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FCC RIN: 3060-AI76 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: Spectrum Requirements for Advanced Medical Technologies (ET Docket No. 06-135) 
Abstract: The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking focused on ways to better accommodate the operation of implanted and body-worn medical transmitters in the 400 MHz band. These devices use wireless technologies for increasingly sophisticated and beneficial health care applications. Such applications currently include cardiac defibrillators for heart patients and real-time blood sugar monitoring devices for diabetics, and may, in the future, include applications as diverse as brain, muscle and nerve stimulation techniques for treating an array of conditions from Parkinson's disease to severe chronic depression. The Commission proposed to modify its current rules and designate an additional two megahertz of spectrum in the adjacent 401-402 MHz and 405-406 MHz bands in order to appropriately provide needed capacity and more flexible operating rules for beneficial medical radio communication devices and thereby serve the public interest. The Report and Order establishes a new Medical Device Radiocommunication Service (MedRadio Service) of the Commission's rules. This new service incorporates the existing Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS) "core" band at 402-405 MHz, and also includes two megahertz of newly designated spectrum in the adjacent "wing" bands at 401-402 MHz and 405-406 MHz. The MedRadio Service will accommodate the operation of body-worn as well as implanted medical devices, including those using either listen-before-talk (LBT) frequency monitoring or non-LBT spectrum access methods, in designated portions of the 401 406 MHz band. The Commission addressed a petition for reconsideration (petition) filed by Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic) regarding rules for the Medical Device Radio-communication (MedRadio) service. The Commission granted reconsideration to the extent of amending the MedRadio rules to permit the submission of average power transmitter measurements, and making editorial corrections or clarifications to several provisions concerning the frequency monitoring criteria and permissible communications for "listen-before-talk" (LBT) and non-LBT devices. The Commission denied reconsideration in all other respects and otherwise affirmed certain provisions of the MedRadio rules questioned by Medtronic. 
Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 2   
Legal Authority: 47 USC 151    47 USC 154(i)    47 USC 157(a)    47 USC 301    47 USC 303(f) and 303(g)    47 USC 307(e)    47 USC 332   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  08/02/2006  71 FR 43682   
NPRM Comment Period End  10/31/2006    
NPRM--Reply Comment Period End  12/04/2006    
R&O  05/14/2009  74 FR 22696   
Petition for Reconsideration  07/27/2009  74 FR 37035   
R&O  04/05/2010  75 FR 17055   
MO&O  08/26/2010  75 FR 52472   
Additional Information: ET Docket No. 06-135
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Gary Thayer
Electronics Engineer
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554
Phone:202 418-2290
Email: gary.thayer@fcc.gov