For All Details Please See the Attached Solicitation Document

273FCC21Q0029 – Attachment 1

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Callbox (Cellular Network Emulator)

Background

1. Per CFR Title 47 §1.1307 and §1.1310, the FCC requires compliance with RF exposure limits.  Accordingly, it is necessary to optimize the present compliance test procedures for devices and operating modes that include 5G wireless technologies.  These procedures are needed to ensure that the prescriptions for performing RF exposure safety assessments are both technically rigorous, and feasible for wide-scale implementation among industry and test labs.  With 5G wireless technologies rollout, the commission must ensure that the public is protected from non-compliant devices.

1. Under the direction of Congress and the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act), the Commission requires that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensure that telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States meet hearing-aid compatible.  In 2003, the FCC extended the HAC act for hearing aid compatibility to include cellular handsets and adopted the rules CFR Title 47 §20.19 Hearing aid-compatible mobile handsets.  The regulations require: (1) Handsets meet ANSI C63.19 hearing aid standards: (2) Manufacturers must demonstrate compliance by filling under the FCC's Certification procedures (Title 47 Part 2 Subpart J).   The rules were amended May 4, 2021, to include volume control for persons with a hearing disability to be effective June 2023 (TIA 5050).

Objectives

1. The objectives are to perform RF Exposure compliance testing of wireless connected devices.  The Cellular Network Emulator (Callbox) shall enable the full range of communication options in all WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) bands operating in the U.S., including 5G NR FR1 and FR2, and for both stand-alone and non-stand-alone modes. 
2. The objectives are to test for compliance to FCC Rules CFR Title 47 §20.19 for Hearing aid-compatible mobile handsets to the standards: ANSI C63.19 & TIA 5050 Volume Control.  A Callbox is required to simulate cellular telephone calls over cellular and Wi-Fi frequency bands (Parts 15, 22, 24, 27, 90).
3. The objectives are to test for compliance to FCC Rules CFR Title 47 subparts 15, 22, 24, 27, 30 for mobile handsets and Wi-Fi devices. A Callbox is required to simulate cellular telephone calls over cellular frequency bands covered under those rule parts.

Scope

The FCC, Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Laboratory Division shall acquire two (2) sets of a Callbox to perform RF Exposure compliance testing of wireless connected devices and test for compliance to FCC Rules CFR Title 47 §20.19 for Hearing aid-compatible mobile handsets.  The Callbox shall enable the full range of communication options in all WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) bands operating in the U.S.  A Callbox will be used to simulate cellular telephone calls over cellular and WI-FI frequency bands.

Technical Requirements (Tasks)

The Callbox must meet or exceed the following requirements:

1. Upliink (UL)/downlink (DL) communication options for all combinations of 3G, 4G-LTE, FR1 and FR2, both single and combined (e.g. LTE+FR1, LTE+FR1+FR2, FR1 only, etc.)
2. Must include a wide range of MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) antenna operating modes (at the least covering the current leading industry implementations)
3. Must support FDD and TDD operation for all sub-6 GHz and mm-wave bands
4. Must mimic execution of handover between cell areas
5. Must support UL and DL Carrier aggregation for both 5G-SA and 5G-NSA modes
6. Must connect and interface with narrowband internet of things (IoT) devices
7. Must define all the voice network (call set up) signaling call functions and the associated supported voice coding (codecs) provided.
8. Must demonstrate that Voice services not supported in the Box (such as Google Duo, Apple's Apple Talk, Microsoft skype) can establish external connections to cloud-based soft switches and equipment on an IP network.  These external connections must establish simulated test calls over the call-box's air interface to the handset under test.
9. Must provide a list all Codec types supported in the Box and their associated air interface, including Wi-Fi.
10. Must provide call simulation over common air interfaces for legacy and 3GPP 4th and 5th generation technologies. 
11. Must define all air interfaces supported and the associated modulation characteristics for each.  The air interfaces (below) are considered essential:

1. GSM
2. GSM/Edge
3. W-CDMA
4. CDMA
5. UMTS
6. LTE FDD/TDD
7. 5G FDD/TDD
8. Wi- Fi

Additional Requirements:

1. Must have the ability to provide for programmable interfaces for customized setups
2. Dedicated Technical Support for resolution of real-time technical issues through phone calls, texts and/or email.  Additional technical support for operational scenarios and specific tests.  Dedicated Technical Support Shall be Included for one year after date of delivery.
3. The components do not have Covered equipment; DA 21-309, Released: March 12, 2021
4. Applicable updates for software/firmware for the period of 1 year after the delivery date, with renewal options.
5. Training should be provided to demonstrate Callbox features within 30 days of delivery

Place of performance

The work will be performed at:

Federal Communications Commission

Office of Engineering and Technology

Laboratory Division

7435 Oakland Mills Road

Columbia, MD 21046