stds-802-16-tg4: draft letter to ETSI BRAN
In Session #15, we approved a letter to ETSI BRAN, subject to my
editorial revisions. The main editorial issue had to do with issues
of license-exempt BWA. This was based on draft text approved by TG4.
I offered to post my draft for comment and allow people a few days to
see if this is agreeable.
The draft is below. Let me know what you think by September 27.
Regards,
Roger
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Dear Jamshid:
In our Session #15 of 10-14 September, IEEE 802.16 read your
announcement postponing the following week's scheduled BRAN meeting
until 23-26 October. We sympathize with the difficulty of this
decision and wish you best of luck in maintaining your progress in
spite of the delay.
We have published an overview of our session in the Session #15
Report. I'd like to highlight the following:
* The base IEEE 802.16 draft (including the base 802.16 MAC and the
10-66 GHz PHY) was given initial approval in IEEE Sponsor Ballot and
is being finalized through comment resolution. The document remains
on track for completion in late October. The draft (P802.16/D4-2001)
was published by IEEE and is now available for sale in the catalog.
* Our 802.16a and 802.16b projects (covering 2-11 GHz licensed and
5-6 license-exempt, respectively) completed comment resolution and
finalized important technical work. This led to a joint working
document that, for the first time, was elevated to Working Group
status. A Working Group Review of the document will run through
Session #16 in November.
* Our 802.16.2a project held its first meeting to develop an
amendment to the recently-published IEEE Std 802.16.2 ("Coexistence
of Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems"). The amendment will
extend coverage to the 2-11 GHz licensed bands and expand the
recommendations regarding point-to-point systems.
In addition, we note the two following specific issues:
* We understand that Marianna Goldhammer, IEEE 802.16's Liaison to
the HIPERMAN effort, has forwarded to BRAN the two documents
"HIPERMAN DLC - Base line proposal: IEEE 802.16 MAC" and "HIPERMAN
PHY - Base line proposal: IEEE 802.16a PHY." We endorse these
submissions. However, we note that the references therein to our
current 2-11 GHz Working Document (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r1) need to be
updated to the revised version (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r2).
* We continue to be interested in adding an addition to Annex 1 to
the ETSI/IEEE-SA agreement to cover 802.16/BRAN cooperation. We are
awaiting word from you on the approval of the new BRAN Terms of
Reference so that we may proceed.
We would also like to follow up on your 29 June letter
(BRAN24d129/IEEE 802.16l-01/15) to IEEE 802 and 802's 11 July reply
(IEEE 802.161-01/18r1). Your letter reported "a decision within ETSI
EP-BRAN not to develop any FWA standards" for the bands 5150-5350 MHz
and 5470-5725 MHz. You also encouraged a "unified position between
the worldwide standards bodies" on this issue. IEEE 802 supported a
unified position in these bands, noting, however, that "IEEE 802
reaffirms its support for fixed wireless access application
development in the 5.8 GHz band based on the applicable IEEE 802.16
standards now under development."
At this point, we would like to request BRAN's interest in a unified
position on license-exempt fixed wireless access in the 5.8 GHz band
(more specifically, Band C, covering 5725-5875 MHz). As you know,
IEEE 802.16 is developing fixed wireless access (FWA) specifications
for both licensed and license-exempt bands. The license-exempt
situation is certainly distinct, but we believe that it has much in
common with licensed bands. This is why we are developing both the
802.16a (licensed) and 802.16b (license-exempt) projects in a
simultaneous effort.
We are aware that several European regulatory administrations are
considering opening the 5 GHz Band C for license-exempt FWA. For
example, we understand that the UK's RA, after receiving a 5 GHz
Advisory Group recommendation to study FWA in this band using 2-4 W
EIRP, is actively considering opening this band for license-exempt
FWA.
We believe that our IEEE 802.16b (WirelessHUMAN) project is
well-suited to applications in Band C. Noting that BRAN's HIPERMAN
project is already actively considering the IEEE 802.16a standard,
IEEE 802.16 would gladly participate with HIPERMAN in examining the
suitability of license-exempt FWA operation in Band C. To initiate
this effort, we have already started a comprehensive sharing study
with regards to this band. This is included in the current working
document (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r2).
We are very interested to better understand BRAN's position on this
issue and are hopeful of a unified position.
As usual, we welcome your members to participate in our process in
any way. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to assist
in this process.
Best regards,
...