Enterprise Wireless Insider, Vol. 13, Issue 15

Status - Mid-Band 800 MHz Interstitial Channels

EWA understands that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) later this year may proceed to license 800 MHz interstitial channels in areas where rebanding has been completed, rather than waiting for rebanding to be completed along the Mexican Border. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information required by the FCC to process these applications was published in the Federal Register in June. Associated issues to be concluded prior to coordinating these 318 12.5 kHz channels include the anticipated FCC response to the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) Petition for Reconsideration regarding adjacent channel interference contour evaluations to be conducted by capable frequency advisory committees, and whether the FCC has updated the Universal Licensing System (ULS) to accept interstitial applications.

Troublesome T-Band Interference Issues

EWA members and others operating in the T-Band are experiencing interference issues from TV Channels 16 and 14. There are three ongoing issues with interference from TV CH16, which is assigned for Public Safety only use in Los Angeles and New York and for General Use in Dallas. The situation in Los Angeles involves a secondary Low Power Television (LPTV) Service station, while those in NY and Dallas involve full-power TV stations. Interference investigations are still in the fact-gathering stage, and the timing of further action is unknown.

Seconds - Central Station Alarm Channels

In conformance with access protocols for exclusive use Central Station Alarm (CSA) UHF channels, interested applicants may submit applications seeking a second CSA channel following construction and operation of their original CSA channel assignment.  EWA is presently accepting applications for such requests. Also, The Monitoring Association (TMA) may open a second filing window in certain geographic areas depending on the FCC’s final disposition of the applications submitted by Initium Novum, LLC.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service

During last week’s meeting of the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) Coalition, members discussed whether to file Comments in the proposed rules for the auction of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Priority Access Licenses (PALs). IIoT Coalition members oppose allowing what is effectively combinatorial bidding in major markets, an option favored by the carriers that had wanted PAL licenses auctioned in larger than county-size licenses to begin with. Comments are due on October 28 and Reply Comments on November 12. (AU 19-214) 

900 MHz Session Added to Wireless Leadership Summit

You are invited to attend a special, Summit forum that will update 900 MHz licensees and those that service narrowband 900 MHz systems on how to optimally navigate the pending introduction of broadband capabilities within the 900 MHz band. This preconference session on October 22, will address:

• Anticipated FCC rules and regulations;
• Optimum rules of engagement and reconfiguration best practices; and
• Possible incentives for facilitating and participating in 900 MHz system reconfiguration activities in your areas of interest.

Attendance is complimentary, and you will need to register to attend using the link below. EWA’s Mark Crosby will be the presenter and Anterix representatives will be on hand to answer your questions. Register now to secure a seat. 

Date: October 22, 2019
Time: 3 – 5 p.m., Central Time
Where: Rooftop Ballroom, Intercontinental Kansas City at the Plaza

900 MHz Application Freeze Waivers

• A waiver request from Eversource Energy for a single 900 MHz channel at a new location was denied by the FCC which stated that Eversource had been aware of the need for additional coverage long before the freeze was announced and elected to delay requesting the license; and 
• A waiver request submitted from Kansas City Power & Light to redeploy its existing 900 MHz LMR system in a fixed Point-to-Point (P2P) and Point to MultiPoint (P2MP) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was denied. The WTB concluded “it would not be in the public interest to authorize a new 900 MHz fixed system on a significant number of channels in a major metropolitan area while the Commission considers proposed rule changes to realign this land mobile band to support the provision of broadband service.” The Order also noted that operational fixed stations are not authorized in the 900 MHz band.  

IIot Coalition Seeks Expanded Eligibility for Private Enterprise

In March, the FCC proposed new rules regarding the partitioning, disaggregation and leasing of spectrum. The legislation directs the FCC to investigate whether changes in those rules would “increase availability of advanced telecommunications services in rural areas and spectrum access by small carriers.” While the Act and the proposed rules limit the inquiry to common carriers, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) questioned whether the FCC should consider applying any rule changes to “an expanded class of licensees beyond those Congress requires us to consider.” The IIoT Coalition intends to submit an ex parte filing urging the FCC to expand eligibility under whatever rules are adopted to include private enterprise entities. EWA and other members are working with the Coalition to provide specific use case examples of why these entities need greater access to spectrum and how they would use it.  

Batting 100% - Pai Reports on 5G FAST Plan

• Freeing up spectrum;

• Promoting wireless infrastructure; and 

• “Modernizing” regulations to promote fiber deployment