This report was written by Roger Marks ([email protected])
Chair, IEEE 802.16 Working Group (WG) on Broadband Wireless Access Standards

Format and copy editing by Alan J Weissberger, Manager of ComSoc Community website

IEEE 802.16 WG Session #78 was held on 12-15 March 2012 in Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA. This was an IEEE 802 LMSC Plenary Session and co-located with sessions of the other IEEE 802 Working Groups and Technical Advisory Groups. The attendance was 35 (way down from earlier days when there was more commercial interest in WiMAX.

The IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group on the WirelessMAN Radio Interface in Heterogeneous Networks (“HetNet” or “Het” Study Group) was initiated on 16 March and initially chartered through 20 July. Contribution on this topic are solicited for IEEE 802.16 Session #79 of 14-17 May 2012 in in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

New “Metrology” Study Group

The IEEE 802.16 WG’s Study Group on Broadband Wireless Access Metrology (“Metrology” or “Met” Study Group) was initiated on 16 March and initially chartered through 20 July. Contribution on this topic are solicited for IEEE 802.16 Session #79 of 14-17 May 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Maintenance Task Group

The Maintenance Task Group (TG) resolved comments received during recirculation of the IEEE-SA Sponsor Ballots of drafts P802.16Rev3 and P802.16.1. Subsequently, with the two ballot approval ratios of 100% and 99%, respectively, the Working Group requested conditional approval to forward the drafts to RevCom; the IEEE 802 Executive Committee (EC) granted this approval on 16 March. A teleconference has been scheduled for 18 April to resolve comments that arise. The plan is to seek to have both standards approved by the IEEE-SA Standards Board on 8 June 2012. According to this schedule, the documents will be complete prior to Session #79, in which case the Maintenance TG may not meet there. The TG issued a closing report and minutes.

The Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Task Group resolved comments arising during the Sponsor Ballot of P802.16.1b and the first Sponsor Ballot Recirculation of P802.16p. Subsequently, with both ballot approval ratios at 99%, the Working Group requested conditional approval to forward the drafts to RevCom; the IEEE 802 agreed on 16 March. After recirculation of both ballots, comments will be addressed at Session #79. The plan is to hold a confirmation ballot on both drafts following Session #79 and then submit both to the RevCom meeting of 29 August. According to this schedule, Session #79 would be the final meeting of the M2M TG. The TG issued a closing report and minutes.

The GRIDMAN Task Group met to resolve comments in WG Letter Ballot #37 and WG Letter Ballot #38, in which the P802.16n and P802.16.1a drafts were reviewed. The two ballot approval ratios were 100% and 98%, respectively. The WG agreed to hold 30-day recirculations on the entirety of both drafts, with comment resolution scheduled for Session #79. The TG issued a closing report and minutes.

The ITU-R Liaison Group drafted two contributions to ITU-R Working Party 5D (on IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced updates) and another to ITU-R Working Party 5D (on cognitive radio and heterogeneous networks). The three drafts were approved by the 802.16 Working Group, the 802.16 Radio Regulatory TAG, and the IEEE 802 EC. The ITU-R Liaison Group also completed liaison statements to its partner organizations regarding the IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced update activities. The Liaison Group will not meet at Session #79 and will resume meeting at Session #80. For more details, see the closing report.

The WG’s Project Planning Committee met for two periods during Session #77. A new project ballot schedule was developed and agreed. Two new Working Group Study Groups were proposed, then later initiated by the Working Group and approved by the IEEE 802 (see details above). The PPC issued closing report and minutes.

Roger Marks was re-elected as Working Group Chair until March 2014; the result was confirmed by the IEEE 802 EC. Rakesh Taori did not seek re-election as Working Group Vice Chair and has completed his term. No candidate sought election as Vice Chair, so the position is temporarily unfilled. Harry Bims was appointed as Working Group Secretary, having served as Acting Secretary at two sessions.

Future Meetings

-Session #79 will take place on 14-17 May 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim. The M2M TG, GRIDMAN TG, and Project Planning Committee will meet. The ITU-R Liaison Group will not meet. The Maintenance Task Group is not currently expected to meet but might need to. The “Het” Study Group and “Met” Study Group will meet.

-Session #80 will take place on 16-19 July 2012 in San Diego, California, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.

-Session #81 will take place on 17-20 September 2012 in Indian Wells, CA, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim.

-Session #82 will take place on 12-15 Nov 2012 in San Antonio, TX, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.

-The Future Sessions list and the WirelessMAN Interactive Calendar include all session information through 2012.