Enterprise Wireless Insider® Volume 4, Issue 4

Digital Mode Requires Proper Licensing

A Notice of Violation was recently issued to the Township of Lakewood, New Jersey for not being authorized to transmit a digital signal on two of its licenses and for not transmitting the required station identification.  The forfeiture amount for the unauthorized emission was set at $4,000, and for failure to provide station identification, another $1,000 fine was levied.  MORE

Renew Your Licenses

In June 2005, the University of San Diego inadvertently failed to renew their license and the FCC cancelled it as a result.  In February 2009, the University requested a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) after discovering that their license had expired. The STA was granted but the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) referred the matter to the Enforcement Bureau for investigation. Unfortunately, the University continued to operate the radio system on an expired license which resulted in a $6,400 FCC fine.  MORE

A Reminder – Required Repeater Monitoring

Several EWA members have asked recently about the monitoring requirements for non-exclusive trunked system in the bands 150-512 MHz. There are two levels of monitoring, namely Level One where systems are to monitor the co-channel input channel for transmissions from mobile or portable units; and Level Two where it is necessary to monitor the output frequency for transmit signals from co-channel base stations. The FCC’s Public Notice states “The level of monitoring must be sufficient to avoid causing harmful interference to other systems.”  MORE

Spectrum Allocation Sought by Pyramid Communications

Pyramid Communications has requested a spectrum allocation for use by Vehicular Repeater Units (VRS) that are primarily used by public safety licensees.  Pyramid is seeking an allocation in the 170-172 MHz and 173 MHz bands. MORE

Narrowbanding Webinar Features EWA

In a webinar held by Urgent Communications, EWA President and CEO Mark E. Crosby joined a panel of experts to discuss licensing, deployment and funding for narrowbanding initiatives.  The webinar can be accessed at 

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=194081&s=1&k=4A09F78663881B8BF059557A2B0A04C0&partnerref=kenwoodod

Clarification - Paging Channel 163.250 MHz Subject to Narrowbanding

Even though established rules show public safety frequencies 163.250 MHz with limitations 13 and 30 allowing for one way paging operations at 25 kHz bandwidth, it will have to be narrowbanded by January 1, 2013.  The frequency 163.250 MHz is allocated for Federal Government use but is shared with the FCC. MORE

Wireless Microphones at T-Band?

The FCC released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to allow unlicensed wireless mics authorized under Part 15 to operate in the “core” TV band below 700 MHz, including the 470-512 MHz band.  The proposed rules establish “exclusion zones” to protect co-channel TV stations, but make no mention of protecting land mobile T-band usage.  Even if the FCC had recognized the need to require similar protection for land mobile operations, there is no mechanism proposed for enforcing these exclusion zones against unlicensed devices, thereby raising the same concerns that caused EWA to oppose low-power devices proposed for use in TV “white space,” particularly prior to the incorporation of geolocation capabilities in those devices.