The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) applauds the FCC for acting expeditiously to limit the harmful interference radar detectors have been causing to Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks.
The Report and Order, released by the FCC today, prohibits radar detectors manufactured, sold in, or imported to the United States from producing harmful emissions in the primary VSAT bands.
Specifically, the FCC limited radar detector emissions in the 11.7 – 12.2 GHz VSAT bands to 500 microvolts/meter. The order further states that, in the future, radar detectors will be subject to a FCC certification process to ensure compliance with these new emissions limits.
VSAT networks are the enabling technology that give small and large business owners, consumers, as well as federal, state and local government, valuable access to a wide range of services from “pay-at-the-pump” to ATM withdrawals to corporate communications networks to Internet connectivity.
Throughout the United States, VSATs are the veritable life-blood of the business community and are also used on a daily basis for such critical operations as law enforcement, tele-medicine, disaster relief and recovery, rural telecommunications and distance learning.
Radar detectors, originally intended to be passive, unlicensed devices, now produce extremely high levels of harmful interference that cause repeated disruptions to VSAT operations.
Richard DalBello, President of the SIA applauded the Commission’s ruling stating; “the SIA thanks the Commission for expeditiously taking this critical first step toward limiting harmful interference in all licensed VSAT bands”.
DalBello further stated; “with this decision, the FCC has sent a clear signal to other un-licensed technologies that they must test their products against licensed services, or face abrupt removal from the market.”
SIA is a national trade association representing the leading U.S. satellite manufacturers, service providers, and launch service companies.
