Ascend Seeks Narrowband Waiver
Ascend, which uses low-power two-watt frequencies to operate 12 radio-controlled Automated Guided Vehicles at a manufacturing plant in Florida seeks an indefinite narrowbanding waiver because the proprietary software used in these robotic vehicles operated under computer control cannot be converted to the 4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz needed to satisfy the narrowband requirement. In its waiver, Ascend argued that replacing this equipment would cost as much as $400,000, could take up to a year and that interference from these units is not expected since they operate at low-power entirely indoors. Comments are due on July 10 and Reply Comments are due on July 25. Public Notice
Category: In the newsLearning to Share More Often
EWA’s concern about ongoing incursions by public safety applications into Industrial/Business (I/B) spectrum has indirectly received support from the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB). In a dispute between two public safety entities, the Bureau reminded the parties that [even] Public Safety frequencies are “available for shared use and the Commission’s rules do not provide ‘first-in-time preference’ to current users of shared channels.” Because one of the objecting licensees was not authorized for FB8 status, the PSHSB concluded that it had “no exclusive rights” to the frequency and directed the parties to resolve the issue cooperatively. While the facts of this dispute are somewhat unusual, the FCC’s deliberate acknowledgement that public safety licensees are not guaranteed exclusive use of channels and must learn to share if that is the “best available” frequency is important. Under this viewpoint, access to I/B channels may be reduced should public safety entities be required to share channels first with other public safety users before attempting to share channels with I/B users. FCC Order
Category: In the newsWhite House Pushes for Federal Government Spectrum Sharing
The White House has set several initiatives promoting the enhanced efficiency of used Federal Government spectrum by encouraging agencies to increase their “collaboration and data sharing with the private sector.” Agencies were also encouraged to engage in more research and development activities, emphasize spectrum efficiency during government procurement and spectrum assignments, and work to ensure accurate spectrum reporting on spectrum use. All of these efforts are designed to foster greater spectrum sharing with the nation’s leading commercial carriers to further enhance broadband service capabilities. Radio Resource article
Category: In the newsPublic Safety Seeks Change to Trunking Rules
The Public Safety Communications Council (PSCC) has filed a Petition for Reconsideration requesting that the reciprocal contour calculations used to identify exclusive use (FB8) channels in trunked systems not apply to public safety applicants; and that the FCC define better the interference protection to be afforded to mobile units associated with a base station.
Category: In the newsGAO Investigating Construction Requirements
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently contacted Mark Crosby, President/CEO of EWA, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Land Mobile Communications Council, about GAO’s planned review of FCC construction requirements and the efficient use of spectrum. The GAO will consult with the LMCC, licensees and industry associations to learn more about their opinions on and experience with these FCC requirements. The GAO will be researching answers to, among others, how and to what extent does the FCC enforce its buildout requirements, and what are stakeholder opinions on the extent that goals for buildout requirements have been met? The LMCC will be convening a meeting with GAO representatives later this month to discuss these matters.
Category: EWA On Your SideEWA Suggests Conditional Licensing Expansion
In an effort to assist applicants to expeditiously commence operations that may be hampered by the FCC’s current licensing backlog, EWA formally requested that the FCC issue a blanket waiver of FCC Rule Section 90.159(b) to extend conditional licensing to Part 90 Industrial/Business applications above 470 MHz. EWA added that this waiver be extended for those applications filed on or before December 31, 2013. While conditional licensing is often used by applicants in the bands below 470 MHz, it is not available at the moment to those implementing systems in the bands above 470 MHz including 800 MHz and 900 MHz. EWA is anticipating a favorable FCC response to its alternative solution.
Category: EWA On Your SideA Hollow Victory - FCC Lifts 900 MHz Freeze
The rationale for EWA’s request to lift the freeze on applicants seeking new systems in the 900 MHz Industrial/Business pool made policy sense in late 2008 when EWA and Sprint initially suggested the notion, but EWA is nevertheless pleased that the Commission ultimately - almost five years later - saw fit to agree with the premise that “qualified entities may file an application for a new authorization in any given NPSPAC region provided such application is accompanied by a letter of concurrence from Sprint Nextel to ensure that the authorization will not adversely affect its rebanding efforts.” Given that the freeze was initiated in the first place to provide Sprint Nextel green space to accommodate its iDEN network capacity requirements during 800 MHz rebanding, EWA is optimistic that concurrence will be readily provided by Sprint now that Sprint’s iDEN network is no longer operational. Thus, EWA concurs with the FCC’s sentiment that its “action will allow qualified applicants to gain access to 900 MHz B/ILT spectrum without unnecessary delay, thereby promoting spectrum efficiency by allowing access to spectrum that may otherwise be unused during the 800 MHz rebanding process.” Of course, the delay now is the additional and unnecessary administrative burden to secure Sprint’s permission to use spectrum for which they have no further use. Order of Reconsideration
Category: EWA On Your SideCTIA - Take a Deep Breath
This past May, EWA suggested that the FCC clarify what registration information is required for embedded signal boosters and to provide an online database of already certified devices that meet the Consumer Signal Booster Network Protection Standard. Later, both Verizon Wireless (Verizon) and CTIA - The Wireless Association® (CTIA) filed comments opposing the EWA Petition. Verizon acknowledged the issues that prompted the Petition and attempted to craft alternatives to the relief requested by the Alliance. With regard to the timing of the deadlines, Verizon proposed that enterprise entities unable to register their signal boosters within the 90-day window established by a carrier should request waivers that the FCC could consider on a case-by-case basis. On the other hand, CTIA filed a response that was wildly disproportionate to the measured relief requested by EWA. Unlike Verizon, CTIA offered no recognition of the practical issues that large enterprise users will face in complying with a regulatory scheme with which they are not opposed. Amazingly, CTIA added that EWA’s proposals would “further prolong the interference environment created by unauthorized consumer signal boosters.”
In response to Verizon’s suggestions, EWA countered that “[R]ather than establishing an uncertain and burdensome waiver process, the Alliance believes it is preferable to establish a single deadline for registering all already deployed signal boosters, both consumer and industrial. November 1, 2014, is only eight months later than the March 1, 2014, date already adopted by the FCC and only five months later than the 90-day closing of that window. This relatively modest difference will result in a more accurate registration process, which is the primary objective of the proceeding.
In response to CTIA’s hyperbolic claim that EWA’s proposal “would strip wireless providers of th[e] discretion provided to them … establishing a November 1, 2014, registration deadline regardless of how early a wireless provider makes its registration process available to customers,” we noted that CTIA’s assertions are simply incorrect. Wireless carriers would be free to open their registration process whenever they choose. The proposal would simply extend the date at which the registration process for embedded equipment would close
EWA also reminded CTIA that EWA’s members are substantial users of commercial wireless networks and are affected by interference on those networks just like all other subscribers. They rely on public safety services that also can be adversely impacted by those rare, but exceedingly problematic, instances when consumer signal boosters cause interference to emergency provider systems. The Alliance agrees that new boosters should be labeled and registered as required by the rules. It also supports registration of already deployed boosters – even those that have never caused interference, which is the vast majority of units in service. The issue is establishing a reasonable path that will allow enterprise users sufficient time to provide carriers with accurate information about those long-embedded devices, an objective EWA would have expected CTIA to support. EWA's Response
Category: EWA On Your Side