Enterprise Wireless Insider® Volume 4, Issue 10

Know the Rules – Avoid FCC Violation Notices

A Marshall Department Store distribution facility received a Notice of Violation (NOV) for operating repeater stations (FB2) on three frequencies licensed for mobile only (MO) operation. The violation was discovered during an inspection of the facilities’ radio operations and the associated license.  The FCC had allowed prior to the establishment of new groups of frequencies in FCC Rule 90.267, Assignment and Use of frequencies in the 450-470 MHz band for low power use.  The offset 12.5 kHz frequencies could be licensed with a MO station class but operate as a base or fixed station or a repeater.  The frequencies 451.3375, 452.8375 and 452.8875 MHz are now allocated in Rule 90.267 as Group A frequencies that can be licensed as a repeater, base and mobile or fixed stations within 50 miles of the top 100 cities with specific low ERP and antenna heights, but they must show the appropriate station class.  If you have a license that has frequencies that are licensed with a MO station class and operating as repeaters contact EWA Customer Service at customerservice@enterprisewireless.org or 800 482 8282 and we will conduct a review to ensure that you are compliant with the FCC’s rules.  MORE

Forfeiture Issued for Not Reporting System Outage

Alpheus Communications, LP received a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) for $60,000 for failure to file a timely Notification and a timely Initial Communications Outage Report within the time required in FCC Rule 4.9(4), Outage reporting requirements – threshold criteria.  As a wireline carrier, Alpheus is required to notify the Commission within 120 minutes after a network outage of at least 30 minutes duration and an Initial Communications Outage Report within 72 hours of the outage.  Alpheus was late in filing the notification and the report and did not correct its failure to file until it was contacted by Commission staff.  MORE

What Constitutes a VoIP or Broadband Outage?

Comments from the public on what constitutes an outage, what is the service threshold before the outage is reported, the procedures to report an outage and who should be notified are being gathered by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB). The PSHSB is considering adding VoIP and Broadband Internet Services outage reporting in the FCC Rules Part 4, Disruptions to Communications and preparing a report to the FCC.  MORE

FCC Seeks Comments on Data Initiative

Mr. Greg Elin, named to the new position of Chief Data Officer, will lead the FCC data innovation initiative to modernize and streamline how the FCC collects, uses and disseminates data.  Mr. Elin will lead a cross-bureau data team to include the Wireline, Wireless and Media Bureaus.  Each Bureau is seeking input on what data collections need to be eliminated, what new ones should be added and how existing collections can be improved.  Provide comments to the Commission by August 13, 2010.  FCC News Release         MB Public Notice  WCB Public Notice  WTB Public Notice

President Looks to NTIA and the FCC for 500 MHz

The FCC broadband initiative received a boost from an already supportive Administration when President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum entitled “Unleashing the Wireless Broad Revolution.”  The Memorandum called for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to work with the FCC to “make available a total of 500 MHz of Federal and nonfederal spectrum over the next ten years, suitable for both mobile and fixed wireless broadband use.”  MORE

FCC Named Most Improved Federal Agency

“I am delighted that the FCC has been recognized as the ‘most improved’ federal agency” remarked FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, about the results of the Office of Management and Budget’s 2010 OPM Viewpoint Employee Satisfaction Survey.

Chairman Genachowski said he “applauds the work of the FCC management and staff and look forward to great things to come.” MORE

Denver/Boulder Frequency Pair Is Largest Bid

As Auction 87 enters its 118^th round, a pair of VHF frequencies in the Denver/Boulder BEA has drawn a Provisional Winning Bid (PWB) amount of $174,000.  The PWB total for 4450 licenses is currently at $5,793,000.  On July 12, 2010, the Commission announced they will continue to do a 10-round bidding schedule with the results of each round reported within 10-15 minutes after the close of each round.  MORE

New Regulatory Fee Schedule Published

The FCC has determined that it will not be increasing its current regulatory fee schedule associated with new Private Land Mobile Radio Service (PLMRS) licenses. The FCC filing fees will remain at $260 for PLMRS shared use licenses, and at $460 for exclusive PLMRS licenses.  Using the same regulatory fee assessment methodology adopted in FY 2009, the Commission will not raise the current $0.08 per subscriber Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) messaging fee rate.  CMRS providers will be receiving an initial assessment letter and will have the opportunity to revise the number of subscribers using Fee Filer online to provide a revised count if they do not agree with the FCC.  The schedule of the annual regulatory fees is found in Appendix G, of the Report and Order issued on July 9, 2010.  MORE

Parts of First Narrowbanding Deadline Extended

The FCC extended until January 1, 2013, the date that manufacturers may produce and import 25 kHz-capable equipment. The FCC noted in its Order that by adopting this two-year extension, that it would ensure necessary equipment would remain available during the narrowbanding transition process. The Commission also extended until January 1, 2013, the date by which all new equipment submitted for type acceptance must include 6.25 kHz or equivalent capability. The Commission retained January 1, 2011, as the date when all license applications for new systems must specify 12.5 kHz efficiency or better, and no incumbent 25 kHz systems will be permitted to expand their geographic coverage areas.  MORE

No Surprises ...

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the Commission granted NPSTC’s request to extend the date by which manufacturers may produce and import 25 kHz equipment from January 1, 2011, to January 1, 2013. Ok, so this accommodates for a limited time period perhaps a small percentage of 150-512 MHz incumbents who have urgent 25 kHz system maintenance and expansion requirements.  One could reasonably figure that in the not too distant future, however, it will make absolutely no business sense to continue to import 25 kHz equipment given the diminishing shelf life of such equipment. Maybe 10-12 months at most? Why would companies want to inventory yesterday’s technology and then tell customers that they can use the product they just purchased for say for one year or less?

And I confess that I did roll my eyes when I first heard of this extension requirement and was told it was absolutely necessary because some licensees have a nasty habit of running over their 25 kHz portables, and that it would be difficult to maintain a suitable inventory of equipment in such circumstances.  Heaven forbid!  I’m sure some folks are relieved by this FCC decision, and some others are not, the latter group mostly comprised of those engaged in equipment sales. 

It’s telling, however, for those of you who may be anticipating further extensions, that in the same Order, the FCC denied virtually all other requests to delay certain narrowbanding requirements. The   Commission seems committed as ever to stay on track.  January 1, 2013, remains the fundamental narrowbanding date by which all business, industrial, private/commercial carrier and public safety systems operating within the 150-512 MHz band must be operating at 12.5 kHz efficiency or better.  

The other news item that was not surprising was the release of President Obama’s memorandum entitled “Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution” on June 28, 2010, that incredibly mirrored much of what the FCC has been stating all along about the critical role that broadband will play in improving the American economy and the country's competitive posture in the world, as well as improving the lives of its citizens through advances in education, health care delivery, public safety and other areas.  In perfect unison, the memorandum called for the NTIA to work with the FCC to "make available a total of 500 MHz of Federal and nonfederal spectrum over the next 10 years, suitable for both mobile and fixed wireless broadband use."  We have heard this before.

Should we be surprised that the FCC was named the “Most Improved Federal Agency” based on an Employee Satisfaction Survey released by the Office of Management and Budget?  Probably not, as life at the FCC appears good these days.