0430-EX-ST-2008

Filing overview

Special Temporary Authority application - Address

Attention:

Brian K. Lewallen, Attorney, Legal Services Div.

City:

Peoria

E-Mail Address:

Lewallen_Brian_K@cat.com

State:

IL

Street Address:

100 N.E. Adams Street

Zip Code:

61629

Special Temporary Authority application - Applicant Name

Name of Applicant:

Caterpillar, Inc.

Special Temporary Authority application - Best Contact

First Name:

Andy

Last Name:

Knitt

Phone Number:

309-578-2724

Title:

EMC Technical Specialist

Special Temporary Authority application - Certification

Applicant certification

Neither the applicant nor any other party to the application is subject to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. The applicant hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the prvious use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and requests authorization in accordance with this application. (See Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.) The applicant acknowledges that all statements made in this application and attached exhibits are considered material representations, and that all the exhibits part hereof and are incorporated herein as if set out in full in this application; undersigned certifies that all statements in this application are true, complete and correct to the best of his/her knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Applicant certifies that construction of the station would NOT be an action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect. See the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR1.1301-1.1319.

Date:

2008-08-14 00:00:00.0

Signature of Applicant (Authorized person filing form):

Tana L. Utley

Title of Applicant (if any):

Vice-President, Technology & Solutions Dept.

Special Temporary Authority application - Explanation

Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:

Caterpillar hereby requests a six-month extension of its special temporary authority (?STA?) to continue outdoor electromagnetic compatibility (?EMC?) immunity testing on prototype models of its extremely large, heavy machinery on three frequencies (275 MHz, 325 MHz and 375 MHz) at its Peoria Proving Grounds and Tucson Proving Grounds sites. Caterpillar?s current STA authorizing this testing was granted by the FCC in March 2008 and will expire on September 22, 2008. See Experimental STA Authorization, Call Sign WD9XEM, FCC File No. 0061-EX-ST-2008. Caterpillar requests this STA extension for the shorter of six months or until such time as the Commission acts on its underlying application for an experimental authorization to conduct its EMC immunity testing on the same three frequencies. See FCC File No. 0077-EX-PL-2008 (filed Feb. 15, 2008). Caterpillar submitted an amendment to its underlying experimental application on May 8, 2008, responding to a series of questions about its proposed EMC immunity testing from the Military Assignment Group. To date, Caterpillar has received no additional requests for information and the FCC has not yet acted on the application. Since its current STA was approved in March 2008, Caterpillar has collectively conducted outdoor EMC immunity testing 8 times at either its Peoria or Tucson proving grounds. This EMC immunity testing included the three frequencies at issue here (275 MHz, 325 MHz and 375 MHz) as well as a wide range of frequencies that the FCC authorized for testing in December 2007. See FCC File No. 0003-EX-PL-2007. Caterpillar has not received any interference complaints regarding this EMC immunity testing. Caterpillar is required to conduct EMC immunity testing on its extremely large, heavy equipment across a wide range of frequencies to ensure compliance with different international product safety regulatory schemes, including those of the European Union. The 275-375 MHz band is included in the required range of frequencies for testing. Unless the Commission grants a renewal of the STA to allow continued EMC immunity testing on 275, 325 and 375 MHz, Caterpillar will not be permitted to export any new, heavy machinery products into the countries with these international product safety standards, including the EU countries. For these reasons, Caterpillar submits that the requested extension of its existing STA is in the public interest and should be granted. Given the highly-competitive international market for heavy, industrial machinery, innovation is extremely important for success. To remain competitive, Caterpillar must be able to bring new equipment to market.

Special Temporary Authority application - Information

Callsign:

WD9XEM

Class of Station:

FX

Nature of Service:

Experimental

Special Temporary Authority application - Initial values - Certification

Signature of Applicant (Authorized person filing form):

Mark R. Pflederer

Special Temporary Authority application - Manufacturer

Equipment 1 Experimental

No

Equipment 1 Manufacturer

RF Powerlabs

Equipment 1 Model Number

220-1K60L

Equipment 1 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 2 Experimental

No

Equipment 2 Manufacturer

Amplifier Research

Equipment 2 Model Number

15A250

Equipment 2 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 3 Experimental

No

Equipment 3 Manufacturer

Amplifier Research

Equipment 3 Model Number

500W1000M7

Equipment 3 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 4 Experimental

No

Equipment 4 Manufacturer

Amplifier Research

Equipment 4 Model Number

120S1G3

Equipment 4 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 5 Experimental

No

Equipment 5 Manufacturer

Amplifier Research

Equipment 5 Model Number

150A100A

Equipment 5 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 6 Experimental

No

Equipment 6 Manufacturer

Amplifier Research

Equipment 6 Model Number

100W1000M1

Equipment 6 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 7 Experimental

No

Equipment 7 Manufacturer

Agilent Technologies

Equipment 7 Model Number

8648D

Equipment 7 No. Of Units

1

Equipment 8 Experimental

No

Equipment 8 Manufacturer

Hewlett Packard

Equipment 8 Model Number

8648C

Equipment 8 No. Of Units

1

Special Temporary Authority application - Purpose of Operation

Please explain the purpose of operation:

Caterpillar is required to conduct EMC immunity testing on its extremely large, heavy equipment across a wide range of frequencies to ensure compliance with different international product safety regulatory schemes, including those of the European Union. EMC immunity testing involves placing a transmitting antenna on or near the equipment under test and generating an RF signal with an RF signal generator and amplifier. The RF signal is directed to critical electronic components on Caterpillar?s large, heavy machinery that could potentially be affected if operated in a high electromagnetic field environment. The ERP for the EMC immunity testing on these three frequencies authorized in Caterpillar?s current STA is 500 watts with emission designators 2K00A3E and 0H00N0N from an antenna less than 2 meters off the ground. Since its current STA was approved in March 2008, Caterpillar has collectively conducted outdoor EMC immunity testing 8 times at either its Peoria or Tucson proving grounds. This EMC testing included the three frequencies at issue here (275 MHz, 325 MHz and 375 MHz) as well as a wide range of frequencies that the FCC authorized for testing in December 2007. See FCC File No. 0003-EX-PL-2007. Caterpillar has not received any interference complaints regarding this EMC immunity testing. Any potential interference from the EMC immunity testing on these three frequencies is mitigated by a number of factors. The dwell time on any single frequency during EMC immunity testing is never more than 10 seconds and in most instances is fewer than 5 seconds. The test sites at the Peoria and Tucson proving grounds are also terrain shielded in many directions. The EMC immunity testing procedure uses fixed antennas mounted close to the ground (2 meters or less) and close to the equipment under test (3 to 5 meters). Both factors will greatly limit the range of the transmitted signal.

Special Temporary Authority application - Requested Period of Operation

Operation End Date:

03/22/2009

Operation Start Date:

09/22/2008

Frequencies

Sites