Enterprise Wireless Insider, Vol. 13, Issue 10

Industry Weighs in on 900 MHz Realignment

A significant number of Comments were filed in early June in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to realign the 900 MHz band to create a 3/3 MHz broadband allocation for business enterprises while retaining a total of 4 MHz for narrowband operations, including those of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA). While several significant utilities continue to oppose the realignment of the 900 MHz band, many others provided support focused on the needs of enterprise users – as long as incumbents are provided with comparable facilities, protection against interference, and relocation costs fully paid by the broadband licensee. EWA and others will file Reply Comments on July 2, 2019.

OMB Approves 800 MHz Interstitial Release

The FCC has received the necessary approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prepare and process applications for 800 MHz interstitial frequencies. However, it is unclear whether the Universal Licensing System (ULS) has been modified to allow the filing of these applications. The FCC will issue a Public Notice (PN) announcing the OMB approval status, but it does not intend to immediately issue a PN regarding pre-coordination and filing dates.

Central Station Alarm Channel Update

EWA expects that the FCC will soon issue a Public Notice announcing application filing dates and other administrative protocols regarding the availability of five Central Station Alarm channels that may be available in many locations in the United States. Frequency advisory committees are presently reviewing final coordination protocols. EWA is currently accepting applications for these channels and, will provide updates as information becomes available.

GAO Report Advises Against T-Band Reallocation

We knew they were working on this document, but the Government Accounting Office (GAO) finally issued its report entitled “Emergency Communications – Required Auction of Public Safety Spectrum Could Harm First Responder Capabilities.”

The report is very thorough, incorporates Business Industrial issues and, concludes with the recommendation that “Since the passage of legislation requiring the relocation of public safety users from, and auction of, the T-band radio spectrum, the potential consequences of these actions have become far more apparent. If FCC conducts such an auction, it is unclear that all public safety users in the affected areas will be able to relocate. If alternative spectrum is not available, public safety would be jeopardized in some of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Even if alternate available spectrum can be found, public safety users are likely to bear significant costs associated with relocating and reestablishing interoperability. These costs could go well beyond the revenue produced by such an auction.”  The report is being distributed by GAO to all relevant Congressional committees with jurisdiction over this matter. 

FCC Announces Task Force to Bring Broadband to Agriculture

The FCC has formed and is seeking nominations for a 15-member task force that will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop policy recommendations to promote the rapid deployment of broadband Internet access to unserved agricultural land. Formally called the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States, the group will consult with the Department of Agriculture and collaborate with public and private stakeholders in the agriculture and technology fields. The task force will be composed of agricultural producers along with representatives of Tribal agriculture, Internet service providers, the electric cooperative industry, the satellite industry, precision agriculture equipment manufacturers, State and local governments, and representatives with relevant expertise in broadband network data collection, geospatial analysis, and coverage mapping.