“What Antenna?”
Lobiondo Brothers Motor Express Inc. (Lobiondo) received a Notice of Violation for failing to notify the FCC that it had dismantled its antenna structure in Rosenhayn, New Jersey. According to FCC’s rules “The owner of an antenna structure for which an Antenna Structure Number has been obtained must notify the Commission within 24 hours of completion of construction (FCC Form 854-R) and/or dismantlement. Lobiondo was provided 20 days to respond to the violation.
Category: Enforcement CornerOne TV White Space Database Launches - FCC Agrees with LMCC
Contrary to expectations and reflective of the pressure to begin using TV White Space (TVWS), the FCC announced approval of Spectrum Bridge’s database to provide service to the public on or after January 26, 2012. Approval is limited to TVWS in Wilmington and New Hanover County, NC and provides a manual registration process for unlicensed wireless mics.
Spectrum Bridge is required to re-open the database registration process for a three-week test period beginning no later than December 29, 2011. In a companion letter to Spectrum Bridge, the FCC agreed with LMCC that the TVWS database must take into account additional public safety allocations authorized by waiver, and further accepted LMCC’s offer to provide recommendations for addressing this issue. The FCC also noted LMCC’s suggestion that it may be necessary to refine the criteria for protection of PLMRS/CMRS systems from time to time.
Progeny LMC, LLC Waiver Granted for 902-928 MHz band
Progeny LMC received a waiver request to deploy a broadcast-only multilateration location and monitoring service (M-LMS) network that does not require a return path from the device to enable it to determine its location. Multilateration services aid in navigation, and are commonly used in civil and military surveillance applications. The FCC also waived rules limiting this M-LMS system to serve primarily vehicular devices, thereby enabling it to provide location services to non-vehicular units and “challenging environments” indoors and in urban centers. The Progeny M-LMS network operates on a secondary basis in the 902-928 MHz band.
Category: In the newsUse of Commercial Hand-Held Devices While Driving
The use of hand-held mobile phones (those that have a telephone number) by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators is now illegal, according to the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA). Hands-free devices that can be used without either “reaching” or “dialing,” and also two-way radios, walkie-talkies and CB radios are not subject to the prohibition. The new rules impose disqualification sanctions for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders with multiple convictions for violating State or local laws restricting the use of hand-held phones. Motor carriers are prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of CMVs to use mobile devices and provides for civil penalties for a companies that fail to enforce corporate policies consistent with the law.
The rules are intended to reduce distracted driving that result from “reaching for and dialing a hand-held mobile telephone.” “Mobile telephones,” defined in accordance with FCC rules, are limited to those classified as CMRS under Section 20.3. One crucial element is that the device be connected to the PSN. The agencies specifically rejected the argument that asked for an exemption when using a push-to-talk feature on a mobile telephone.
Mexico Border Rebanding Negotiation Period Extended
Another four months has been added to the 800 MHz rebanding negotiation period for licensees in the Mexican border area. Along with the new date of April 2, 2012, the FCC also extended the beginning of the mediation period for licensees in that area to April 3, 2012. No update has been issued on the status of the cross-border negotiation process with Mexico, originally scheduled for resolution in 2011. FCC Public Notice
Category: In the newsFCC Approves Licensing of Non-Standard Frequency Pairs
The Commission granted the LMCC’s 2011 request to permit the coordination and licensing of non-standard 4 kHz occupied bandwidth channels under specific procedures and conditions. Certain frequencies allocated for public use are not included in this opportunity, and this capability is limited to only 4 kHz narrowband technologies that are utilizing 12.5 kHz channel assignments that have been certified for exclusive (FB8 use) in centralized trunked systems. FCC Letter to LMCC
Category: EWA On Your Side