Mum’s the Word on T-Band
Recently, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted both an assignment and a freeze-compliant modification of T-Band licenses, making it unclear to the Alliance why renewals are not being processed at this time. There have been no further communications regarding the Government Accountability Office report advising caution with respect to the mission critical T-Band operations, nor information concerning any legislative initiatives that would reverse T-Band repurposing. Other than cancelling a meeting on the topic, the FCC has not responded to EWA’s letter urging the Commission to resume renewing T-band licenses rather than holding the applications in pending status.
Category: EWA On Your SideFCC Grants Flint Hills Waiver at 900 MHz
On September 12, the FCC issued an Order stating that it has granted an application filed by Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi, LLC for 900 MHz band Business/Industrial/Land Transportation channels and an associated request for waiver of the current application freeze in that band. The purpose of the freeze is to preserve the current landscape of authorized operations in the 900 MHz band pending FCC action on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make a segment of the 900 MHz band available for broadband. The waiver grant permits Flint Hill to deploy a new 900 MHz system by the end of 2019 while at the same time transitioning to new 900 MHz channels in one of the narrowband segments proposed within the recent FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Flint Hill’s channels that reside within the broadband segment of the band will be returned to the FCC.
Category: EWA On Your SideCentral Station Alarm Channels
All but three of the applications for Central Station Alarm channels that EWA submitted to The Monitoring Association on July 31 for concurrence have been filed with the FCC. Calling into question the company’s eligibility as a central station alarm applicant, the FCC returned applications submitted by Initium Novum prior to July 31. EWA is monitoring these applications as a second filing window for these channels will open if the applicant fails to respond and/or the FCC dismisses the applications.
Category: EWA On Your SideFCC Moving Quickly on CBRS
On September 5, the FCC released the draft Public Notice (PN) proposing application and bidding procedures for the auction of the seven 10 MHz unpaired Priority Access Licenses (PAL) in the 3550-3700 MHz band. This spectrum is expected to be used for the development of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) operations, and other advanced spectrum-based services. One issue that is likely to generate comment is the proposal to allow what is effectively combinatorial bidding in major markets, an option generally opposed by industrial and other smaller entities. Chairman Pai has indicated his intention that this auction begin in June 2020.
Ten days after the release of the draft PN, the WTB and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) jointly certified that the Spectrum Access Systems (SASs) operated by the currently approved SAS Administrators Amdocs, Inc., CommScope, Federated Wireless, Inc. Google, and Sony, Inc. have satisfied laboratory test requirements and are approved to begin initial commercial deployments (ICD). During the ICD period, the WTB and OET will oversee the operations of the SAS Administrators to ensure that they complete this period successfully and in accordance with FCC rules. Those Administrators that complete the ICD period will receive final certification and be allowed to make their SASs available for commercial use (for the five-year period specified in FCC rules). The SAS Administrators manage device access to the band to promote spectral efficiency and reduce incidences of interference.
6 GHz: Kizer Clears the Air and the FCC Takes a Field Trip
The filing of ex parte notifications continues regarding 6 GHz. Most recently, the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition submitted a report by George Kizer, noted author of two microwave books, editor for the Wiley IEEE series on radio frequency and microwave, and president of the National Spectrum Management Association, among other accolades. While both sides of this debate cite the same document—ECC Report 302, Kizer notes that only one correctly interprets the findings. According to Mr. Kizer, ECC Report 302 demonstrates that “all RLANs whether indoors or outdoors threaten [Fixed Service] FS interference unless under [automated frequency coordination] AFC control.”
According to an ex parte filed by the Utilities Technology Council, some FCC staff toured a Washington-DC area Excelon facility that utilizes a 6 GHz microwave system to support Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and teleprotection systems. These systems “monitor and control the balance of power. . . which must be constantly in equilibrium. The microwave system also isolates transmission-line faults to protect high voltage transformers from overloads.” During the tour, Exelon stated that harmful interference would prevent the utility from effectively monitoring the health of transmission lines between substations, which could require the utility to remove a line from service rather than risk damage to the transformer. This action would result in a power outage to thousands of customers.
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Category: EWA On Your SideRecent Enforcement Actions for September 18, 2019
Self-Policing Yields $175K in Fines
At some level, it is important to know that the FCC’s auction participation anti-collusion rules are applicable to anyone who filed an application to participate in the auction, even if they then elected not to bid. Further, these rules remain in place until the winning bidders submit their long-form applications. AT&T filed for, but then did not bid in the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction (Auction 903) and before the end of the Quiet Period engaged in extensive discussions with the managing member/majority owner/authorized bidder of AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC, the largest winner of CAF-II funding. When these discussions reached some level within AT&T, the violation was discovered and reported to the FCC. On September 6, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability proposing a $75,000 fine for AT&T. AMG received a $100,000 forfeiture.
Administrative Hearings
On September 6, the FCC released an NPRM proposing procedural changes to streamline administrative hearings. Anyone who has been involved in or even followed one of these hearings likely would agree with the FCC that these “trial-type hearings are costly and impose significant burdens and delays on both applicants and the agency that may not be necessary.” The proposed changes would shift work from ALJs to FCC staff and allow full Commission review at an earlier stage. (EB 19-214)
Sorry … No Emergency
On September 4, the FCC proposed a fine of $272,000 against CBS for willfully and repeatedly violating section 11.45 of the “Commission’s rules when, on April 12, 2018, it transmitted simulated [Emergency Alert System (EAS)] Tones in the television program Young Sheldon over fifteen of its owned-and-operated television broadcast stations, as well as when the Broadcast Programming Network transmitted or caused the transmission in two feeds of its more than two-hundred television station affiliates, in the absence of any of the Permitted Uses. EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters and other television service providers to supply communications capability to the President of the United States to address the American public during a national emergency as well as for the delivery of important emergency information.
No Fees … No License
On September 9, the FCC revoked the license held by Shelley Broadcasting Company, Inc. for WGEA (AM), Geneva, Alabama (Station), for failure to pay delinquent regulatory fees owed to the Commission and dismissed a pending application for renewal of the license.