ACSM Opposes Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Legislation

ACSM has been a participant in the coalition that opposes the use of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) devices where they may interfere with signals used in GPS work. Recently, Laurence Socci attended a Congressional hearing that held in the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet to discuss the UWB issue and the recent FCC order permitting a limited deployment of UWB technology. The hearing also discussed the FCC ruling that it will conduct tests for 6 - 12 months, under "real world" situations to determine whether UWB creates harmful interference in the restricted bands. Chairman Tauzin stressed repeatedly that he wants to see the "real world" tests and he came down on the FCC and DOT witnesses for not doing the real world tests before coming up with the ruling.

UWB devices operate by employing a very narrow or short duration pulses that result in very large or wideband transmission bandwidths. There is a concern among coalition members that UWBs will interfere with signals used in their line of work. ACSM is concerned that UWBs will interfere with signals used in GPS work. Particularly, it is concerned that UWBs will effect satellite transmissions if allowed to be used in the band of the spectrum where that communication occurs.

While its concerns are not as "life threatening" as the concerns of some other members of the coalition, ACSM feels this legislation will affect its members and the way they do their jobs.