Open and Close Shutters By Hand?
USA Shutter Company responded to a FCC Letter of Inquiry (LOI) admitting that they had been importing and marketing wireless remote control transmitters for window shutters. They also admitted that the transmitters were not certified by the FCC prior to marketing the devices within the United States. In its citation, the Commission advised USA Shutter that if they continue to violate the Communications Act or the Commission’s Rules in any manner, monetary forfeitures not to exceed $16,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation may be imposed. MORE
Category: Enforcement CornerRespond to FCC Notices And Don’t use Marine Channels on Land
A monetary forfeiture of $4,000 was issued to Paisa 2 Car and Limousine service of Woodside, New York for failing to respond to an FCC Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) issued on October 5, 2009. The NAL was issued as it was discovered that they were using 157.425 MHz, a maritime frequency, in lieu of their authorized channel, and did not timely respond to FCC inquiries. When they did respond, the owner stated that he did not know why the base station and mobiles were on the unauthorized frequency since he advised his drivers to properly program their equipment. MORE MORE
Category: Enforcement CornerComments Due on Consumer High Speed Connections to the Internet
Due to a recent decision of the U. S. Court of Appeals on the FCC’s ability to ensure fair competition and providing consumers with basic protections using broadband internet, a public process has been initiated by the FCC to consider possible frameworks for addressing the high-speed connections most consumers use to access the internet. The Notice of Inquiry (NOI) issued on June 17, 2010, asks for public comment on three issues including the legal and practical consequences of classifying broadband internet connectivity “telecommunications service” to which all of the requirements of Title II (Common Carrier) of the Communications Act would apply. Comments are due July 15, 2010 and Reply Comments due by August 12, 2010. MORE MORE
Category:LMCC Advises FCC on interstitial 800 MHz Coordination Procedures
On June 23, 2010, the LMCC provided FCC WTB Chief Ruth Milkman, and PSHSB Chief James Barnett, Jr., with the organization’s “Interstitial 800 MHz Coordination Procedures” that were recently approved by the LMCC membership. It is anticipated that this technical information will be included within a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. MORE
Category: In the newsClose the TV White Space Proceedings
A request to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski that the FCC expeditiously conclude the TV white spaces proceedings as recommended in the National Broadband Plan came from Senators John Kerry (D-Mass), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), senior member of the Commerce committee. The request suggested that the completion of the white spaces proceeding will allow for the expansion and further development of lower cost nationwide wireless Internet access and foster innovation of manufactures and consumers “to construct multiple paths to the Internet”. MORE
Category: In the news10 MHz of Public Safety 700 MHz Spectrum Ideal for 4G
According to James A. Barnett, Jr., Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, the public safety community will be well served to use its current 10 MHz allocation at 700 MHz for its 4G broadband requirements, especially if it develops incentive-based partnerships with commercial entities. MORE
Category: In the newsFunding Requests for Public Safety Highlight Budget Testimony
A funding request for $1.5 million to staff the Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) and $900,000 to support the public safety and homeland security efforts plus a request for an additional of 75 personnel to oversee cyber security and other responsibilities pertaining to the Commission’s broadband initiatives were included in FCC Chairman Genachowski’s testimony in the FCC fiscal 2011 budget submission.Chairman Genachowski also requested $2.4 million to fund the agency’s spectrum inventory initiative designed to enable user-friendly access to information regarding spectrum bands and licenses so the public can browse spectrum bands, search for spectrum licenses, produce maps, and download raw data for further analysis. MORE
Category: In the newsPublic Safety Has Sufficient Spectrum
A recent FCC White Paper supports the position in the National Broadband Plan that public safety has sufficient spectrum to deploy and operate a nationwide broadband network without reallocating the 700 MHz D Block for that purpose. This is consistent with the legislation supported by House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, which would fund such a network using proceeds from the D Block auction. MORE
Category: In the newsDraft Bill Calls for Nationwide 700 MHz Network
A proposed bill calling for the deployment of a nationwide 700 MHz public safety interoperable broadband network and allowing for commercial use in the narrowband 700MHz voice spectrum was recently released by Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The draft legislation also attempts to assist with funding of public safety broadband by making funds available through interest free borrowing of $2 billion from the US Treasury, repayable by 2014. The bill also calls for auctioning of D block to help fund the public safety network. MORE
Category: In the newsAuction 87 - Not all Spectrum Desired
At the close of Round 11, the FCC had received bids on less than half the available licenses for a total Provisional Winning Bid amount of just over $2.5 million. No license had yet received a five-figure bid, and the majority remained at the minimum opening bid amounts. With relatively little activity, it is likely that the FCC will move quickly to accelerate the number of rounds per day and to increase the required activity levels which will facilitate the end of the auction. MORE
Category: In the newsHigh Stakes ...
It’s not normally wise for me to comment on public safety spectrum policy issues as they usually generate plenty of heat without my input. But there is a serious, high stakes policy debate at the moment, and I can’t resist. At the center of that debate is what the country should do with the 10 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum, labeled the D Block that happens to sit right next to another 10 MHz of spectrum that has already been allocated to public safety for broadband purposes. We also need to remember that this spectrum is particularly well-suited for wireless broadband services, as its propagation characteristics are superior to higher bands such as 1.9 GHz. Everyone active in the debate recognizes that 700 MHz is beach front spectrum property in a wireless world that is embracing data applications at an unprecedented pace.
On one side we have public safety interests who fervently believe that the D Block should be reallocated for public safety use and combined with the existing allocation to create a 20 MHz contiguous allocation for purposes of creating a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. While I respect this, it has been asked before and the question that always immediately follows is “where is the money to build, operate, maintain and upgrade it?" Recall that the last D Block auction that carried with it an obligation to provide broadband service and priority access to public safety interests went over like a lead zeppelin.
On the other side we have the FCC’s Chief Technologist issuing a white paper noting that the public safety community has enough spectrum for its broadband purposes and would be best served by developing incentive-based partnerships with commercial entities. The public safety community has consistently voiced its concern that the national commercial carriers know little about public safety needs and requirements such as ruthless preemption, and will never be incentivized to provide these types of services on their networks. I have to admit that I agree with public safety interests on this point. Why would they and wouldn’t non-public safety subscribers have to subsidize that level of service even if they made something almost as good available such as priority access? I’m curious how many commercial subscribers would be upset during an emergency if they temporarily lost access to their iTune downloads to accommodate public safety capacity needs? Everyone south of 25 years old? 35 years old? And do commercial carriers really want the potential liability if their networks fail to deliver the promised preemption and property or even lives are lost?
With interests on all sides, the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet has proposed legislation that seemingly is intended to find a middle ground that would serve all players. The draft bill suggests that the D Block should be auctioned consistent with the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, meaning with no specific obligation to serve public safety needs; public safety keeps its 10 MHz allocation and receives $5 billion or more in auction proceeds to help build out the nationwide interoperable public safety network; and public safety also receives priority access and roaming rights on commercial networks. One could conclude that the legislation suggests a reasonable approach with everyone receiving something and giving something.
I believe that Congress truly wants to accommodate public safety and commence on a course of action that, someday, may finally result in the network we have been hearing about for too long. Federal funding is a mandatory component of that vision. I don’t know whether 10 MHz is sufficient or insufficient to accommodate a state-of-the art, robust public safety broadband platform. But I suspect that the managers of that public safety spectrum would limit music downloads, the use of chat rooms, reruns of the Sopranos and the like to promote spectrum efficiency on their 10 MHz of dedicated public safety broadband spectrum.
Category: Message trom the President