Software Defined Radios

In this document we amend the Commission's rules to create a new class of equipment for software defined radios (SDRs) with streamlined equipment authorization procedures. We anticipate that software defined radio technology will allow manufacturers to develop reconfigurable transmitters or transceivers that can be multi-service, multi-standard, multi-mode, and multi-band. Specifically, we are amending our equipment authorization rules to permit equipment manufacturers to make changes in the frequency, power and modulation parameters of such radios without the need to file a new equipment authorization application with the Commission. We will also permit electronic labeling so that a third party may modify a radio's technical parameters without having to return it to the manufacturer for re-labeling. These changes will facilitate the deployment and use of this promising new technology, which we believe will facilitate more efficient use of the spectrum.