April 30, 2020
Via E-Mail
Ronald Repasi Acting Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington DC, 20554
Re: Emergency Request for Waiver
Dear Mr. Repasi: Pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission’s rules,1/ RADWIN LTD. (“RADWIN”) requests, on behalf of its customers listed in Attachment 1 to this letter, an emergency waiver of Section 15.407 of the rules so that those customers – which employ JET Point-to-Multipoint, beamforming fixed wireless base station solutions2/ -- can operate at power limits otherwise applicable to point-to-point systems in the U-NII-1 (5.15-5.25 GHz) and U-NII-3 (5.725-5.85 GHz) bands.3/ Grant of the requested waiver would serve the public interest by allowing RADWIN’s customers to add capacity to, and enhance the robustness of, their networks in the areas listed in Attachment 1, to address the increase in traffic they are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
RADWIN, established in 1997, is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. RADWIN’s U.S. subsidiary, RADWIN Inc., is located in Mahwah, New Jersey.4/ RADWIN is a leading provider of sub-6 GHz wireless broadband solutions, providing point-to-point and point-to-multi-point products to major carriers, large, medium and small wireless internet service providers (“WISPs”) and others in the United States and worldwide. RADWIN’s products power a variety of access, backhaul and vertical private networks applications, with the vast majority of them deployed by service providers to deliver fixed wireless broadband access services to residential and enterprise subscribers, mostly in rural and suburban areas. RADWIN’s customers listed in
1/
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.3.
2/
The RADWIN devices covered by this waiver operate under FCC ID: Q3K-BFJET5X.
3/
See 47 C.F.R. § 15.407. RADWIN equipment operates in other segments of the 5 GHz band.
This waiver request related only to the U-NII-1 and U-NII-3 bands.
4/
RADWIN Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of RADWIN, serves as the distributor of RADWIN broadband wireless systems to independent distributors in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, it provides training and post-sales technical support to customers and partners. RADWIN LTD. develops, manufactures, and markets RADWIN products globally.
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RADWIN Inc., 900 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, NJ 07430, USA; Tel: 1-800-RADWINUS RADWIN Ltd., 27 Habarzel Street, Tel-Aviv 69710, ISRAEL; Tel: +972-3-766-2900 www.radwin.com
Attachment 1 provide those broadband access services, often in remote and rural locations, and are currently experiencing higher demand and stress on their networks as the COVID-19 pandemic forces more Americans to work, learn, socialize, and, where available, engage in telemedicine from home.
Grant of the Waiver Request is in the Public Interest
Section 15.407 of the FCC’s rules requires devices using point-to-multipoint technologies in the 5 GHz U-NII bands to operate with power limits lower than fixed point-to-point devices operating in the same band.5/ Waiver of the rule would permit those same devices to operate at higher power, providing RADWIN customers the ability to better serve end users during this critical and unprecedented time.
Section 1.3 of the rules allows the Commission to waive its rules for “good cause” shown.6/ Specifically, a waiver is appropriate where particular facts would make strict compliance with the rules inconsistent with the public interest.7/ To satisfy this public interest requirement, the waiver cannot undermine the purposes of the rule, and there must be a stronger public interest benefit in granting the waiver than in applying the rule.8/
Good cause exists to grant RADWIN’s request for waiver. First, it will allow RADWIN’s customers using JET Point-to-Multipoint fixed wireless access solutions to provide better high speed broadband service to their subscribers so that they can stay connected and access essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using increased power will allow RADWIN customers to provide improved system performance, including capacity and robustness, both of which are key to getting, and keeping more of those customers’ end users on line at the same time. This relief is particularly critical to RADWIN’s customers in remote areas, many of whom have limited access during usual conditions to, among other critical services, health care and will increasingly rely on telehealth during the current pandemic. This video shows the important role that WISPs that use RADWIN products play in their users’ lives and other examples of how RADWIN helps its customers serve rural and remote end users is available on RADWIN’s
website.
5/
See 47 C.F.R. § 15.407.
6/
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.3.
7/
See Northeast Cellular Tel. Co., L.P. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (articulating the waiver standard under 47 C.F.R. § 1.3); WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969);
see also ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited v. FCC, 428 F.3d 264 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (quoting Northeast Cellular).
8/
See, e.g., WAIT Radio, 418 F.2d at 1157 (stating that even though the overall objectives of a general rule have been adjudged to be in the public interest, it is possible that application of the rule to a specific case may not serve the public interest if an applicant’s proposal does not undermine the public interest policy served by the rule); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166 (stating that in granting a waiver, an agency must explain why deviation from the general rule better serves the public interest than would strict adherence to the rule).
2
Second, grant of the requested waiver would not undermine the purpose of the rule because it would have minimal impact on the surrounding radiofrequency environment based on the unique beam-forming characteristics of the RADWIN JET base station radios.9/ As indicated above, RADWIN’s request is for a limited duration – i.e., sixty (60) days – to meet the increasing demand on networks created by COVID-19. In addition, as demonstrated by the e-mail that RADWIN sent to its customers, which is included as Attachment 2, and as explained further below, RADWIN’s customers have acknowledged (and will acknowledge again prior to deployment of software that increases the output power of their devices) that the equipment must revert to its original settings when the waiver expires.
Third, grant of the waiver will enable existing RADWIN customers to deploy utilizing existing assets and in already-used frequency bands. Grant of the waiver request represents one of the simplest ways the Commission can provide needed relief during this pandemic.
In contrast, requiring RADWIN’s customers to adhere strictly to the power levels for point-tomultipoint technologies in Section 15.407 during the COVID-19 pandemic may impede their ability to satisfy the increasing subscriber demand on their networks. Unless RADWIN is permitted to increase the capacity of its customers’ networks, the ability of Americans to stay connected and obtain critical services like telemedicine during the pandemic will be more limited – a result clearly contrary to the public interest.
RADWIN Customers Will Be Provided Explicit Direction Regarding the Limited Applicability of the Waiver
The following outlines the steps that RADWIN will take to enable, and then disable operation of the affected base station units with higher power.
Pre-Waiver Mode Activation – The customers on the attached list will receive a special software release -- “COVID-19 Waiver SW Release” that will include a dedicated link to upload the software release and detailed release notes with all related information and guidelines.
a. The software release will be applied by connecting to the base station via the
“RADWIN Manager,” which is the technician application used for configuring, monitoring and managing the device. b. Unlike typical RADWIN Manager upgrades, this software release would require an internet connection to enable RADWIN to track the activation of base stations under the waiver. This will permit RADWIN to track Service Providers that elect to temporarily use higher power. c. When clicking on the software release link, the RADWIN Manager will be updated to include a special new tab/button called: “Activate COVID-19 Waiver
9/
See Petition for Rulemaking of RADWIN LTD., RM-11812 at 7 (filed June 18, 2018) (explaining that allowing RADWIN’s beam-forming devices to operate at power levels for point-to-point technologies will not increase the risk of interference or adversely impact others). Nevertheless, if there are particular geographic areas where the FCC or the National Telecommunications and Information Administration believe it inappropriate to grant the request, RADWIN will ensure that Customers in those areas are unable to temporarily modify their operations as described below.
3
Mode.” Once clicked, an online page will pop-up with a message indicating the service provider is about to enter a specific operation mode, provided under a unique FCC COVID-19 Waiver. By proceeding, the user will be required to acknowledge that: The customer has read and understands the FCC’s waiver. The FCC has permitted operation with higher power for a limited period of time.
The customer will modify the operation of the base station back to its FCC permitted power level on or before the date the waiver expires.
Operating with the power level permitted under the waiver past the waiver expiration date is a violation of FCC rules and the customer may be subject to FCC enforcement action, including potential monetary forfeitures.
The Service Provider will be required to acknowledge these terms and only then the “COVID-19 Waiver Mode” will be available to the customer. Once the customer agrees to the terms it will be allowed into a “Waiver Mode” screen that allows it to increase the transmission power.
Operation During Waiver Mode – Under the “Waiver Mode” the maximum allowed transmission power value will increase to 28dbm, meaning (considering the integrated beamforming antenna gain is 20dbi) the maximum EIRP level would increase to 48dbm. As long as the base station is operating in “Waiver Mode,” every time the customer accesses the RADWIN Manager relating to the device, the RADWIN Manager will display a “warning” icon on the screen that will state: “PLEASE NOTE: THIS DEVICE IS OPERATING UNDER AN FCC TEMPORARY COVID- 19 WAIVER, PERMITTING HIGHER EIRP THAN REGULAR FCC RULES. PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE TEMPORARY WAIVER HAS NOT EXPIRED.”
Termination of Waiver -- RADWIN will take the following steps to prevent continued operation of base stations at higher power once the waiver expires:
a. A few days prior to waiver expiration, RADWIN will send an email to all customers that received the Waiver software release, making them aware of the upcoming termination of the Waiver and notifying them to apply a new software release (link to be attached to the email) to all devices that were updated with the Waiver software release. b. The customer will upload the software upgrade to its RADWIN Manager. It will then connect the Manager to each device operating at higher power and the following will take place: i. Each device will revert back to the maximum allowed EIRP under the
FCC rules. ii. The COVID-19 Waiver Mode will not be available any longer in that
RADWIN Manager. And it cannot be applied to any other devices. c. Once the waiver expires, RADWIN will not enable any more devices to operate under the COVID-19 Waiver Mode. Because an Internet connection is mandatory in order to activate the Waiver Mode, no Service Provider will be able to use an older RADWIN Manager version to activate any units into the Waiver Mode. In
4any case, when a device is connected to the RADWIN cloud, the option to enable the Waiver Mode will not be available. d. If a user continues to operate a device under the Waiver Mode, despite the obligation to apply the software upgrade that reverts to original settings: i. The RADWIN Manager will display the following warning that the device is no longer permitted to operate in a Waiver Mode -- PLEASE NOTE – THIS DEVICE IS OPERATING PURSUANT TO AN FCC WAIVER THAT HAS EXPIRED. YOU MUST APPLY A SOFTWARE RELEASE TO RETURN THE DEVICE TO ITS PRE- WAIVER CONFIGURATION [LINK]. FAILURE TO APPLY THE SOFTWARE RELEASE AND REVERTING REVERT TO OPERATE UNDER PRE-WAIVER CONFIGURATION IS A VIOLATION OF FCC RULES AND YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTION, INCLUDING POTENTIAL MONETARY FORFEITURES. ii. Every time the unit connects to the RADWIN Manager for any reason,
RADWIN will receive a notification from the device that it operates under the Waiver Mode and the customer will be instructed to deploy the software that reverts the equipment to non-waiver specifications. iii. Any new RADWIN software uploaded in the future to the device, will automatically eliminate the “Waiver Mode” and reduce the device’s power to that permitted under the rules.
The Commission Has Granted Similar Relief
The Commission recently granted similar requests for relief, including requests that were submitted on behalf of multiple parties. For example, the Commission recently granted emergency Special Temporary Authority to 33 wireless Internet service providers serving 330 counties in 29 states so they can operate in the 5850-5895 MHz portion of the U-NII-4 band to help meet the surge in consumer demand for residential fixed broadband services during the coronavirus pandemic.10/ The Commission likewise granted relief to several wireless service providers to enhance their network capacity during COVID-19 pursuant to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge.11/ As Chairman Pai stated, it is “imperative that Americans stay connected”
10/
See News Release, FCC Grants Wireless ISPs Temporary Access to Spectrum in 5.9 GHz Band to
Meet Increase in Rural Broadband Demand During Pandemic, FCC (Mar. 27, 2020),
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-363358A1.pdf.
11/
See News Release, Chairman Pai Launches the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, FCC (Mar.
13, 2020) (“Keep Americans Connected Pledge”), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-
363033A1.pdf; see also, e.g., News Release, FCC Provides T-Mobile Temporary Access to Additional Spectrum to Help Keep Americans Connected During Coronavirus Pandemic, FCC (Mar. 15, 2020),
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-363051A1.pdf; News Release, FCC Provides U.S. Cellular
Temporary Access to Additional Spectrum to Help Keep Americans Connected During Coronavirus
Pandemic, FCC (Mar. 17, 2020), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-363114A1.pdf; News
Release, FCC Grants Verizon Temporary Spectrum Access to Keep Americans Connected During
COVID-19 Pandemic, FCC (Mar. 18, 2020), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-
363145A1.pdf; News Release, FCC Grants AT&T and Verizon Further Temporary Spectrum Access to
5as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread and cause disruptions to the economic, educational, medical, and civic life of our country.12/
The Commission has also granted requests for waiver for equipment that was not under the control of the party submitting the request. Deere & Company (“Deere”), for instance, was granted a waiver of certain Part 15 rules to permit the operation of fixed white space devices on off-road agricultural equipment used by its customers.13/ The Commission determined that grant of the waiver to Deere served the public interest, even though “it is not ostensibly the ‘operator’” of the device or the agricultural machinery for which the waiver was requested, because it would
increase crop yields and reduce food production costs without causing harmful interference.14/ Here too would grant of RADWIN’s request for waiver serve the public interest even though it
does not own or operate the device for which the waiver is requested. Consistent with the relief granted by the Commission to others and as noted above, RADWIN’s customers have agreed to operate pursuant to the instant request for waiver and any conditions that may be imposed by the Commission in granting this request. Accordingly, to help meet America’s increasing connectivity demands during COVID-19, the Commission should grant RADWIN’s request, on behalf of its customers, for waiver expeditiously.
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RADWIN looks forward to your prompt response. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly, or our counsel, Russell Fox at Mintz – [email protected] (202-434-7483).
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Adi Nativ
Adi Nativ Vice President, Global Business Development
Attachments
- cc:
- (Electronically with Attachments)
Aaron Goldberger Ira Keltz Aspasia Paroutsas
Keep Americans Connected During Coronavirus Pandemic, FCC (Mar. 20, 2020), https://docs.fcc.gov/
public/attachments/DOC-363211A1.pdf.
12/
Keeps Americans Connected Pledge at 2.
13/
See Deere & Company Request for Limited Waiver of Part 15 Rules for Fixed White Spaces
Device, Order, 31 FCC Rcd 2131 (2016).
14/
See id. ¶¶ 1, 12.
6
Jamison Prime Michael Ha Hugh VanTuyl
5
Attachment 1
States with Coverage Area Using RADWIN
- WISP Name
- First Name
- Last Name
- Title
- Phone
Director of Outside Plant Director of RF Engineering Director of Network Engineering Director of Wireless
- Agile Networks
- Kyle
Gerrit Rick
Barnes Bode [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
317-757-9793 907-885-7858 320-256-0541 906-440-3446
OH
Alaska Communications Arvig Enterprises Inc. Astrea
AK MN MI
Mueller
- Steve
- Mason
LuyandaRosario [email protected] Operations
Specialist Equipment
- Design
- AT&T
- Raul
Carl
- [email protected]
- 787-624-3207
612-385-4874 469-640-0030
Puerto Rico
Barger Creek Wireless Big Wave Wireless, LLC
- Cadwallader [email protected]
- Owner
- MI
- Amye
- Mercer
- [email protected]
- President
- TX
Wireless Operations
- Manager
- Cal.net, Inc.
- Wayne
- Hamilton
- [email protected]
- 530-672-1078
- CA
Coon Valley Coop
- Telephone Company
- Jim
- Nelson
Carolfi [email protected] [email protected]
General Manager General Manager
641-524-2111 715-389-8584
IA
Country Wireless East Buchanan Telephone Company Farmers Telephone Company
- Jeremy
- WI
Mike Tim
Becker Hill [email protected] [email protected]
- General Manager
- 319-935-3011
712-379-3001
IA
- IA
- General Manager
Senior Architect
- Wireless Network
- Frontier Communications
High Desert
CARLOS Doug
CARDONA [email protected] Dawson [email protected] McCullough [email protected]
786-899-6302 775-575-9593 830-225-1465 712-363-6060 208-413-5040
29 States
- NV
- President
HILLCOUNTRY Wireless IGL TeleConnect
David Adam Brad
- Owner
- TX
Nelson York
- [email protected]
- Plant Manager
- IA
- Inland Telephone
- [email protected]
- Central Office GM
Director of Broadband Networks
WA
- KanOkla Networks
- Chris
- Hahn
- [email protected]
- 620-845-5500
- OK, KS