Charlotte Granted Its Wish (We Think)
The FCC has released a Fourth Report and Order in consideration of the City of Charlotte, North Carolina’s earlier request seeking guidance on rights of state, local and other governmental entities to access the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum, in addition to those engaged exclusively in police and fire activities. While the Commission declined to issue Charlotte’s specific request for declaratory ruling, they were supportive of the city’s request noting that “there is sufficient flexibility within the statute to encompass many of the uses contemplated by Charlotte …” That sounds like a favorable outcome, and one that was supported by EWA.
Category:Narrowband Waivers a Possibility
The FCC issued a Public Notice on July 13 in which it again reminded licensees of the upcoming narrowbanding deadline, but recognizing the inevitable, also reported that under certain conditions, it would entertain requests for waiver of the narrowbanding deadline on a case-by-case basis. Among others, mitigating factors for which the FCC may grant a narrowband waiver include the difficulty of securing funding sources (public safety budget cycles) and whether the licensee has definitive plans to migrate to a non-VHF/UHF band (e.g., 700 MHz or 800 MHz).
Category: In the newsHow Best to Provide Call Sign IDs in Digital Systems
On July 12th, Kenwood filed a Request for Temporary Waiver of Section 90.425 of the Commission’s rules regarding station identification requirements for digital systems in the 150-512 MHz bands. Specifically, Kenwood recommended that (1) stations subject to a station identification requirement should be permitted to use a single call sign for commonly owned facilities that are operated as part of a single system; (2) stations that normally employ digital signals for the transmission of data, text, control codes, or digitized voice should be able to be identified by a digital transmission of the call sign; and (3) station identification information may be transmitted on the lowest trunked frequency. A favorable response from the FCC is anticipated as the rules have not kept pace with the greater use of digital technologies in the affected bands. This matter has also been brought to the FCC’s attention by Motorola.
Category: In the newsBroadband Technology in the 800 MHz ESMR Bands
On June 30, the FCC released a Public Notice inviting comment on a Sprint Nextel Petition for Declaratory Ruling about wideband operation in 800 MHz Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio Service (ESMR) bands. The Petition asks the FCC to resolve an apparent inconsistency between the more specific 800 MHz rule, 90.691, and the more general rule governing Part 90 bandwidths. The Petition explains that clarification is needed because Sprint Nextel intends to transition some 800 MHz iDEN operations into its existing 1.9 GHz 3G CDMA network, which occupies a 1.25 MHz bandwidth. The Public Notice requests comment on “all aspects of the Petition, as well as any other relevant issues such as possible interference to adjacent services by allowing wideband technologies and any other rules that may need to be changed if wideband technologies are permitted in the ESMR bands.” EWA will be participating in this matter.
LMCC Endorses Delay in Intrinsically Safe Device Standard
In a letter submitted to Kerry McManama, General Manager, and John Zaplatosch, Engineering Manager, of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), the LMCC endorsed the proposed extension to July 31, 2016, for a review of requirements in the Standards for Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus for Use in Class I, II and II, Division 1, Hazardous (classified) Locations, UL 913, 7th Edition. The LMCC took this action after a review of the UL communication dated June 30, 2011, referencing “Subject 913” and subsequent to previous communication to FM Approvals urging reconsideration of implementation of revised 3610 standard as it is applied to land mobile radios. A five-year postponement of the standards that effect the use of intrinsically safe radios would provide a much needed period of time for standard setting bodies (of which there are several), manufacturers and affected licensees to formulate a reasonable plan that makes sense for users of intrinsically safe radios.
Category: In the news