FCC Approves First Software Defined Radio.

The FCC announced today it has approved, for the first time, use of a software defined radio device in the U.S. This new class of equipment allows users to share limited airspace, increases flexibility and reduces interference concerns. Software defined radios can change the frequency range, modulation type or output power of a radio device without making changes to hardware components. This programmable capacity permits radios to be highly adaptable to changing needs, protocols and environments.



The FCC's Laboratory Division has issued a Grant of Certification to Vanu, a software development company, for a cellular base station transmitter.



Vanu has demonstrated that its device complies with the FCC rules, and has shown that its software has sufficient controls so that the device cannot be modified to operate outside its FCC-approved parameters. The Commission currently has a rulemaking pending that will further streamline the software defined radio requirements, and it is working with each applicant on a case-by-case basis to facilitate compliance with the current rules. http://www.fcc.gov