Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Fellowshipworld, a licensee of a noncommercial educational FM radio station licensed to operate in Knowelsville, New York was repeatedly warned, verbally and by a Notice of Unlicensed Operation (NOUO) that they were transmitting 36 miles from their authorized location in Buffalo, New York and were transmitting at signals which exceeded the maximum permitted level for non-licensed devices. After repeated warnings, Fellowshipworld agreed to cease operating the transmitter in Buffalo. However, not three weeks later, operations resumed. Fellowshipworld’s president claimed he was unaware the transmitter was operational and that his children must have turned it on. The dog ate my homework like excuse didn’t work this time either. Fellowshipworld was fined $8,000 for its repeated and “deliberate disregard for the Communication’s requirements”.
900 MHz I/B Spectrum Now Available
As a result of a recent FCC decision, the 900 MHz I/B pool is back in business for new system applications. While consent to use channels is still required from Sprint Nextel, it is anticipated that all such requests will be approved. Contact EWA Spectrum Solutions department for further details.
Category: In the newsFCC Clarifies TETRA Rules
The FCC responded to a Petition from Motorola Solutions clarifying that TETRA could be deployed on all channels in the 809-824/854-869 MHz band, and that the rules permit deployment of any technology that meets the technical criteria adopted in the Report and Order, whether or not it is TETRA technology.
Category: In the newsEWA Urges FCC to Quickly Resolve 800 MHz Licensing Dispute
Upon discovering that several entities are engaged in a rather testy application dispute associated with accessing 800 MHz Expansion Band and Guard Band spectrum, EWA sent a letter to the FCC noting that since this spectrum is the first “new” spectrum available for I/B and SMR applicants in many decades, the FCC must ensure that all applicable rules and coordination processes are followed scrupulously. EWA requested that the FCC resolve the dispute promptly, before additional channels are made available in more critically congested markets. Press Release
Category: EWA On Your SideEWA Supports State of Maine Paging Waiver
EWA filed Comments supporting the State of Maine’s request for a waiver to use a paging only Public Safety frequency for two-way voice operations at a site within their statewide system. Specifically, EWA commended the State for its diligence in investigating all potentially available Public Safety frequencies rather than seeking additional I/B spectrum for its network.
Category: EWA On Your SidePublic Safety Should Share with Public Safety
EWA has asked the FCC to confirm that the following standards should be used when Industrial/Business (I/B) coordinators consider requests from public safety frequency advisory committees to use I/B spectrum below 470 MHz.
First, PS applications for non-trunked systems do not qualify for waivers to access I/B channels, but should be coordinated for the most appropriate shared PS frequency. This not only is consistent with the FCC rules, but promotes optimal PS communications by having entities with more similar operational characteristics share with one another. Secondly, PS applications for trunked systems do not qualify for waivers to access I/B channels unless it has been demonstrated that all potentially available PS frequencies already have achieved exclusive FB8 status so that there are no assignable, shared PS frequencies. If non-exclusive PS frequencies are available, PS applicants, like I/B applicants, may be required to deploy hybrid or even decentralized trunked systems. PS entities with operational requirements that dictate the deployment of centralized trunked systems may be advised to seek frequencies from PS allocations such as 700 MHz and 800 MHz, where channel exclusivity is routinely available or to acquire spectrum from auctioned bands.
EWA also noted that it had no objection to PS FACs adopting more protective standards when the impact is confined to PS frequencies. However, coordination standards that go beyond the rules established by the FCC cannot be used as justifications for PS incursions into the I/B below-470 MHz frequency pool.
Category: EWA On Your Side