$4,000 Times Three Unlicensed Channels
After an extensive investigation and on-site research, the Commission discovered that Aramark was operating 469.9875 MHz and 155.355 MHz at one hospital facility and 464.9875 MHz at another hospital. Unfortunately, these frequencies were not authorized under Aramak’s Land Mobile Station license WQFC968. Aramark was issued$12,000 forfeiture for operating on three unauthorized frequencies. Aramark claimed that they had been contracted to provide transportation services at both hospitals and thus operated on those frequencies so that the staff at the hospitals could communicate with each other; and were also contracted to provide valet services which is why they operated on unauthorized frequency 155.355 MHz. A representative from Aramark’s radio service company later confirmed that “Aramark did not have authority to operate on any of these frequencies under its license for Station WQFC968 or under any other license. But the FCC already knew that and the fine was levied.
FCC NAL
Data Security Practices
In a request for comment that could have impact on EWA communications service provider members, the FCC wants to know about the privacy and data-security practices of mobile wireless service providers with respect to customer information stored on their users’ devices, and the application of existing privacy and security requirements to that information. The Public Notice asks for comment on the applicability of existing CPNI obligations.
Category: In the newsConstruction Extensions/Substantial Service Requests Denied
The FCC recently rejected several long-pending construction extension requests or substantial service showings filed by various 220 MHz, PCS, and other licensees. The FCC determined that construction extensions were not warranted because the licensees had failed to demonstrate that the delays were due to circumstances beyond their control. One particular request was rejected because the licensee had failed to demonstrate that its service was actually being used by or provided a useful service to the public. In the case of a 220 MHz licensee, the FCC denied a renewal request on the basis that the entity had not satisfied the FCC’s “results-oriented test based upon actual services, assessing how effectively a license is put to use during the license term.” Public Notice
Category: In the newsNextel Network to Shut Down Next Year
Sprint has announced that it will cease operating its iDEN network effective June 30, 2013. Sprint will transition its subscribers to its 3G push-to-talk service called Sprint Direct Connect and noted that this decision may save the company $10B over a seven year period. Sprint News Release
800 MHz Guard Band Interference Protection
In a response that EWA supports, the FCC stated that it would adopt appropriate rules to protect systems operating in the Guard Band (861-862 MHz) when that spectrum is made available. Recently, the FCC approved rules authorizing the deployment of broadband technology on 800 MHz ESMR spectrum in response to a request from Sprint Nextel to deploy CDMA technology in the 800 MHz band. New rules include a requirement that Sprint Nextel provide 30 days prior written notice to all 800 MHz public safety licensees with a base station in or within 70 miles of the NPSPAC region in which broadband service is to be initiated. No prior notification is required to non-public safety licensees, but the Order states that all licensees will continue to be protected since all existing 800 MHz rules, including OOBE limits on the outer channels of a broadband block and co-channel separation requirements, remain intact. Extreme Tech article
Category: In the newsNY City Transit Authority Requests Narrowband Waiver
The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) has requested a 42-month waiver of the narrowband requirement – until June 30, 2016. NYCTA’s request stated that it began an extensive, multi-year program to modernize and upgrade the system in 2003, which included procuring approximately 15,000 portable radios capable of operating in narrowband mode. The 42-month extension is needed, according to NYCTA, to replace and reprogram radio base stations and related site equipment throughout the subway system. NYCTA states that work related to above-ground transmitter sites will be completed first (by August 31, 2014), so that outdoor radio transmissions will be in narrowband mode as soon as possible in order to minimize potential interference to other licensees.
Category: In the newsAllocating Interference Rights
The FCC released a Working Paper entitled “Using a Market to Obtain the Efficient Allocation of Interference Rights”. According to the news release, “The paper shows how the efficient allocation of such rights can arise from a multi-player game embedded into an auction where participants place bids reflecting the benefit or harm they would expect to incur due to signal interference”. The FCC reports as well that the authors have demonstrated “that an efficient outcome requires market participants to select a particular Nash equilibrium from a possibly large set of equilibria, a process that also may require them to solve a ‘collective action’ problem.” These Commission efforts are designed to further the “expert” function of the agency and similarly enhance FCC intellectual capital. This is a difficult news item in which to provide comments. FCC News
Category: In the newsNon-Compliant Narrowbanded Systems Beware?
The Land Mobile Communications Council submitted a letter to the FCC in late May advising that, effective February 1, 2013, both public safety and Business/Industrial frequency advisory committees intend to ignore for coordination purposes, including identifying FB8 channels, any license that does not evidence compliance with the narrowbanding requirement and that does not have a pending or granted waiver request for extension on file. The FCC has not yet responded to this LMCC notification.
Category: In the newsDelta Narrowband Extension Granted
The FCC granted Delta Air Lines’ request to extend its narrowbanding deadline to December 31, 2013, in order to provide additional time to complete licensing and system narrowbanding of its communication facilities at over 120 separate airport locations. Delta’s request for extension was supported by EWA. EWA Support Comments FCC Order
Board Authorizes T-Band User Forum
During its meetings last week, the EWA Board of Directors endorsed the formation of an EWA T-Band Users Forum for the purpose of alerting interested members about news concerning the FCC’s efforts to implement the repurposing of the 470-512 MHz spectrum used by Public Safety and the impact that initiative may have on business/industrial and commercial licensees. The forum will also be used by EWA to gather comments and recommendations from affected T-Band licensees. Further announcements will be forthcoming, and members who wish to participate are encouraged to contact Louise Hippolyte at EWA.
Category: EWA On Your SideA 900 MHz Case Study- Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital just went live with a state-of-the art, critical alerting communications system that has been installed in its new Johns Hopkins Sheikh Zayed Tower and its Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s center, a 1.6 million square-foot medical and academic facility. The data alerting technology and infrastructure called SPARKGAP, has been provided by Critical Response Systems and provides service to over 350 employees.
EWA has assisted Johns Hopkins Hospital by preparing and filing a request for Special Temporary Authority (which was granted) so that this system could become operational and serve the critical communications requirements of this leading medical establishment. Unfortunately, given the 900 MHz licensing freeze, this system must presently operate under short-term STAs in lieu of a ten-year license. As James Dabbs of Critical Response System noted, "Nothing covers a complex building like 900MHz." News Release
Pending 800/900 MHz Initiatives
EWA continues to await FCC action in response to its request for rulemaking to permit the assignment of full-power interstitial channels between authorized 25 kHz bandwidth channels at 864-861/809-816 MHz that was filed two years ago in June 2010. EWA has been waiting since 2008 for the FCC to issue an Order in response to a Joint Petition filed with Sprint Nextel that would lift the licensing freeze at 900 MHz for new Business/Industrial systems. The latter delay makes little sense as the reason for the 900 MHz freeze in the first place – potential green space for 800 MHz rebanding purposes – is no longer a requirement.
Category: EWA On Your Side