Is “critical” in the eye of the beholder?
It has been reported that at its September 23rd meeting, the FCC will adopt an Order that will allow for the deployment of mobile devices that access the internet using unused TV spectrum, commonly referred to as “white spaces.” Use of this spectrum will be on an unlicensed basis. EWA has been a participant in this proceeding, which has taken almost seven years to get to this point. EWA has consistently advised the Commission not to allow these devices unfettered access to TV channels 14-20 that are in use by critical business and public safety systems in eleven of the top U.S. metropolitan areas.
Perhaps our voice was heard as white space devices will be required to have geolocation capability and the ability to access a national database that, together, are intended to prevent them from operating in areas where this spectrum is authorized for use by TV stations, business and public safety licensees or other protected entities. Broadcasters and certain other interested parties (primarily operators of technically illegal wireless mics that have infiltrated these bands) also want the devices to be equipped with sensing capability to avoid interference (I’m a device receiving a foreign RF signal and therefore I should switch automatically to different white space spectrum). However, it looks like the technical experts representing device manufacturers and their supporting industries have persuaded the FCC that this would be overkill and would unnecessarily inflate the cost of the units. That result is okay with EWA, which always doubted the ability of sensing to pick up the relatively low power, mobile operations of business and public safety users and have favored the geolocation/database approach as a superior alternative, assuming the database folks take care of their end of the bargain. Why mega-watt, fixed site, always-on broadcast stations think they need better protection than we do is anyone’s guess, but it is clear that they have not yet bought into the seemingly preferred approach.
Speaking of broadband use and access, I read with interest the American Petroleum Institute (API) comments in response to the Commission’s Notice of Inquiry regarding the survivability of broadband communications infrastructure. Briefly, API notes that not all networks are built to be reliable to the level required by its members during emergencies, and at the fringe of these networks coverage and capabilities can be rather marginal under the best of conditions. Given the benefits provided by petroleum and natural gas communication networks that generate critical day-to-day services that protect and maintain America’s standard of living, API’s arguments that broadband spectrum should be set aside for these types of applications makes more than a little sense. I could be wrong, but I doubt that in the Gulf of Mexico or in the boonies of West Texas broadband providers build networks that are as robust as those in an urban environment.
API asks for a broadband spectrum allocation dedicated to private systems in critical infrastructure industries. Why not? Could the effective, reliable delivery of these services be less important than permitting unlicensed consumer wireless devices to roam free, with geolocation of course, among more than 300 MHz of TV white spaces? If the FCC is willing to scramble to find a home in this spectrum for wireless mics that were never authorized to operate in these bands to begin with, surely it can devote some effort toward addressing the broadband needs of critical infrastructure and private systems.
Category: Message trom the PresidentAmeren Waiver Request Granted
Ameren Services Company’s waiver request to operate on 800 MHz Public Safety frequencies was granted by the FCC. The Association of Public Safety Officials (APCO) concurred with the waiver after Ameren reported the channels had previously been used by another Business/Industrial Land Transportation (B/ILT) licensee. EWA supported Ameren’s request for the additional channels, and ultimately, the FCC stated that Ameren’s request would not reduce the inventory of 800 MHz Public Safety spectrum in the area. MORE
Category: EWA On Your SideFCC Ito Install New Financial System
In preparation for the conversion to the new FCC financial system, the current system will be shut down from October 1-18, 2010. During the “blackout” period, the FCC licensing systems will not have full access to up-to-date payment information or have access to the Red Light Display System. The FCC staff will have limited ability to access certain files and systems that track payments and may be unable to verify account statuses during the conversion period. The Commission urged licensees to plan your licensing activities around the conversion period and to consult the FCC website for any updates or changes to the conversion period. Applicants may experience a delay in the granting of applications during the blackout period, and the Commission will not process refunds or vendor payments until the conversion is completed. The Commission will notify its customers via their website when the conversion is completed and the new financial system is operational. MORE
Category: In the newsWaiver Sought on End-Of-Train Devices
Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Union Pacific Railroad Company have requested a waiver of the rules requesting that “End-of-Train” telemetry devices be permitted to operate at power levels up to eight watts. These waivers are related to Association of American Railroads (AAR) ongoing efforts to modify FCC Rule Section 90.238(e). Public Notice MORE
Category: In the newsApprovals Pave the Way for 700 MHz Networks
Spectrum leases have been approved for twenty recipients of the FCC conditional waiver to deploy statewide or local public safety broadband networks in the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum. The networks must be fully interoperable with any other regional public safety deployments permitted by waiver, and any future nationwide or regional networks as adopted by the FCC Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC). The lease provides access to spectrum under WQHW226 that was issued to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST). Public Notice Order
Category: In the newsWireless Revenues Increasing
Wireless industry revenues grew by 3% from 2007 to 2008, while long distance revenues dropped according to a recent FCC report. Overall telecom 2008 revenues ($297 billion) had a slight decrease from2007 ($299 billion). Fixed local exchange service revenue in 2008 was $26 billion, representing an 11% growth from the 2007 figures. The report, including spreadsheets with statistical tables and figures, can be downloaded at the Wireless Competition Bureau’s Statistical Reports site. MORE
Category: In the newsMobile Data Plans Up by 40%
The number of mobile wireless service subscribers with data plans for full Internet access increased by 40% over the first six month of 2009 to 35 million according to a recent FCC report. The full report includes detailed data on the number of Internet connections at speeds that approximate the national broadband availability target as recommended by the National Broadband Plan. MORE
Category:$8,000 Penalty for Taxicab Company
The FCC issued a Notice of Violation to Blue Bird Cab Company which could cost the cab company $8,000. In investigating a complaint on the Maryland company, the FCC found the company was neither monitoring before transmitting nor transmitting their assigned callsign. Rules require identification during each transmission or once each 15 minutes (30 minutes in the Public Safety Pool) during periods of continuous operations and not monitoring creates potential for interference and prevents effective frequency sharing. MORE
Category: Enforcement Corner