[Discuss-gnuradio] SDR Forum Readies FCC Briefing

[Steve Schear]

SDR Forum Readies FCC Briefing


Summary:


The Software Defined Radio Forum, an international association, is 
preparing a report for the FCC to address security and authentication 
issues involving Software Defined Radio (SDR), a new generation of wireless 
devices re-configurable by software. The report will examine such issues as 
the development and deployment of software security-related technologies, 
security initiatives in Special Interests Groups, and activities of 
standards bodies organizations. The FCC adopted its first rules on SDR 
technology in September 2001 -- the Software Defined Radio First Report and 
Order -- to encourage the adoption of the technology and to give 
manufacturers easier access to the commercial marketplace.


Full Article:


ROME, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2002--The Software Defined Radio 
Forum, an international wireless industry association, is preparing a 
report for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address security 
and authentication issues involving Software Defined Radio (SDR); a new 
generation of wireless devices that are re-configurable by software.


This report is one element of the SDR Forum's 2002 work plan. In the coming 
year, the Forum will produce a series of recommendations that address, on 
an internationally coordinated basis, aspects of SDR download and field 
re-configuration including security, authentication and validation issues.


The issue of software security spans the breadth and depth of industry 
today from financial institutions providing secure transactions; to the 
security measures of enterprises and institutions against network damaging 
viruses and denial of service attacks; to the entertainment industry 
protecting against piracy of valuable music and video content.


Recognizing this, the SDR Forum -- which includes more than 100 member 
companies -- has begun surveying a broad range of organizations worldwide 
to obtain input and recommendations for its first mid-year report on 
security and authentication. The report will examine issues including:


The development and deployment of software security related technologies 
including dynamic security algorithms, mechanisms, and technologies; 
authentication technology including biometric devices and Digital Rights 
Management for valuable content protection;


Security initiatives in Special Interests Groups; and,


Activities of Standards Bodies Organizations.


Organizations interested in providing input should contact the SDR Forum 
Regulatory Committee at 602/339-2373, address@hidden, or can 
visit the Forum's Web site at 
http://www.sdrforum.org/regulatory/current_status.html.


The FCC adopted its first rules on SDR technology last September -- the 
Software Defined Radio First Report and Order -- to encourage the adoption 
of the technology and give manufacturers easier access to the commercial 
marketplace. Today, SDR devices are growing in popularity in large part 
because their functions are controlled by software, which means they can be 
upgraded by simple software changes, rather than more costly and time 
consuming changes to the hardware circuitry.


The ability to easily change SDR devices' operating parameters through 
software upgrades, however, brings with it new challenges in security and 
authentication. The FCC made clear its view that it is critical ``to ensure 
that software changes cannot be made to a radio that will cause it to 
operate with parameters outside of those that were approved in order to 
prevent interference to authorized radio services.''


The FCC accepted the argument of the Forum, however, that it would be 
unwise to set specific security or authentication requirements. As it has 
considered Software Defined Radio issues, the FCC has consistently looked 
to the SDR Forum for relevant technological expertise on a variety of 
issues including security and authentication. The FCC noted that ``the SDR 
Forum has indicated that it is continuing to develop methods for the 
security and authentication of radio software and that it will report its 
findings to the Commission.''


About SDR Technology


In SDR, functions traditionally performed by hardware via analog circuits, 
such as the generation of the transmitted radio signal and the tuning and 
detection of the received radio signal, instead are performed by software 
residing in high-speed digital processors. Because these functions are 
carried out in software, the radio can be easily programmed to transmit and 
receive over a wide range of frequencies using a variety of transmission 
formats used around the world. In addition, the operating parameters of 
software defined radio can be easily changed in the field by a simple 
software change.


SDR provides an efficient and comparatively inexpensive mechanism for the 
design and implementation of multi-mode, multi-band, multi-functional 
wireless devices that can be enhanced using software upgrades, thus 
addressing many of the most challenging issues confronting the wireless 
industry. Future applications of the technology could include:


Cell phones that can be used on a variety of networks, frequency bands and 
applications;


Public safety communication devices that can communicate with any number of 
separate agencies on the specific bands assigned to each.


Universal handsets that can communicate over a commercial network in the 
field, a LAN in the home, and via a short-range Bluetooth network to 
various peripherals.


About the Software Defined Radio Forum


The Software Defined Radio Forum is an international industry association 
dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of software defined 
radio systems that enable flexible and adaptable architectures in advanced 
wireless systems. The membership of the SDR Forum spans commercial, 
defense, and civil government organizations, and includes wireless service 
providers, network operators, component and equipment manufacturers, 
hardware and software developers, regulatory agencies, and academia. 
Presently numbering more than 100 organizations, the SDR Forum's membership 
includes major commercial wireless players from Asia, Europe, and North 
America. The SDR Forum's administrative office is headquartered in Rome, 
N.Y. Additional information is available on the SDR Forum Web site at 
http://www.sdrforum.org.