House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) urged FCC Chmn. Pow...

House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) urged FCC Chmn. Powell this week to provide blanket waiver for ground- penetrating radar (GPR) companies by revising ultra-wideband rules adopted earlier this year. In May, GPR companies asked FCC to provide interim relief on parts of UWB rules they said were more restrictive than necessary. GPR Industry Coalition said rules blocked “many needed and safe GPR applications” and asked FCC for short-term relief to eliminate regulatory uncertainty. Tauzin took up that theme in July 10 letter to Powell, also signed by 7 other committee members -- Reps. Engel (D-N.Y.), Bass (R-N.H.), DeGette (D-Colo.), Harman (D- Cal.), Shimkus (R-Ill.), Green (D-Tex.), Fossella (R-N.Y.). “The new rules could have the effect of eliminating numerous existing businesses that employ ground-penetrating radar,” they said. “In order to prevent this, we believe that the FCC should immediately provide a blanket waiver for the manufacture and operation of GPR equipment at the [Part 15] Class B emissions limit with no other restrictions.” Letter stressed GPR was “a special class of radar system” that penetrated solid materials and was used in engineering and public safety applications. Among applications cited by Tauzin and his colleagues was use by Energy Dept. and Federal Emergency Management Agency of GPR at World Trade Center after Sept. 11 attacks. “By its very nature, GPR is pointed at the ground (not into the air) for limited periods of time, thus making any interference unnoticeable,” letter said. Representatives said that in 30 years of GPR use there hadn’t been reported case of interference and there were no more than 1,000 units operating in U.S. “The new rules severely restrict emitted power in the frequency bands above 960 MHz, thereby eliminating many types of GPR systems and applications,” letter said. “High resolution of GPR systems are required to generate a frequency spectrum of sufficient bandwidth to achieve adequate range resolution and to emit sufficient power for ground penetration.” GPR coalition request for relief includes expansion of eligible users beyond law enforcement, fire and emergency workers, scientific researchers, commercial mining and construction companies. Group also sought changes in current emissions mask requirements. UWB order approved by FCC in Feb. takes effect Mon. and Commission is expected to take action on request by that date.