Is it hot in here?
Frandsen Media Company, LLC (Frandsen), owner of radio station KGNT in Smithfield, Utah was fined $14,000 for failing to comply with the Commission’s rules requiring that public access be restricted to areas where radio frequency radiation (RFR) levels exceeded the public maximum possible exposure (MPE) limits. Based on Fransen’s 2005 renewal application, they were aware that the levels of RFR at their facility exceeded the MPE, but took no action to limit potential public access and exposure. In a Notice of Liability for Forfeiture, Fransden received a $10,000 fine and an additional $4,000 hit for operating the station at a level that produced RFR in excess of the public MPE limits.
Category: Enforcement CornerFCC Fees to Increase
The FCC recently announced that it needs to collect $335,794,000 in regulatory fees for Fiscal Year 2011, an increase in 4.7% over 2010, to keep the agency running smoothly. The FCC is mandated by Congress to collect fees as a means of recovering costs it incurs for enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities. The increases affect private land mobile fees as follows: New filings for shared use licenses will cost $310, an increase of $50 over the course of a ten-year grant; new filings for exclusive use will not change; and the fee per rule waver will increase $5 to $180. FCC NPR
Category: In the newsWireless Spectrum Aids Positive Train Control
Passenger and major freight railroads are required to implement positive train control on their major track lines by December 31, 2015, and many have presented their plans, as required, to the Federal Railroad Administration. A few railroads indicated that acquiring 220 MHz spectrum, used for establishing data communications between trains, rail infrastructure and controlling mechanisms, and authorities, “could present a challenge” in dense, metropolitan areas. The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is seeking comments from railroads, equipment manufacturers and associations on related spectrum issues. FCC Public Notice
Category: In the newsLMCC Seeks Public Notice on Fees
On May 12th, the LMCC asked the FCC to issue a Public Notice describing the procedures under which licensees who have a regulatory mandate to modify their wireless communications systems and associated licenses to comply with the narrowbanding mandate pursuant to FCC Rule Section 90.209(b)(5)(6), would not be required to submit a licensing fee accordance with Rule Section 1.1116(a). The LMCC also noted that it would be helpful if the Public Notice were also to describe the method by which licensees who may have submitted an unnecessary fee payment in the past may file for and receive reimbursement. LMCC Letter
Category: In the newsFAA Issues Flight Advisory
In response to LightSquared’s terrestrial broadband tests to be conducted in and around Las Vegas, Nevada from May 16 – 27, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a “Flight Advisory” warning pilots and carriers that GPS signals may be unreliable or unavailable, and that pilots are strongly encouraged to report anomalies during this testing period to assist in the determination and extent of GPS degradation. EWA President/CEO Mark Crosby’s blog provides some insight into the matter.
Category: In the newsEven More Legislation Proposing Incentive Auctions
And we thought the strategic objective was to identify spectrum for broadband purposes! Congressmen Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green, KY) has introduced the Spectrum Innovation Act (H.R.1622), which proposes to incentivize existing spectrum licensees to voluntarily relinquish part or all of their spectrum in exchange for a portion of the proceeds generated by the auction. According to Congressman Latta, “Allowing the FCC to conduct incentive auctions of spectrum could generate billions of dollars in revenues; the auction would help pay down the United States $14.2 trillion debt.”
Category: In the newsFCC Seeks Guidance on Signal Boosters
June 24 is the deadline for comments on the FCC’s regulatory proceeding in which it seeks comments and suggestions on how best to permit greater use of signal boosters to improve wireless coverage for consumers, businesses and public safety entities. The FCC originally sought comments in January, noting that “although signal boosters hold great promise” for improving coverage, improperly designed or malfunctioning boosters can interfere with networks, including emergency calls. Perhaps fearing that there may be greater instances of interference, the FCC also asked whether it would be a good idea to have a clearinghouse where signal booster deployments may be recorded. FCC Public Notice FCC WT Docket No. 10-4
Category: In the newsMore 800 MHz Vacated Spectrum
The FCC announced earlier this month that they will accept applications on June 1 for the 800 MHz Sprint Nextel vacated spectrum for public safety agencies. EWA will accept these applications immediately and conduct frequency coordination for frequencies at locations identified on the FCC's Vacated Channel Search Engine (VCSE), as announced via FCC Public Notice DA 11-823. This release of spectrum provides channels in the 809.5-815/854.5-860 MHz band that had previously been made available at some locations within each NPSPAC Region. The additional locations being vacated by Sprint Nextel pursuant to the Public Notice will make those same channels available for licensing over a larger geographic area in each NPSPAC Region.
Availability of the vacated frequencies is limited to public safety entities for the first three years. The Commission requires that by 8:00AM EDT on May 18, 2011, the frequency coordinators must notify each other of the applications that will be submitted to the FCC. This notification allows the coordinators to address and resolve any conflicting applications before they are filed with the Commission on June 1, 2011.