Attachment A Backgound Information

0258-EX-CN-2019 Text Documents

Carnegie Mellon University

2019-04-29ELS_228637

 Attachment A – Background Information, Response to Item 7 Questions & Requested for
                              Extended License Term

        This application has its roots in Experimental License WI2XPQ (expired) but goes
beyond those experiments. That license allowed the Applicant, Carnegie Mellon University
(“CMU”) to participate in the Naval Post-Graduate School’s Joint Interagency Field
Experimentation (“JIFX”), sometimes referred to as “Naval Postgraduate School Field
Experimentation (‘NPS-FX’).” Information about the experimentation is available online at
https://my.nps.edu/web/fx. These events are generally held at Camp Roberts, Highway 101, Camp
Roberts, CA 93451-5000. CMU has been, and will continue to be, an active participant in JFIX
exercises, as well as certain experiments for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”).
Also, CMU is a participant in OPERA: Open Pittsburgh wirEless Research Accelerator, which is
an open large-scale wireless communications and sensor testbed that will enable the next-
generation of safe connected and automated vehicles and a host of smart city applications and
services.

JFIX

         JIFX enables a diverse group of academics, government labs, private industry, end users,
and others to come together to develop and refine new technologies in a field environment. The
results advance both the science of radio engineering and national defense. At times, emergency
first responders also participate. Due to the sponsorship of the Army and Navy and the
relationship of JFIX to military effectiveness and national defense, the exact nature of the
experiments and exercises are generally treated as confidential and not disclosed beyond the
sponsors and, as appropriate, the participants. As permitted by the Army and the Navy and upon
reasonable request by the Commission, CMU would disclose information to the Commission on
a confidential basis. This information would include: a) The complete program of research and
experimentation proposed, including description of equipment and theory of operation; b) The
specific objectives sought to be accomplished and c) How the program of experimentation has a
reasonable promise of contribution to the development, extension, expansion or utilization of the
radio art, or is along a line not already investigated.

USDA

        In addition, CMU has been approached by the USDA to participate in similar radio
technology research throughout the state of California. CMU believes that this additional
research, the results of which can generally be disseminated, can and will provide further
benefits the public interest. Therefore, in this application, CMU is seeking permission to extend
the license footprint throughout California, although CMU expects much of the experiments will
be carried out in rural parts of the state.

       OPERA

        Many entities, including universities, state and local governments and businesses will
participate with CMU in using the wireless OPERA platform in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
to:


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      •   conduct advanced reproducible research on next-generation wireless technologies in real-
          world settings;
      •   obtain real-time sensing information to enable and optimize services and applications
          including, but not limited to, connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”), traffic flows,
          traffic signal controls, fleet vehicle movements, streetlights, video analytics, bus transit,
          air/noise quality;
      •   leverage edge computing to reduce bandwidth requirements, minimize response times
          and address security and privacy concerns;
      •   build and study at-scale applications to improve safety and mobility, and monitor the
          environment; and
      •   utilize time-series and metadata repositories to serve as the foundation of long-term smart
          community data sciences research.

          Research from the OPERA experiments will be shared as permitted.

         CMU conducts many of its “on-location” experiments from its mobile RF laboratory (a
retrofitted EMT rescue vehicle, length 7 meters, height 2.7 meters) with an extendable antenna
mast (16 meters maximum from the top of the mast to the bottom of the tires) illustration filed
perviously. This vehicle will be deployed at Camp Roberts and around the rest of the state.
Accordingly, it is impossible to provide exact details requested in the questions about antenna
height except at Camp Roberts.1 Other experiments will be conducted with mobile transmitters
outside the mobile lab.2 When operating in locations within 805 meters of a covered airport,
CMU will make any notifications to the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) as explained
in Section 17.7 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 17.7.

        Since the JFIX-, USDA- and OPERA-related experiments will be ongoing,3 CMU
requests that it be granted an experimental license for the maximum period of five years. Section
5.71(a), 47 C.F.R. § 5.71(a). Such a grant would allow more CMU resources to be spent on
research, rather than on license renewals. Further, CMU has a good compliance record with
Commission rules, such that a longer license term does not increase the risk of harmful
interference.




1
 CMU’s application includes antenna height location for Camp Roberts and is the same as that which
was approved as part of WI2XPQ.
2
    CMU’s use of directional antennas will be in compliance with Part 15, Subpart C of the FCC’s rules.
3
    For example, JFIX events are held quarterly.

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Document Created: 2019-04-29 06:57:17
Document Modified: 2019-04-29 06:57:17

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