Enterprise Wireless Insider, Volume 13, Issue 13

Application Processing — Why the Delays?

We have been informed on more than one occasion that our Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-certified frequency advisory committee (FAC) activities make the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) “an agent” of the FCC. It is a responsibility that EWA takes very seriously. Our fundamental objectives are to assist the FCC by ensuring that license applications are complete, accurate and in compliance with Commission rules. If we make a mistake, the FCC bounces the application back to us with a request to modify the application so that a license may be issued. Most FCC bounces are not life threatening. We are not fans of “bounces” at all as it delays the entire process and there is nothing worse than touching a piece more than once. Read more on Crosby's Blog.

“Other Priorities”

With good intentions to gather critical information about the current prospects for T-Band application processing, EWA scheduled a meeting with FCC representatives. The FCC cancelled the meeting with the explanation that they currently have other priorities on which to focus. 

Everyone knows the FCC is between a rock and a hard place having to implement the Congressionally mandated repurposing of the band that will result in the removal of Business/Industrial Land Transportation and public safety incumbents. Everyone knows that the T-Band mess is not of the Commission’s making and whining about it serves no useful purpose. And frustrating the FCC staff with asks that they cannot fulfill is a waste of everyone’s time and, worse, may annoy them. EWA gets that but perhaps the “front office” misinterpreted our intentions for the meeting. Read more on Crosby's Blog.

Accessing Central Station Alarm

On July 31, Business/Industrial (B/ILT) FACs submitted applications for central station alarm (CSA) channels to The Monitoring Association (TMA) for concurrence. The process was a little bumpy, but eventually EWA’s applications for which concurrence was requested were approved, and applications have been submitted to the FCC for processing.

Initium Novum, LLC filed several applications immediately prior to the July 31 date seeking certification as a central station alarm entity from TMA. The applications were coordinated by TMA as they are obligated to do, but they appended an exhibit questioning the applicant’s eligibility as a central station entity. The FCC has returned the applications stating that “the application can be accepted … only if the applicant renders a central station commercial protection service within the service area of the radio station and will use the frequencies only for communications pertaining to safety of life and property … We are unable to confirm that the applicant meets these requirements.” The applicant has until October 14 to respond.

If the FCC dismisses those applications based on eligibility, TMA has indicated it will open a second filing window.

Wireless Leadership Summit Keynote Announced

Are fewer candidates responding to your job opening, and the ones that do, aren’t the right ones? The wireless industry is facing more challenges than a tight labor market. There is also a problem with perception. The old methods of recruitment and retention no longer work. How can you make a job at your company the most appealing possibility for the best candidates?

Author and speaker Jeff Butler assists companies to understand how to bridge differences in the workplace so that people work in an environment that excites them. He has delivered this message to Amazon, Google, and LinkedIn.

Come hear Jeff deliver the keynote on "Winning the War for Tech Talent" at the 2019 Wireless Leadership Summit. 

700 MHz Interference at the Border

Texas Senator Ted Cruz raised concerns with both FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding plans by the Mexican-owned telecommunications carrier Altán Redes (Altán) to begin operations of its wholesale wireless network using 700 MHz spectrum. According to Cruz, a test of the system in Ciudad Juarez, just across the border from El Paso, resulted in “severe degradation of the communications network in El Paso including a nearly complete loss of wireless network coverage for the University Medical Center, where more than 10 people injured in the [August 3] shooting-five of which were still in critical condition at the time-were being treated; a loss of connectivity for the City of El Paso's fire and rescue services, including network-connected defibrillators and other equipment in ambulances that communicates to the hospitals receiving the patients; and a loss of network coverage for critical equipment in El Paso Police Department patrol cars.”

Responding to Cruz, Pai noted that the FCC had been meeting with members of the Instituto Federal de Telecommunicaciones (ITF), the Mexican counterpart to the FCC, to revise protocols that govern use of the 700 MHz band across the border. Pai believes that “there was a path forward to that accommodated both robust U.S. carrier operations and the deployment of Altán’s network in that band.”

Altán’s unexpected test of its system has derailed that work and forced the FCC and ITF to discuss addressing the issue of interference to U.S. communications. Altán has rejected reasonable proposals for testing. At this moment, resolution of this issue is uncertain.

FCC Enforcement Advisory for Outdoor Wireless Devices

On August 22, the FCC issued an Enforcement Advisory noting that outdoor wireless devices, particularly those operated by WISPs for P2P broadband connectivity could be, and have been, configured by the user or installer in a manner inconsistent with FCC rules. The misconfiguration has caused interference to the terminal doppler weather radar station operated by the Federal Aviation Administration in San Juan, Puerto Rico. These stations are used to detect wind shear and other dangerous weather conditions and are critical to safe air navigation. The FCC has proposed fines of $25,000 each against the three WISPs involved. These incidents call into question the assurances of Google and others that unlicensed devices can share the 6 GHz band without issue.