New Architect: There's some talk about the FCC cracking down on 802.11 networking. How can Lucent (or Apple, Cisco, or any of the other vendors) sell me a product that's illegal?
Tim Pozar: First, I'm not a lawyer. These are my own opinions. But actually, the ones you list are doing the "right thing." The ones that I think have more of a legal problem would be Young Design, Inc. (YDI) and Hyperlink Technologies, among others. They are the ones selling devices—such as amplifiers and antennas—that seemingly do not comply with Part 15.204 of the FCC rules, which says that you can't sell amplifiers that are not part of a "system." A system is seen as a complete package of modulator, amplifier (if needed), and antenna. Systems also need to go through FCC equipment certification. Any equipment that isn't certified cannot be sold in the U.S.
I haven't talked to YDI or Hyperlink about this. They may know something about the rules I haven't found yet. The FCC is aware of the problem, and a number of folks associated with the FCC are encouraging them to come out with a policy on this equipment.
NA: Why would the government be out to get 802.11 network operators?
TP: I haven't seen the government in particular to "be out to get 802.11 network operators," so long as they play by the FCC's rules and regulations. There are a number of wireless ISPs that aren't doing that. As the FCC's enforcement division is not what it used to be, they probably won't get a visit unless they really screw up—by interfering with the wrong group, such as amateur radio operators.
There are other commercial interests that have concerns about 802.11 deployment. Satellite radio operators are concerned about the possible radio frequency energy that could affect their tuners. At one point it was rumored that the 3G [mobile phone network] operators were concerned about the competition that 802.11 could bring to the massive investment going into 3G.
NA: So if I'm setting up a wireless network for my company, say, on a campus-wide basis, could I be at risk?
TP: Depends on what you mean by "risk." If you're concerned about regulatory issues, you could be. There are numerous issues you need to be aware of, such as the FCC's rules and regulations and radio frequency radiation exposure to humans as regulated by the FCC, FDA, and other government organizations.
You could also be risking the investment that you're putting into the network. As a user of unlicensed equipment, you have no priority over any other users of the band. If anyone finds that you are contributing to interference with their communications, your network can be shut down with no legal recourse. These networks must be carefully designed to minimize the possibility of interference, such as using only the amount of power needed for the links and using highly directional antennas to keep your signal from using more "turf" than is needed.
NA: What issues should wireless service providers be concerned about?
TP: Many. I go into detail in my paper (www.lns.com/papers/part15/). It breaks down into Part 15 equipment certification; Part 15 power and spectral limitations; interference and coordination with other users of the band; radio frequency radiation exposure to humans; tower height limitations; local regulations, such as city regulations; and the appropriate usage policies of the broadband provider you're using.
NA: Will wide-area wireless networking ever go mainstream?
TP: The IEEE 802.18 regulatory committee would like to see it, and is pushing for that. I also think that with the authentication protocol 802.1X enabling roaming between access points, and the ability to for mom-and-pop providers to make a couple of bucks, there will be an increased demand for such equipment. This will put pressure on the FCC to "legitimize" it.
NA: You're a founding member of Bay Area Wireless Users Group (BAWUG). Tell us something about that.
TP: BAWUG was started by Matt Peterson in September 2000 as a way to handle the numerous questions he was getting about the unlicensed wireless deployment at Burning Man. He wanted someplace to point folks to, and as there were few places to go, he started BAWUG.
The group has monthly meetings that bring in experts in the field: manufacturers announcing new products, general announcements, cries for help, and answers from the meeting attendees. The BAWUG mailing list (www.bawug.org) is a good starting place for more information.
