Standards & SpectrumL3

Advanced Regulatory

Advanced Regulatory Reference - SAR, ETSI EN 301 893, ITU-R SM.329, CE/RED, ITU RR, CBRS | IEEE/FCC/ETSI/ITU Official Sources8 rows#

Topic	Standard / CFR	Key Parameters / Limits	Measurement Method / Process	Engineering Impact
SAR - Specific Absorption Rate (FCC)	47 CFR §2.1091 §2.1093 IEC 62209-1	FCC limit: 1.6 W/kg averaged over any 1 gram of tissue (head/body) FCC general population limit: applies to all consumer devices FCC occupational limit: 5 W/kg per 1g (controlled environment) Exclusion distance: devices operating ≤ 20 mW average TX power are exempt from SAR testing (§2.1091(c))	Measurement: SAR probe scanned in tissue-simulating liquid phantom (head/body model). 1g cube averaging. Per IEC 62209-1 (SAR measurement in tissue-simulating liquids). Separation distances tested: 0mm (contact), 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm. Test equipment: SAR scanner + probe calibration traceable to NIST.	Wi-Fi devices must be tested at max TX power in each band. Dual-band/tri-band devices tested simultaneously. High-gain antennas require spatial separation compensation. SAR typically limits TX power at close body proximity → devices reduce power when body-mounted.
SAR - ICNIRP / European Standard	ICNIRP 1998 + 2020 guidelines IEC 62209-2 / EN 50566 IEC 62209-3	ICNIRP limit: 2 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue (far less restrictive than FCC 1g) General public: 2 W/kg over 10g (head/trunk), 4 W/kg over 10g (limbs) Occupational: 10 W/kg over 10g Frequency range: 100 kHz - 6 GHz	IEC 62209-2: SAR measurement for devices used close to ear. IEC 62209-3: wireless devices used close to body. EN 50566: close-body products. Vectored E-field probe + robotic scanner in SAR phantom. 10g cube averaging. CE marking requires SAR compliance with ICNIRP via RED Article 3.1(a).	EU devices: 2 W/kg over 10g is far easier to comply with than US 1.6W/kg over 1g. Same Wi-Fi device often has higher US limit risk. Devices sold globally need to meet both.
ETSI EN 301 893 v2.2.1 (5 GHz Wi-Fi)	ETSI EN 301 893 v2.2.1 (2021) EU Directive 2014/53/EU	UNII-1 (5150-5250): e.i.r.p. ≤ 200 mW (23 dBm), indoor only UNII-2A (5250-5350): e.i.r.p. ≤ 200 mW, DFS+TPC mandatory, indoor UNII-2C (5470-5725): e.i.r.p. ≤ 1 W (30 dBm), DFS+TPC mandatory UNII-3 (5725-5875): NOT available for 802.11 in EU (ISM band §15.247 not applicable in ETSI) TPC: 3 dB minimum reduction capability Spurious emissions: §4.2.6 - in-band and out-of-band spurious per ITU-R SM.329	Radar types for DFS (EN 301 893 §4.7): Type 1: PW=0.5-5µs, PRI=1000-5000µs (short pulse) Type 2: PW=0.5-5µs, PRI=625-5000µs (high PRF) Type 3: PW=0.5-5µs, PRI varies (staggered PRF) Type 4: PW=0.5-5µs (frequency hopping) Type 5: PW=1µs (very short pulse) Type 6: PW=1µs (similar to Type 5) Test conditions: CW signal + all 6 radar types at minimum detection level	ETSI vs FCC key difference: UNII-3 (5725-5875) is NOT available in EU for 802.11 - reserved for ISM band fixed links. European 802.11ac/ax products cannot use 5 GHz channels 149-165 (EU) without special authorization.
ITU-R SM.329 Spurious Emissions	ITU-R SM.329-12 (2012)	Spurious emission limits by power class: Class A (≤ 100 mW): 2 µW (-27 dBm) below 1 GHz; 20 µW (-17 dBm) 1-40 GHz Class B (100 mW - 1 W): 20 µW (-17 dBm) Class C (1 W - 10 W): 200 µW (-7 dBm) Class D (10 W - 50 W): 1 mW (+0 dBm) Spurious domain: emissions beyond necessary bandwidth (outside 250% of OBW)	Measurement: spectrum analyzer + calibrated antenna. Conducted (50Ω) + radiated (anechoic chamber or OATS). Resolution BW: typically 100 kHz-1 MHz depending on frequency. Spurious must be measured at max TX power across all harmonics and sub-harmonics. Regulatory limit: whichever is more restrictive between national (FCC Part 15.209 / EN 301 893 §4.2.6) and ITU-R SM.329.	SM.329 is the international baseline. All national regulators reference it. Wi-Fi devices must comply: 2.4 GHz harmonics at 4.8, 7.2, 9.6 GHz, etc. must be < SM.329 limits. 5 GHz harmonics at 10/15/20 GHz. 6 GHz harmonics at 12/18/24 GHz.
CE Marking / EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED)	EU Directive 2014/53/EU (RED - Radio Equipment Directive) Effective June 2016	Essential Requirements: Art. 3.1(a): Safety - EN 62368-1 (audio/video/IT equipment safety) or EN 60950-1 Art. 3.1(b): EMC - EN 55032 (emissions) + EN 55035 (immunity) Art. 3.2: Radio - EN 300 328 (2.4 GHz) + EN 301 893 (5 GHz) + EN 303 687 (6 GHz) Additional for internet-connected: Art. 3.3(d)-(f) cybersecurity requirements (effective Aug 2025) DoC: Declaration of Conformity signed by EU Responsible Person	Compliance path: 1. Self-declaration (for most Wi-Fi products - harmonized standards available) 2. Apply harmonized ETSI standards → EU legal presumption of conformity 3. Notified Body not mandatory for Art. 3.2 if harmonized standard used 4. Technical Construction File (TCF) must be kept for 10 years 5. CE mark + DoC + EU Responsible Person contact required 6. EPREL product registration for energy-related products	RED replaces R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC). Key change: RED requires all radio equipment to use spectrum efficiently. Art. 3.3 cybersecurity delegated act (2022/30/EU): routers/smart devices must have network access controls, data minimization, no hardcoded passwords - effective Aug 2025.
ITU Radio Regulations - ISM Bands	ITU Radio Regulations Article 5 (Frequency Allocations) ITU-R SM.1538 (SRD)	ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band definitions per ITU RR §5.150: 2400-2500 MHz: ISM - secondary allocation, all regions 5725-5875 MHz: ISM - secondary allocation, all regions 24000-24050 MHz: ISM - all regions 61000-61500 MHz: ISM - all regions 122000-123000 MHz: ISM - all regions 245000-246000 MHz: ISM - all regions Short Range Devices (SRD): ITU-R SM.1538 defines technical characteristics for license-exempt devices by region (EU=CEPT ERC 70-03, US=FCC Part 15, Japan=ARIB)	ISM band rules per region: EU (ETSI): CEPT ERC Recommendation 70-03 - defines SRD channels, duty cycle limits per band, sub-band power limits. Updated regularly by CEPT Working Group FM. US (FCC): Part 15 Subpart B (unintentional), Part 15 Subpart C (intentional). ISM at 2.4 GHz = Part 15.247. Japan (ARIB): ARIB STD-T66 + STD-T71 (5 GHz). Low-power radio station system.	Critical for global product compliance: a device approved for US 2.4 GHz (Part 15.247 up to 1 W EIRP point-to-point) may NOT be approved in EU (ETSI EN 300 328 max 100 mW EIRP standard Wi-Fi). Regional antenna gain rules differ significantly.
CBRS - Citizens Broadband Radio Service	47 CFR Part 96 FCC Report & Order FCC 15-47 + 17-258	CBRS band: 3550-3700 MHz (150 MHz) Three-tier priority system: Tier 1 (Incumbent): Federal/DoD radar systems, grandfathered FSS. Highest priority, protected always. Tier 2 (PAL - Priority Access License): Licensed via FCC auction (3-year license, 10 MHz channels). Protected from Tier 3. Tier 3 (GAA - General Authorized Access): License-exempt, opportunistic. Can be interfered by Tier 1+2. SAS (Spectrum Access System): cloud database, similar to 6 GHz AFC. Devices query SAS for available spectrum.	SAS Architecture: SAS operators (FCC-approved): Google, CommScope, Federated Wireless, Sony, Amdocs, USCC CBSD (Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device): AP-equivalent at 3.5 GHz CBSD → SAS query: location, antenna, power → SAS returns authorized channels + EIRP End User Device (EUD): connects to CBSD (like STA to AP) Interface: RESTful JSON API (WINNF-TS-0016) Power limits: Category A ≤ 30 dBm EIRP; Category B ≤ 47 dBm EIRP	CBRS relevance to Wi-Fi engineers: CBRS at 3.5 GHz uses same SAS/AFC concept as 6 GHz AFC. LTE and 5G NR in CBRS band coexist with Wi-Fi 6/7 in 6 GHz using similar database-driven spectrum coordination. GAA devices share spectrum opportunistically - same concept as 6 GHz LPI devices, but with SAS coordination. Private LTE/5G networks on CBRS compete with Wi-Fi for enterprise connectivity.
WINNER II Channel Models	IST WINNER II D1.1.2 3GPP TR 38.901 (5G NR) IEEE 802.11ax eval ref	WINNER II scenarios relevant to outdoor/large Wi-Fi: B1: Urban micro-cell NLOS - shopping mall, city outdoor. PL exponent 3.8, σ=8dB. B3: Indoor hotspot NLOS - large hall, airport. PL = 35.4+21.9log(d)+20log(fc), σ=4dB. C1: Suburban macro-cell - residential outdoor. PL = 23.8log(d)+41.2+20log(fc/5), σ=6dB. C2: Urban macro-cell - typical city. PL = 26log(d)+39+20log(fc), σ=8dB. D1: Rural macro-cell - sparse outdoor, long range. PL = 21.5log(d)+44.2+20log(fc), σ=8dB. 3GPP TR 38.901: InH, UMi, UMa, RMa - same scenarios, used for 5G NR and 5G/Wi-Fi coexistence studies.	Cross-reference to 802.11ax: TGax used adapted WINNER II models. B3≈TGax Enterprise Indoor. C2≈TGax Outdoor (outdoor hotspot). D1≈802.11ah (sub-1 GHz rural, multi-km range). 3GPP TR 38.901 InH corresponds to IEEE 802.11 indoor scenarios for coexistence evaluation between NR-U and 802.11ax.	WINNER II models include spatial correlation matrices (per-antenna, per-cluster) critical for MU-MIMO and massive MIMO simulation. Used in ns-3, OPNET, MATLAB WLAN Toolbox for IEEE 802.11 simulations.

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY DETAILS - SAR exclusion, ICNIRP MPE, CBRS SAS flow2 rows#

Topic	Standard / CFR	Key Parameters / Limits	Measurement Method / Process	Engineering Impact
SAR Exclusion Distance / MPE	47 CFR §2.1091 IEEE C95.1-2019 FCC KDB 447498	Exclusion distance: devices with conducted power ≤ 20 mW (13 dBm) are exempt from SAR testing FCC grants categorical exclusion to devices: • Mobile devices ≥ 20 cm from body: if total radiated power ≤ 3 W • Portable devices (≤ 20 cm): full SAR test required if > 20 mW Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE): • Uncontrolled environment (public): 0.6 mW/cm² at 5 GHz • Controlled environment (workers): 3 mW/cm² MPE distance formula: d² = P_EIRP × G / (4π × MPE_limit) For 20 dBm EIRP at 5 GHz: minimum 20 cm separation from users	SAR test protocol: • Scanning resolution: 5mm grid • Tissue-equivalent liquid dielectric constant within ±5% of target • System validation: validation dipole within ±1 dB • Worst-case body position tested (against head, held in hand) For Wi-Fi routers/APs (fixed, ≥ 20 cm from users): usually MPE evaluation only (no SAR test)	Wi-Fi 6 AP at 20 dBm EIRP, 5 GHz: MPE safety distance ≈ 8-10 cm → no human proximity risk at typical ceiling mount. Mobile handset at max power (23 dBm) at 5 GHz held to head: SAR test mandatory. Key: conducted power > 20 mW + < 20 cm body separation = full SAR test required.
FCC Part 96 SAS Authorization Flow - CBRS	47 CFR Part 96 FCC 17-258 WINN Forum TS-0016	CBRS 3-tier architecture: Tier 1 (Incumbents/Priority Access Users): Protected; never interfered Tier 2 (Priority Access License PAL): Paid auction; 10 MHz × 7 years Tier 3 (General Authorized Access GAA): Free; protected from interference by Tier 1/2 only SAS (Spectrum Access System) authorization: 1. CBSD (AP) registers with SAS: capabilities, location, antenna height 2. SAS responds with available spectrum + max EIRP 3. CBSD requests Grant: specific channel + EIRP 4. SAS issues Grant: CBSD may transmit within granted parameters 5. Heartbeat every 1-240 minutes: CBSD confirms Grant is active 6. CBSD must vacate channel within 60s of Grant suspension	SAS operators (FCC-approved): Google SAS, CommScope SAS, Federated Wireless, Amdocs, Comsearch. CBSDs must support CBRS Alliance WINNF-TS-0016 API. Max EIRP: 47 dBm for Category B (outdoor), 30 dBm for Category A (indoor/low-power). CBRS band (3550-3700 MHz) uses same SAS architecture concept as 6 GHz AFC - Wi-Fi engineers deploying 6 GHz SP mode use the same paradigm.