Sec. 101.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Antenna power gain. The ratio of the maximum radiation intensity to 
that of an isotropic (omnidirectional) radiator in the far field of its 
main (forward direction) lobe.
    Antenna power input. The radio frequency peak or RMS power, as the 
case may be, supplied to the antenna from the antenna transmission line 
and its associated impedance matching network.
    Antenna structure. The antenna, its supporting structure and 
anything attached to it.
    Assigned frequency. The center of the frequency band assigned to a 
station.
    Assigned frequency bandwidth. The frequency band within which the 
emission of a station is authorized; the width of the band equals the 
necessary bandwidth plus twice the absolute value of the frequency 
tolerance.
    Authorized bandwidth. The maximum bandwidth authorized to be used by 
a station as specified in the station license. (See Sec. 2.202 of this 
chapter)
    Authorized frequency. The frequency, or frequency range, assigned to 
a station by the Commission and specified in the instrument of 
authorization.
    Authorized power. The maximum power a station is permitted to use. 
This power is specified by the Commission in the station's 
authorization.
    Automatic Transmitter Power Control (ATPC). ATPC is a feature of a 
digital microwave radio system that adjusts the transmitter output 
power. ATPC allows the transmitter to operate at less than maximum power 
for most of the time. In a radio employing ATPC, the transmit power is 
reduced during normal operation conditions. When the receiver detects a 
reduction in signal level, a control signal is sent to the far end 
transmitter, instructing it to increase the power output to compensate 
for the signal reduction. The power output is limited to the licensed 
(maximum) transmit power. Guidelines for use of ATPC are set forth in 
the TIA Telecommunications Systems Bulletin TSB 10, ``Interference 
Criteria for Microwave Systems (TSB 10).''
    Bandwidth occupied by an emission. The band of frequencies 
comprising 99 percent of the total radiated power extended to include 
any discrete frequency on which the power is at least 0.25 percent of 
the total radiated power.
    Bit rate. The rate of transmission of information in binary (two 
state) form in bits per unit time.
    Carrier. In a frequency stabilized system, the sinusoidal component 
of a modulated wave whose frequency is independent of the modulating 
wave; or the output of a transmitter when the modulating wave is made 
zero; or a wave generated at a point in the transmitting system and 
subsequently modulated by the signal; or a wave generated locally at the 
receiving terminal which when combined with the side bands in a suitable 
detector, produces the modulating wave.
    Carrier frequency. The output of a transmitter when the modulating 
wave is made zero.
    Central office. A landline termination center used for switching and 
interconnection of public message communication circuits.

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    Common carrier fixed point-to-point microwave service. A common 
carrier public radio service rendered on microwave frequencies by fixed 
and temporary fixed stations between points that lie within the United 
States or between points to its possessions or to points in Canada or 
Mexico.
    Communication common carrier. Any person engaged in rendering 
communication service for hire to the public.
    Control point. An operating position at which an operator 
responsible for the operation of the transmitter is stationed and which 
is under the control and supervision of the licensee.
    Control station. A fixed station, the transmissions of which are 
used to control automatically the emissions or operations of a radio 
station, or a remote base station transmitter.
    Coordination area. The area associated with a station outside of 
which another station sharing the same or adjacent frequency band 
neither causes nor is subject to interfering emissions greater than a 
permissible level.
    Coordination contour. The line enclosing the coordination area.
    Coordination distance. The distance on a given azimuth from a 
station beyond which another station neither causes nor is subject to 
interfering emissions greater than a permissible level.
    Digital Electronic Message Nodal Station. A fixed point-to-
multipoint radio station in a Digital Electronic Message Service 
providing two-way communication with Digital Electronic Message User 
Stations.
    Digital Electronic Message Service. A two-way end-to-end fixed radio 
service utilizing digital termination systems for the exchange of 
digital information. This service may also make use of point-to-point 
microwave facilities, satellite facilities or other communications media 
to interconnect digital termination systems to comprise a network.
    Digital Electronic Message User Station. Any one of the fixed 
microwave radio stations located at users' premises, lying within the 
coverage area of a Digital Electronic Message Nodal Station, and 
providing two-way digital communications with the Digital Electronic 
Message Nodal Station.
    Digital modulation. The process by which some characteristic 
(frequency, phase, amplitude or combinations thereof) of a carrier 
frequency is varied in accordance with a digital signal, e.g., one 
consisting of coded pulses or states.
    Drop point. A term used in the point-to-point microwave radio 
service to designate a terminal point where service is rendered to a 
subscriber.
    Earth station. A station located either on the Earth's surface or 
within the major portion of Earth's atmosphere and intended for 
communication:
    (1) With one or more space stations; or
    (2) With one or more stations of the same kind by means of one or 
more reflecting satellites or other objects in space.
    Effective Radiated Power (ERP). The product of the power supplied to 
the antenna and its gain relative to a half-wave dipole in a given 
direction.
    Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP). The product of the 
power supplied to the antenna and the antenna gain in a given direction 
relative to an isotropic antenna.
    Exchange. A unit of a communication company or companies for the 
administration of communication service in a specified area, which 
usually embraces a city, town, or village and its environs, and 
consisting of one or more central offices, together with the associated 
plant, used in furnishing communication service in that area.
    Exchange area. The geographic area included within the boundaries of 
an exchange.
    Fixed satellite earth station. An earth station intended to be used 
at a specified fixed point.
    Fixed relay station. A fixed station associated with one or more 
stations, established to receive radio signals directed to it and to 
retransmit them automatically on a fixed service frequency.
    Fixed service. A radio communications service between specified 
fixed points.
    Fixed station. A station in the fixed service.
    Frequency tolerance. The maximum permissible departure by the center

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frequency of the frequency band occupied by an emission from the 
assigned frequency or, by the characteristic frequency of an emission 
from the reference frequency.

    Note: The frequency tolerance is expressed as a percentage or in 
Hertzs.

    General communication. Two-way voice communication, through a base 
station, between:
    (1) A common carrier land mobile or airborne station and a landline 
telephone station connected to a public message landline telephone 
system;
    (2) Two common carrier land mobile stations;
    (3) Two common carrier airborne stations;
    (4) A common carrier land mobile station and a common carrier 
airborne station.
    Harmful interference. Interference that endangers the functioning of 
a radionavigation service or of other safety services or seriously 
degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication 
service operating in accordance with these regulations.
    Internodal link. A point-to-point communications link used to 
provide communications between nodal stations or to interconnect nodal 
stations to other communications media.
    Landing area. A landing area means any locality, either of land or 
water, including airports and intermediate landing fields, which is 
used, or approved for use for the landing and take-off of aircraft, 
whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, servicing, or 
repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo.
    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Backbone Link. A point-to-
point radio service link in a Local Multipoint Distribution Service 
System that is used to interconnect Local Multipoint Distribution 
Service Hub Stations with each other or with the public switched 
telephone network.
    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Hub Station. A fixed point-to-
point or point-to-multipoint radio station in a Local Multipoint 
Distribution Service System that provides one-way or two-way 
communication with Local Multipoint Distribution Service Subscriber 
Stations.
    Local Multipoint Distribution Service Subscriber Station. Any one of 
the fixed microwave radio stations located at users' premises, lying 
within the coverage area of a Local Multipoint Distribution Service Hub 
Station, capable of receiving one-way communications from or providing 
two-way communications with the Local Multipoint Distribution Service 
Hub Station.
    Local Multipoint Distribution Service System. A fixed point-to-point 
or point-to-multipoint radio system consisting of Local Multipoint 
Distribution Service Hub Stations and their associated Local Multipoint 
Distribution Service Subscriber Stations.
    Local television transmission service. A public radio communication 
service for the transmission of television material and related 
communications.
    Long haul system. A microwave system licensed under this part in 
which the longest radio circuit of tandem radio paths exceeds 402 
kilometers.
    Master station. A station in a multiple address radio system that 
controls, activates or interrogates four or more remote stations. Master 
stations performing such functions may also receive transmissions from 
remote stations.
    Message center. The point at which messages from members of the 
public are accepted by the carrier for transmission to the addressee.
    Microwave frequencies. As used in this part, this term refers to 
frequencies of 890 MHz and above.
    Microwave link. A link is defined as a simplex communications 
circuit between two points utilizing a single frequency/polarization 
assignment. A duplex communications circuit would require two links, one 
link in each direction.
    Miscellaneous common carriers. Communications common carriers that 
are not engaged in the business of providing either a public landline 
message telephone service or public message telegraph service.
    Mobile earth station. An earth station intended to be used while in 
motion or during halts at unspecified points.
    Mobile service. A radio communication service between mobile and 
land stations or between mobile stations.

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    Mobile station. A station in the mobile service intended to be used 
while in motion or during halts at unspecified points.
    Multiple address system (MAS). A point-to-multipoint radio 
communications system, either one-way or two-way, utilizing frequencies 
in accordance with Sec. 101.147 and serving a minimum of four unique 
remote stations. Each master station must serve at least its own four 
remotes. The remote stations must be scattered over the service area in 
such a way that two or more point-to-point systems would be needed to 
serve those remotes.
    National Spatial Reference System. The National Spatial Reference 
System (NSRS) is the name given to all Geodetic Control information 
contained in the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Data Base. This 
includes: A, B, First, Second, and Third Order horizontal and vertical 
control observed by NGS as well as data submitted by other agencies 
(i.e., USGS, BLM, States, Counties, Cities, and private surveying 
organizations).
    Necessary bandwidth. For a given class of emission, the width of the 
frequency band that is just sufficient to ensure the transmission of 
information at the rate and with the quality required under specified 
conditions. The necessary bandwidth may be calculated using the formulas 
in Sec. 2.202 of this chapter.
    Nodal station. The central or controlling station in a radio system 
operating on point-to-multipoint frequencies in the 2.5, 10.6, or 18 GHz 
bands.
    Occupied bandwidth. The width of a frequency bandwidth such that, 
below the lower and above the upper frequency limits, the mean powers 
emitted are each equal to a specified percentage, B/2 of the total mean 
power of a given emission. Unless otherwise specified by the CCIR for 
the appropriate class of emission, the value of B/2 should be taken as 
0.5%.

    Note: The percentage of the total power outside the occupied 
bandwidth is represented by B.

    Operational fixed station. A private fixed station not open to 
public correspondence.
    Passive repeater. A re-radiation device associated with a 
transmitting/receiving antenna system that re-directs intercepted 
radiofrequency energy. For example, it may consist of reflector(s) or 
back-to-back parabolic or horn antennas.
    Path length. The total distance of a path from the transmit to the 
receive antenna, inclusive of all passive repeaters, if any.
    Periscope antenna system. An antenna system which involves the use 
of a passive reflector to deflect radiation from or to a directional 
transmitting or receiving antenna which is oriented vertically or near 
vertically.
    Prior coordination. A bilateral process conducted prior to filing 
applications which includes the distribution of the technical parameters 
of a proposed radio system to potentially affected parties for their 
evaluation and timely response.
    Private carrier. An entity licensed in the private service and 
authorized to provide communications service to other private service 
eligibles on a commercial basis.
    Private line service. A service whereby facilities for communication 
between two or more designated points are set aside for the exclusive 
use or availability for use of a particular customer and authorized 
users during stated periods of time.
    Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave service. A 
private line radio service rendered on microwave frequencies by fixed 
and temporary fixed stations between points that lie within the United 
States or between points to its possessions or to points in Canada or 
Mexico.
    Public correspondence. Any telecommunication which the offices and 
stations must, by reason of their being at the disposal of the public, 
accept for transmission.
    Public message service. A service whereby facilities are offered to 
the public for communication between all points served by a carrier or 
by interconnected carriers on a non-exclusive message by message basis, 
contemplating a separate connection for each occasion of use.
    Radio station. A separate transmitter or a group of transmitters 
under simultaneous common control, including the

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accessory equipment required for carrying on a radiocommunication 
service.
    Radiocommunication. Telecommunication by means of radio waves.
    Rated power output. The maximum radio frequency power output 
capability (peak or average power) of a transmitter, under optimum 
conditions of adjustment and operation, specified by its manufacturer.
    Record communication. Any transmission of intelligence which is 
reduced to visual record form at the point of reception.
    Reference frequency. A frequency having a fixed and specified 
position with respect to the assigned frequency. The displacement of 
this frequency with respect to the assigned frequency has the same 
absolute value and sign that the displacement of the characteristic 
frequency has with respect to the centre of the frequency band occupied 
by the emission.
    Relay station. A fixed station used for the reception and 
retransmission of the signals of another station or stations.
    Remote station. A fixed station in a multiple address radio system 
that transmits one-way to one or more central receive sites, controls a 
master station, or is controlled, activated or interrogated by, and may 
respond to, a master station.
    Repeater station. A fixed station established for the automatic 
retransmission of radiocommunications received from one or more mobile 
stations and directed to a specified location; for public mobile radio 
operations, a fixed station that automatically retransmits the mobile 
communications and/or transmitter information about the base station, 
along a fixed point-to-point link between the base station and the 
central station.
    Secondary operations. Radio communications which may not cause 
interference to operations authorized on a primary basis and which are 
not protected from interference from these primary operations.
    Short haul system. A microwave system licensed under this part in 
which the longest radio circuit of tandem radio paths does not exceed 
402 kilometers.
    Signal booster. A device at a fixed location which automatically 
receives, amplifies, and retransmits on a one-way or two-way basis, the 
signals received from base, fixed, mobile, and portable stations, with 
no change in frequency or authorized bandwidth. A signal booster may be 
either narrowband (Class A), in which case the booster amplifies only 
those discrete frequencies intended to be retransmitted, or broadband 
(Class B), in which case all signals within the passband of the signal 
booster filter are amplified.
    Signaling communication. One-way communications from a base station 
to a mobile or fixed receiver, or to multi-point mobile or fixed 
receivers by audible or subaudible means, for the purpose of actuating a 
signaling device in the receiver(s) or communicating information to the 
receiver(s), whether or not the information is to be retained in record 
form.
    Standby transmitter. A transmitter installed and maintained for use 
in lieu of the main transmitter only during periods when the main 
transmitter is out of service for maintenance or repair.
    Symbol rate. Modulation rate in bauds. This rate may be higher than 
the transmitted bit rate as in the case of coded pulses or lower as in 
the case of multilevel transmission.
    Telegraphy. A form of telecommunication which is concerned in any 
process providing transmission and reproduction at a distance of 
documentary matter, such as written or printed matter or fixed images, 
or the reproduction at a distance of any kind of information in such a 
form. Unless otherwise specified, telegraphy means a form of 
telecommunication for the transmission of written matter by the use of 
signal code.
    Telemetering. The use of telecommunication for automatic indicating 
or recording measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.
    Telephony. A form of telecommunication set up for the transmission 
of speech, or in some cases, other sounds.
    Television. A form of telecommunication for transmission of 
transient images of fixed or moving objects.

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    Temporary fixed station. A station established in a non-permanent 
mode (temporary) at a specified location for a short period of time, 
ranging up to one year. Temporary-fixed operations are itinerant in 
nature, and are not to be confused with mobile-type operations.
    Video entertainment material. The transmission of a video signal 
(e.g. United States Standard Monochrome or National Television Systems 
Committee 525-line television) and an associated audio signal which is 
designed primarily to amuse or entertain, such as movies and games.
[ 61 FR 26677 , May 28, 1996, as amended at  61 FR 29693 , June 12, 1996;  61 FR 31052 , June 19, 1996;  61 FR 44181 , Aug. 28, 1996;  62 FR 23163 , Apr. 
29, 1997]

                  Subpart B--Applications and Licenses

                       General Filing Requirements