Adjacent Channel Affected Licensees – More Work Necessary
A Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) effort to arrive at a decision regarding frequency coordination and licensing protocols that would maximize the potential for certifying exclusive use channels in centralized trunked systems fell short recently. Remaining issues include approval of the basis by adjacent channel interfering contours are identified and to what extent these procedures should be contained within FCC Rule Section 90.187. It is anticipated that the former issue may be resolved by the LMCC member organizations, but not everyone will agree on whether it’s best to retain flexibility in this process given new digital technologies, or whether the analytical requirements should be hard-wired within the rules. EWA is not a fan of the latter as the process to adopt formal rule changes cannot keep pace with technology advances.
Category: In the newsLightSquared Advised That Further Testing is Needed
In consultation with the National Telecommunications and information Agency (NTIA), the FCC has determined that additional testing is needed to ensure that potential terrestrial services offered by LightSquared will not cause harmful interference to GPS operations. In their September 13 Public Notice, the FCC stated that testing based on technical modifications to LightSquared’s proposed commercial service, including limiting its operation to the lower 10 MHz of its assigned spectrum, demonstrated “significant improvement” compared to testing using the entire 20 MHz. However, the FCC added that interference with certain types of high precision GPS receivers, “including devices used in national security and aviation applications,” dictated that additional testing be conducted. Miraculously, and within a short period of time after the FCC’s announcement that more work needs to be done, LightSquared announced that it has signed an agreement with Javad GNSS Inc. “to develop a system that will make it possible for high-precision GPS devices to co-exist with LightSquared’s network.” The company has stated that the system is already designed, that preproduction units will be available for public testing in October 2011, and that production units will follow shortly thereafter. We shall see.
Category: In the newsFEMA and FCC Unveil Disaster Survival Tips
With Hurricane Irene and a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hitting a little too close to home for the comfort of the nation’s capital, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC recently released tips for consumers aimed at preparing them for major disasters when communications networks are more likely to be compromised or damaged. The tip sheet came out as part of National Preparedness Month, part of FEMA’s public service campaign launched in 2003 at www.ready.gov. As with most disasters, in the minutes and hours that follow, regional networks experienced significant network congestion, temporarily making it harder for millions of people to reach loved ones and emergency services. The FEMA-FCC tip sheet aims to help prepare Americans about how to communicate with each other in the event of another disaster, no matter where it occurs. FCC News
Category:But Are White Space Devices Accessing the Database?
Earlier this month, the FCC announced public testing of the first TV White Spaces (TVWS) database as a precursor to certification for a database provider. Spectrum Bridge’s database may be tested until November 2, but listing where incumbents are located within the White Space TV Spectrum isn’t necessarily the final objective. The FCC explained that the 45 day trial was “intended to allow the public to access and test Spectrum Bridge’s database system to ensure that it correctly identifies channels that are available for unlicensed TV Band devices, properly registers those facilities entitled to protection, and provides protection to authorized services and registered facilities as specified in the rules.” Among the services identified as being entitled to protection are “private land mobile radio service and commercial mobile radio service operations.” Of course it does, and should. But it is unclear just what members of the public are likely to conduct testing. Presumably broadcasters will check to see if the database identifies protected TV stations, the eight other competitive database providers will want to compare their own capabilities to those of Spectrum Bridge, and potential device manufacturers will want to confirm that the database works and provides a mechanism for moving forward with device development. No one should be shouting “mission accomplished” as yet. Public Notice FCC News
And Your Social Security Check is How Much?
John Hays of Bourg, Louisiana was issued a $450 fine for operating a Citizens Band (CB) transmitter without an FCC authorization and at excessive power after repeated warnings. Mr. Hays was initially issued a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $15,000, but stated in his defense that he took the matter very seriously and had taken corrective action. He also requested a reduction of the forfeiture amount based on the fact that “he lives solely on social security benefits” and could not afford to pay the $15,000 fine. Considering this financial disclosure and the fact that he did not deny his wrong doing, the FCC reduced the fine stating that it considers “gross revenues” as the best indicator of the ability to pay.
Category: Enforcement CornerMay Day – May Day
The FCC found Davis Edward Perka liable for operating without an authorization on Marine Channel 16 (156.800 MHz), the International Distress, Safety, and Calling Channel, and for “willfully and maliciously interfering” with the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The transmissions that interfered with USCG operations included threatening statements and tones from a DTMF keypad. A Forfeiture Order was issued in the amount of $17,000. In this instance, having receiving a request to reduce the fine due to inability to pay, the Commission declined to reduce the fine due to Mr. Perka’s “willful and repeated” violations.
Category: Enforcement Corner