS or other receiver will ’see’ only the handful of units closest to it.” Xtreme also proposed that UWB devices be restricted to indoor use to eliminate likelihood of interference to GPS users. Lazarus said company had been meeting “weekly with engineers at NTIA” on interference issue. While newly confirmed NTIA Dir. Nancy Victory has been recused from working on UWB issue, others at NTIA have been designated to work on technical issues related to that technology in her stead. Rofheart said company had signed agreements with potential customers, although it wasn’t ready to announce names.