Enterprise Wireless Insider, Volume 12, Issue 15

800 MHz Spectrum Opportunities

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Report and Order and Order (R&O) updating Commission rules to provide new spectrum capacity and eliminate unnecessary restrictions in the Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) bands, while reducing administrative burdens on applicants and licensees will become effective on December 27, 2018. On Monday, December 3, The Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) sent an industry alert providing an update on spectrum availability and application procedures for 800 MHz Expansion and Guard Band channels.

EWA will conduct an informational webinar on Tuesday, December 18 at 2 p.m., Eastern, that will summarize the FCC decision to make available 800 MHz EB/GB channels, cover in greater detail EWA’s processing protocols and address other spectrum opportunities.

It is anticipated that the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) will be filing a Petition for Reconsideration regarding the FCC’s decisions associated with the adoption of an adjacent channel interference mitigation matrix based on 50/10 interference contours, in lieu of the LMCC’s recommendation to rely on 50/50 contours for forthcoming Interstitial channels. The whole purpose of the matrix seems to have been lost in translation over the years, as it was intended primarily to promote spectrum efficiency and need not be applied when a higher level of analysis may not be required. 

LMCC Membership to Review 6 GHz Issues

At its December 5 membership meeting, the LMCC will discuss what, if any, position it should take in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to allow unlicensed use in the 5.925-7.125 GHz (6 GHz) band while ensuring that the licensed services operating in the spectrum do not encounter interference and continue to function. Reply Comments are due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. (ET 18-295/FCC 18-147)

Licensee Action Key to FCC Decisions on Build-out Extension

• For the State of Wisconsin, the FCC allowed the State to retain its Part 22 licenses only in areas that had become operational and required the State to secure Canadian clearance for any above-Line-A facilities. (DA 18-1139)

• For the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, the FCC provided additional time to complete construction of a 700 MHz system noting that the licensee had made progress in meeting its requirements, and that there was no evidence of spectrum warehousing. (DA 18-1164)

Commission Grants T-Band Waiver to NYPD

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) granted a waiver of the T-Band freeze for the New York Police Department, which sought a waiver to correct the coordinates reported on its license, which expanded an existing contour. The PSHSB concluded that since the relocation did not represent an expansion of the actual system contour, a waiver was warranted. (DA 18-1168) 

Bigger Fish to Fry!

The FCC released an Enforcement Advisory reminding the public – particularly fishermen - that the marketing, sale or use of radio frequency devices that do not comply with FCC rules is prohibited. This advisory cautions against the use of devices that operate on radio frequencies assigned to Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) that are used for marine navigation safety communications. The devices of concern are operated to mark and track fishing nets, a spectrum use that is not authorized.