Motorola Solutions Seeks TETRA Clarification
Motorola Solutions (MSI) filed a Petition for Clarification and/or Reconsideration of the September 21 Report and Order in which it modified the Part 90 rules to permit the certification and use of TETRA equipment in the 450-470 MHz and 854-869 MHz bands, while specifically excluding the 800 MHz NPSPAC and 700 MHz public safety spectrum from this rule change. Citing a seeming inconsistency between the text of the Order and the rules, MSI requested clarification as to whether TETRA may be deployed on 800 MHz public safety pool frequencies. It also asked whether all equipment designed to operate in the 421-512 MHz and 809-824/854-869 MHz bands may elect to show compliance with the adjacent channel power limits of new Section 90.221 rather than meeting the emission masks in Section 90.210, or whether this option is available only for TETRA equipment.
Category: In the news4.9 GHz Band - Who and How
EWA is in the process of reviewing the comments filed in response to the FCC’s rulemaking addressing future spectrum management and access eligibility issues related to the 4.9 GHz band. Many commenters’ views were similar to EWA, notably the recommendation that the band should not be open for commercial uses. However, not all parties agreed with EWA that eligibility in this band should be expanded to include not only Critical Infrastructure Industry (CII) entities, the definition of which is severely and unnecessarily limited, but to all Part 90 non-commercial entities who can generate meaningful public benefits through greater use of this underutilized band . While it was anticipated that there would be differences of opinion on who should and should not be allowed to use this band, it was not surprising either that there was differences of opinion on how this 50 MHz of spectrum should be managed in the future. The licensing process now in place will be inefficient if eligibility and permitted applications are expanded, and conversely, a highly regimented and administratively cumbersome process would be as inefficient. EWA will be filing Reply Comments in this proceeding on November 30. EWA Comments
Category: EWA On Your SideFile Those Construction Notices
The FCC releases a Public Notice regularly that lists the names of licensees and their associated call signs who are about to be relegated to a “Termination Pending” status for failing to file a Notice of Construction within fifteen days from the construction deadline, the date for which is listed on all new license grants. While licensees may file requests for Extension of Time, which are routinely granted, these construction notifications are as critical as the original effort to secure a license in the first place. Construction notices validate that the authorized spectrum is being used and that the system is operational. Given the shortage of spectrum, it is not efficient to permit entities to retain the rights to spectrum for ten years that is not put to use in accordance with granted licenses. We are unsure why so many licensees fail to file a construction notification, but failure to comply rightfully returns the spectrum for use by other applicants and licensees. EWA provides a License Management service that alerts licensees about their filing obligations which protects against inadvertent license cancellations. Contact EWA for more information.
Category: EWA On Your SideTechnology Compatibility
On December 5, the LMCC’s newly appointed Digital Working Group will be meeting with the FCC to generally discuss matters associated with the deployment of digital technologies within the shared Part 90 bands, and more specifically, to identify potential solutions within the frequency coordination and licensing process that may serve to promote more efficient spectrum use. EWA representatives will be participating in these deliberations.
Category: EWA On Your SideT-Band Update
At this same FCC meeting, much to its amazement, EWA was informed that the freeze on both public safety and industrial/business 470-512 MHz licensing was driven in significant part by a concern that if system relocation costs are not contained, auction proceeds perhaps nine years from now may not be sufficient to fund public safety relocation as permitted under the spectrum reform legislation. After a moment of stunned silence, an effort to discuss the logic of this plan was unsuccessful. There was no indication when the FCC will adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding how it plans to implement the legislative directives related to T-Band.
Category: EWA On Your SideCritical Spectrum Updates
In a meeting earlier this month with the FCC, EWA was advised that action on its request to terminate the 900 MHz freeze may occur during the first quarter of 2013. The FCC will address the completion of rebanding in certain NPSPAC regions and licensing requirements for the 800 MHz Guard Band (861-862 MHz in non-border areas). EWA’s representatives also learned that progress has been made on EWA’s petition to permit the licensing of full-power 12.5 kHz interstitial channels at 800 MHz with full protection for incumbent 25 kHz systems. While a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been prepared, approval by the full Commission is not likely until later in 2013.
Category: EWA On Your SideDon't Believe the Rumors
EWA has received inquiries from several service providers who have stated that one or two of their customers have heard that the narrowbanding deadline would be postponed for several years, and wanted to know if that was true. Inform your customers that such a thought is nothing more than wishful thinking. There is absolutely no narrowbanding postponement for wideband systems in the 150-470 MHz bands, unless a wavier has been specifically granted by the FCC. Narrowbanding is not required in bands above 470 MHz. It is anticipated that the FCC will be releasing a further Public Notice on narrowbanding compliance and discussing potential consequences of operating non-compliant systems after December 31, 2012.
Category: EWA On Your SideLate-Filed Narrowband Application Process Recommended
The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) has requested that the Commission recognize applications seeking narrowband compliance that have been submitted to certified frequency advisory committees on or before December 31, 2012, but not yet filed at the Commission, to count towards compliance. All participating frequency advisory committees will prepare a list of call signs for which they have received an application requesting license modification to comply with the narrowbanding rules, and these call sign lists will be electronically submitted to the FCC and all other frequency advisory committees no later than January 3, 2013. The LMCC stated that this process supports narrowbanding objectives and reasonably accommodates licensees that, although perhaps late with their application submittals, presumptively will have narrowbanding-compliant equipment in place by the January 1, 2013, deadline. This process will support anticipated FCC Enforcement Bureau initiatives, and also protect incumbent systems (if an application has been submitted to a FAC) from new applicants seeking access to channels listed on non-compliant licenses. LMCC Letter
Category: EWA On Your Side