FCC Gets Comments In Noise Floor Proceeding

Noisy

Everybody agrees, apparently, that the electrical noise floor is a potential problem needing further research, at least based on the comments filed with the FCC in its noise floor proceeding, ET Docket No. 16-191.

Typical were the comments from the NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, which noted the existence of conflicting research that shows increases in electrical noise but also decreased noise floor levels in residential environments and no change in commercial environments in 25 years, and called for a research study to settle the issue.

VERIZON asked that the FCC "not adopt burdensome requirements that would undermine licensees' rights to reach... private agreements" to resolve interference issues but should concentrate instead on Part 15 and Part 18 device radiation level regulation; the NAB took a different position, calling on the FCC itself to control RF noise and manage interference to AM and FM radio service and digital TV (at a minimum, to adopt radiated emissions limits to protect AM radio); SHURE voiced concern about LED lighting's effect on wireless microphones; the CTIA said that any investigation of the noise floor "should not lead to the erosion of licensees' rights to fully utilize their spectrum," while the SOCIETY OF BROADCAST ENGINEERS complained that the Commission was asked 16 years ago to study the issue and has not done so while continuing to make spectrum allocation decisions.

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