Broadband Engineering Basics

1. Broadband Engineering Basics 2019 NTTA Tribal Engineering & Broadband Summit Thomas Derenge, Deputy Chief Mobility Division, FCC April 16, 2019 Note: The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and may not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Communications Commission

2. Overview • Radio Frequency (RF) basics and terminology. • Basic Broadband system architecture. • Spectrum Consideration. • Regulatory Considerations. • Ongoing developments. • Questions

3. What’s with GGGGG? • Generations of wireless evolution: • 1st Generation - analog voice. • 2nd G - digital voice and text. (still in use) • 3rd G – data, web content (CDMA, GSM, UMTS). • 4th G – high speed bi-directional data (LTE). • 5G factors – higher order modulation, advanced antenna systems, increased cell density, use higher frequency bands for more bandwidth and other factors to strive for faster, real time communications. 6G? • Source:https://www.blog.aquadsoft.com/evolution-of-generations-of-internet-1g-to-5g/

4. What is 5G? New Radio (NR) standard being developed. 1-10 Gbps connections to end points in the field (i.e. not theoretical maximum) 1 millisecond end-to-end round trip delay (latency) 1000x bandwidth per unit area 10-100x number of connected devices (Perception of) 99.999% availability (Perception of) 100% coverage 90% reduction in network energy usage Up to 10 year battery life for low power, machine-type devices High speed Low latency User perception of limitless bandwidth Enable connection of billions of devices Low energy – long battery life New options for telemedicine and other high data demanding services. Supports IOT and other advances. Source: 4G Americas, 5G Technology Evolution Recommendations White Paper

5. RF Basics Antenna Antenna Transmission Line Transmission Line Transmitter Electromagnetic waves or radio signals propagate over the airwaves Receiver The transmitter generates an electrical signal and feeds it to an antenna by a transmission line The receiver detects the signal and pulls the information off. • Frequency = number of cycles per second: • Hertz = 1 cycle per second • Kilohertz = Thousand cycles per second • Megahertz = Million cycles per second • Gigahertz = Billion cycles per second • Wavelength=(Speed of Light)/Frequency • Amplitude= Signal Strength or power

6. Modulation • The information (voice, video, or data) is converted to an electrical signal that “modulates” a radio signal at the transmitter and is “demodulated” at the receiver. • “Modulation” is necessary to imprint information on spectrum. • The information is imprinted by varying the signals components: amplitude (AM), frequency (FM), phase (PSK) or code (CDMA) • Allows transmission of information over large distances. • Different modulation techniques have pros/cons. • Higher order modulation means you are generating a more complex signal that modulates more info onto the signal. (e.g., LTE devices use QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM to modulate data and control information.)

7. Advantages of Digital Modulation • Advantages of Digital: • Greater immunity to noise. • Ability to be encrypted. • Higher capacity. • But, Signal is either on or off (digital cliff effect).

8. Bandwidth • Bandwidth is the amount of RF spectrum occupied by an RF signal (sometimes referred to as channel). • Wider bandwidth channels can carry more information. • Spectrum is a finite resource that requires management to prevent interference. • FCC manages non-Federal spectrum use, NTIA manages Federal spectrum use. • Spectrum in the US is either exclusive Federal, exclusive non-Federal, or shared Federal/non-Federal. BW = fhigh - flow flow fhigh

9. Topology Backbone IXP East Access Regional X Backbone Access X Backbone Access Regional Network Access Network Internet eXchange Point IXP 10 major interconnection Cities in the US. Long Haul End Users Enterprise Campuses

10. Broadband Architecture Basics • Common options and architecture across various platforms, best option depends on the situation. (e.g., fiber has lots of capacity, but expensive to deploy in rural areas where fixed microwave may be best). Gateway Head end Data center Central Office Routing center Home Wifi WISP Cell tower DAS Fiber node Coax amp Fiber node IXP Amplifier Fixed wireless Aggregation Point. Distribution Backhaul, Access points “last mile” 10

11. Spot the Issue Routing Localization MEDS Route Lengthening Buffering Access Capacity Data Caps Throttling Pricing Filtering Blocking Spoofing IP / DNS / Port / Protocol Applications Content Devices CDN Access Backbone Regional IXP East X Access Backbone ⌛ X Buffering…... Access X Backbone X DNS Route Blocking Interconnection Redundancy MPLS Priority Redundancy ISP provided Equipment Server Response Time Terminate Service Rate limiting Data Compression

12. Transit Backbone IXP Tier 1 IXP Backbone Peering Peering Transit $$ Transit $$ Regional Tier 2 Regional Transit $$ Transit $$ Transit $$ Transit $$ Transit $$ Transit $$ Tier 3 Edge Edge Edge Edge Edge Edge $ $ $ $  $  $    

13. Getting to the Internet (Interconnection) • New Mexico lacks a major peering city (there are 10 major peering cities) • New Mexico does have three smaller interconnection points. An access network has a choice of • Buying 100% transit from a transit provider for full Internet access • Getting to a major peering city like Denver (cost more to get there but can directly peer with more networks) • Get to a local peering point and try to do the best they can there • Interconnection is just one cost. Getting to content and directly interconnecting on a settlement free basis is a way of defraying that cost. It also dramatically improves the performance of the network by reducing latency, jitter, and congestion. • Forming a Co-op with other communities to consolidate data may lower costs (Demand aggregation).

14. Internet Stack 🎲 🐶 🚲 📰 🌮 ⚾ 👾 🤡 📰 Content Layer Over the Top Content & Applications ☎️ 📽️ 🖥️ 📧 ⚕️📊 🔒 🖥️ ☎️ 📽️ 🖥️ 📧 Application Layer Offered by ISP Network Layer Internet Copper Fiber Spectrum COAX Conduit / ROW / Towers Physical Layer

15. IXNM Pacific Wave Pacific Wave

16. Allocations vs. Assignment • Allocation categories: Mobile, Fixed, Broadcast, Fixed Satellite Service Uplink… • Allocation status: Primary (protected),Co-primary (coordinated), Secondary, and Non-Interference Basis (unlicensed). • Assignment is obtaining authorization to use a frequency band at a location (aka obtain a license). • The license and rules typically dictate, what frequencies are assigned for what purpose, geographic scope, and maximum technical parameters (power, antenna height, spurious emission limits).

17. U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations Available at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html Section 2.106 of FCC rules has granular allocation details

18. Spectrum Considerations • Lower frequencies travel further, but higher frequencies have more bandwidth. • Are you looking for mobile broadband or service to a fixed location? • Spectrum availability and cost. Varies between urban and rural deployments. • Equipment availability and cost, established bands have more equipment options. • Scope of deployment and whether you need exclusivity.

19. Spectrum Access • Licensed service, License-by-rule, Unlicensed. • Geographic area licensing. • Exclusive assignment of a block of spectrum over a defined geographic area. • Generally assigned by auction, but secondary market process is very flexible. • Coordinated site based licensing (fixed backhaul (aka microwave or links), some satellite and narrowband land mobile). • Can be shared or exclusive, but coordination used to prevent interference. • License by Rule – shared, but with some status: Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and Part 95 (CB, FRS, Medradio). • Unlicensed – UNII, Wifi. • Free access, flexible rules, low power, but no protection or rights.

20. Licensed Mobile Spectrum Considerations • True mobility typically requires licensed spectrum, which can be expensive to obtain through auction. • Customers expect wide area coverage. • Spectrum is often more readily available in rural areas. • Easier to cover large areas with wireless and can call 911 on the road. • More power, interference protection, certainty compared to unlicensed. • License term typically 10-15 years, with renewal expectancy. • Regulatory requirements: • Meet construction requirements, renewal requirements, 911 and others. • Update ULS to keep your records up to day.

21. Obtaining Secondary Market Spectrum • Commission has striven to make flexible secondary market options. • Spectrum leasing. • Other licensee still owns the license, but you get access under negotiated terms. • They must keep the license in good standing. • Partitioning (breaking off a geographic area). • You get your own license and will have your own regulatory requirements. • We do not usually aggregate licenses back together, but P&D NPRM is asking questions. • Be mindful of the size of the area due to construction requirements and emission limits at the license boundary. • Disaggregation (breaking off bandwidth). • Be mindful of how much bandwidth you need with evolving broadband demands and technologies. • Can Disaggregate and Partition in one application. • Contact us – we are here to help you navigate ULS, applications, processes….

22. Licensed Fixed Spectrum Considerations • Part 101 Point-to-point for backhaul. • Relatively low coordination and filing fees $300 application fee, $500-600 coordination fee per link. • Can achieve line of sight distances of 20-30 miles. • Scalable spectrum blocks to meet demand (e.g., 30 MHz channels). • Explore leasing capacity on existing paths. • Fixed Point-to-Multipoint Services • Spectrum Frontier bands above 24 GHz • High bandwidth for the last mile, but short range • Past attempts failed due to equipment challenges and competition, but renewed interest thanks to 5G and greater bandwidth demands • BRS/EBS band (2.5 GHz) are used for last mile fixed or mobile with better propagation.

23. License Free Spectrum Options and Considerations • Shared bands (radars and baby monitors), no protection rights, power limits, but flexible rules and few regulatory obstacles. • Unlicensed Part 15 Fixed at 902, 2400 and 5725 MHz. • 1 watt and varying antenna gain depending on the band. • Fixed links can reach several miles depending on factors. • White spaces in TV Bands. • Limited to 6 MHz TV channels and 4 watts. • Unlicensed Wifi and Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP). • Affordable equipment, good for small cluster of homes, but limited range. • 3650 MHz being converted to 3550-3700 MHz CBRS, which will have a license free component. • CBRS will be introduced soon for 5G local access in 10 MHz channels. • Access controlled by a dynamic spectrum access system to protect incumbents and priority entities that paid for the spectrum. • Unlicensed Spectrum Frontier bands good for very short hops with wide bandwidths.

24. Spectrum Available for Broadband Licensed Unlicensed Existing unlicensed bands allow flexible use: 915 MHz (902 – 928 MHz) 2.4 GHz (2400 – 2483 MHz) 5 GHz (Total of 555 MHz) 57 – 64 GHz (7 GHz) Overlay in many other bands Expansion of unlicensed: TV “White Spaces” 3.5 GHz – Advanced sharing (General Authorized Access) Relaxed existing 5 GHz rules Proposed 195 MHz more at 5 GHz New band at 64 – 71 GHz • Existing commercial wireless bands allow flexible use (600 MHz, 700 MHz, Cellular (800 MHz), PCS (2 GHz), AWS 1.7-3 GHz, BRS 2.4 GHz…) • Expansion of spectrum: • 3.5 GHz – Advanced sharing (Priority Access Licenses) • New licensed bands in millimeter wave spectrum at 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz Additional bands proposed for licensed and/or unlicensed use (Spectrum Frontiers) at 24 GHz, 32 GHz, 42 GHz 47 GHz, 50 GHz, 70 GHz, 80 GHz, and above 95 GHz

25. Spectrum Frontiers First Report and Order Bands - 2016 Lower 600 MHz identified for sharing between Federal Government and Private Sector - - invited comment on sharing method Granted incumbent fixed licensees authority to offer mobile service; led to market transactions Satellite/terrestrial sharing accomplished by well defined protections & rights

26. Spectrum Frontiers Second Report and Order Bands -2017

27. Finding Licenses in ULS

28. ULS Geosearch

29. ULS results, Contact info, Freq….

30. Developments to Watch For • CBRS 3.5 GHz roll out. • 70 MHz of Priority Access county based licenses to be auctioned. • License free General Access equipment that simply needs to pay spectrum manager fees. • Could be used for last mile fixed, mobile or private LTE networks. • Auctions 24 GHz band (auction 102) happening, and an upcoming incentive auction that will offer new flexible use licenses in the Upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands. • Midband C Band redo. • Docket 18-122 - exploring 5G options at 3.7-4.2 GHz. • Docket 18-295 – exploring new unlicensed options at 6 GHz. • BRS/EBS NPRM (Docket 18-120) sought comment on tribal priority filing window for unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum.

31. Thank You for Your Time • Questions? • Reach out if you need us. • www.fcc.gov • 1(888) CALL FCC (225-5322) • thomas.derenge@fcc.gov