Enterprise Wireless Insider® Volume 5, Issue 4

Catch the Buzz on Killer Apps at IWCE

EWA’s Eric Hill has been asked for the third year in a row to moderate the Killer Apps panel session at the IWCE conference. On Friday, March 11 from 10am-12pm, Eric and panelists from Sentor, Lockard & White, Intelligent Product Solutions, and Spacenet will be discussing some of the latest radio technologies for remote monitoring and control, Smart Grid, radio miniaturization for voice and data applications, and business continuity during emergencies affecting wide-scale geographies. IWCE features 330 exhibitors and dozens of educational sessions throughout the week of March 7-11.

Really, I was going to buy a boat!

In February 2010, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) informed the Commission about interference they were receiving on Marine Channel 16, the International Distress, Safety, and Calling Channel. The Commission later identified Vincent E. Aversa, Jr. of Melbourne, Florida, as the party periodically transmitting on this marine channel from his automobile.  The Coast Guard had taken audio recordings between December 2009 and February 2010, and had repeatedly warned Aversa that his transmissions were unauthorized and that he should cease transmitting. In its Notice of Apparent Liability Forfeiture, the Commission stated that “his apparent willful and repeated operation on a Marine Safety Channel 16 is particularly egregious based on the intentional nature of the violation.” Although the fine was $10,000, the apparent violation met the criteria for upward adjustment and Aversa was fined $20,000.

I need An Appointment Do I?

Last August, the FCC attempted on three occasions to view the public inspection file of TV station KCET, Community Television of Southern California, in Los Angeles.  The Commission’s rules require “noncommercial educational stations to provide access to materials in the public inspection file” and inspection of that file should be made available during normal business hours to any member of the public. That rule is pretty unambiguous. On the first visit, the FCC’s undercover agent was informed by the security guard that he had to call a certain number to make an appointment to access the file; and when the agent asked to speak to the station manager he was advised that he needed to make an appointment for that opportunity as well. On the following day, the undercover agent returned and for the third time, was denied access to the facility.  Later that same afternoon, the FCC agent relented, presented his FCC badge to the security guard, and after verification of his credentials, was admitted. FCC determined that KCET was liable for a $10,000 fine, noting that “stations cannot require members of the public to make appointments to access a station’s public inspection file.”  Notice of Apparent Liability For Forfeiture

President Reaffirms Broadband Goals

The President reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to see 500 MHz of spectrum repurposed for commercial and public safety broadband use, targeting both Federal government and broadcast allocations in a speech delivered February 10. As part of this initiative, the President endorsed the FCC’s plan to pursue legislation that would permit “voluntary incentive auctions” that would enable spectrum holders, e.g. television broadcasters, to realize a portion of the auction proceeds.  He also called for an investment of $10.7B in public safety broadband:  $3.2B to reallocate the D Block; $7B to get the network built; and $500M from the proposed $3B Wireless Innovation Fund to support R&D and technological development to tailor the network to meet public safety requirements. T-Mobile and Sprint continue to oppose the reallocation of the D-Block, and announced their intention to release a White Paper that they say demonstrates conclusively that public safety requirements can be met on commercial broadband systems. EWA will not be stunned when the public safety community rejects the findings of the white paper.    

FCC to Hold 4.9 GHz Workshop

The FCC released its agenda for a February 25 half-day workshop on broadband spectrum dedicated to public safety in the 4.9 GHz band.

Sprint Requests 800 MHz Rebanding Waiver

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has released a number of Orders over the past two weeks addressing 800 MHz rebanding disputes between licensee incumbents and Sprint Nextel.  In virtually all instances, the FCC found in favor of Sprint Nextel and approved lower estimated, and in some cases, already incurred costs claimed by incumbents. In one instance, the FCC determined that the incumbent had not negotiated in good faith and thereby forfeited its right to any rebanding reimbursement costs.

On February 11th, in response to petitions for rulemaking filed by the National Regional Planning Council and by the 800 MHz Regional Planning Committee 55, the FCC released a Public Notice inviting comment on the continued use of the former 800 MHz NPSPAC mutual aid channels in the Canada/US border areas. The Public Notice invites comment on three main issues:  the current use of these channels in the border area; technical and operational issues for both public safety entities and Sprint Nextel; and FCC permitting continued use for public safety communications. Comments are due on March 14th and Reply Comments on March 29th.  Sprint Nextel Letter to FCC

FCC Requests Increase in FY2012 Budget

The President’s FY2012 budget submitted to Congress last week includes $354.2 million for the FCC, up slightly from last year’s request of $352.5 million. Notable initiatives for the coming year for the FCC include funding work on the National Broadband Plan, overhauling the Commission’s data systems, and supporting its “public safety and cyber-security” roles.  FCC News Release

LMCC Supports TIA Intrinsically Safe Radio Effort

EWA reported earlier this month that the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has formed a special engineering subcommittee to work towards identifying a new intrinsically safe wireless device standard for adoption by FM Approvals, ISA, UL and perhaps other standard setting entities. As this initiative has potentially profound economic and communication system performance effects on thousands of licensees, both business enterprise and public safety, the LMCC applauded TIA’s efforts and volunteered its services. At the moment, however, EWA is not sure that FM Approvals is convinced that this TIA subcommittee is the appropriate venue for vetting a new standard.  LMCC Letter to TIA

Visit EWA at the Motorola Channel Partners Expo

Make plans to visit EWA at the Motorola Channel Partners Expo at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, NV from March 6-8, 2011. Together with Motorola representatives, Mark Crosby will be presenting both Monday and Tuesday afternoons in a session highlighting narrowbanding and other critical telecom issues called “How Narrowband & Other Spectrum Initiatives will Impact Your Business”. Also, take time to talk with the EWA staff about how the EWA License Management service can handle all of the licensing needs for you and your customers.  Talk with us about the advances of the EWA Premier services.  You’ll learn how an EWA service like the Market Analysis can keep you up to date on your competitors.  All EWA members are invited to stop by and sign up to receive the latest EWA Narrowband Sales Lead Report for their state.

LMCC Seeks Licensing of Non-Standard Frequency Pairs

The LMCC requested on February 14 that the FCC formally recognize and approve LMCC’s position on frequency coordination certification and FCC application submittal processes for licensing of non-standard frequency pairs in the 450-470 MHz band. LMCC requested the changes to “support technical innovation, contribute to narrowbanding objectives, and promote spectrum efficiency.”  LMCC suggested that FCC rules need not be amended, and further advised that the FCC’s certified frequency advisory committees are prepared to immediately institute these procedures upon FCC endorsement and confirmation that Universal Licensing System is capable of reporting non-standard frequency centers.  LMCC Letter to FCC

700 MHz “Repurposing” Legislation Requires Quid Pro Quo

On February 10th, HR 607 - the “Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011” was introduced by Congressman Peter King (R-NY) and six other representatives.  This bill closely mirrors Senate legislation that proposes to repurpose all 10 MHz of the D-Block at 700 MHz from commercial interests to public safety for use within a national interoperable broadband network.  And similar to earlier legislation, this recent proposal calls for auction revenues to be diverted from the general treasury to a special fund to help defray the public safety network’s construction and continued maintenance. But this legislation wants to make up for the ten billion or so of the diverted auction revenues. To accomplish that unique objective, the bill calls for the public safety community to relocate all of their operations from 420-512 MHz to 700/800 MHz within eight years so that the Commission can hold an auction of the vacated public safety spectrum at about 10 years out.  These auction revenues, of course, would be deposited within the general treasury to make everyone whole.  And finally, the Commission is instructed to use all of its powers to “configure the spectrum in a manner that increases the value of the recovered spectrum for commercial use.”  And we were always advised that spectrum auctions were never about the money! EWA wonders if the authors conveniently forgot about the fact that there are a couple hundred thousand or so business, industrial, transportation and other licensees that also use the 420-512 MHz band for purposes that promote, among other benefits, the economic vitality of the United States. And we wonder if the public safety community is backing the notion that it must vacate lower bands in exchange for another 10 MHz at 700 MHz.  EWA thinks not.