Enterprise Wireless Insider® Volume 6, Issue 15

Analog v Digital – License Must Reflect Actual Use

A Notice of Violation was issued to United Power (United) of Coal Creek, Colorado for operating a digital communication system while their license WPSS323 authorized only the analog emission designator of 11K2F3E.  United was also cited for transmitting a continuous digital signal for long periods of time and not monitoring the frequency, thereby causing possible interference. 

Liability Rests with Vendor

Spy Spot Investigations was cited by the FCC for selling GPS Jammers at its two Boca Raton, Florida locations and on its website.  Federal law prohibits the manufacture, marketing or operations of signal jamming devices in the United States, as it interferes with authorized radio communications. Spy Spot also violated Commission’s rules by placing disclaimers on its GPS Jamming devices shifting liability solely to the purchaser. The Commission notes that such disclaimers are misleading as they “fail to disclose that the retailer also is violating the law both by offering the device for sale to U.S. consumers and by completing the sales transaction.” Spy Spot was provided thirty days to explain its actions.  Citation and Order

For additional information on this topic, visit the FCC’s Jammer Enforcement page. 

TIA Publishes Intrinsically Safe Standard

On July 17, the Telecommunications Industry Association’s (TIA) Technology & Standards Secretariat announced that it published the following standard, in accordance with the TIA Engineering Manual, “TIA-4950, Requirements for Battery-Powered, Portable Land Mobile Radio Applications in Class I, II, and III, Division 1, Hazardous (Classified) Locations.” TIA also reported that all standards can be purchased from IHS by visiting http://global.ihs.com/?rid=TIA or calling 1-877-413-5187.

700 MHz Public Safety Waivers Awaiting Termination

The FCC plans to terminate all waivers granted in 2010 to public safety entities pursuing early deployment of broadband networks pursuant to leases from the Public Safety Spectrum Trust and to deny waivers pending from another 36 jurisdictions.  This change in the Commission’s position is due to legislation transferring authority over to both the original public safety broadband and D Block spectrum to FirstNet, an independent authority within NTIA. 

Construction Extension Denied

The FCC denied a request from Communications Specialists (an Auction 48 Part 22 VHF/UHF winner) for an additional year to meet the FCC’s build-out requirements.  The licenses were canceled automatically as of the construction deadline.  The request for additional time was based on the fact that much of the geography within the area was unavailable because it was encumbered by site-based Part 22 licenses and building out the remainder of the market was not commercially viable until those licenses were canceled.  The Commission noted that auction participants were advised to research the presence of site-based incumbents and that the licensee had taken no meaningful, timely steps to either relocate or work around those facilities.  FCC Letter

Orange County Objects to FCC Decision

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has filed a Petition for Reconsideration of an FCC decision allowing broadband operation on ESMR spectrum in the 862-869 MHz band before rebanding is completed arguing against the decision and the notification requirements.  It is not clear from the Petition whether the County understands that only the 862-866 MHz band can be used for CDMA until rebanding is completed in a NPSPAC region, however, that fact might not alleviate the County’s concern since its objection is based on interference from an adjacent band AT&T network.  The County has no objection to broadband usage of this band once rebanding is completed. 

VHF Public Safety Coordination

On July 10, the Digital Mobile Radio Association released a document addressing the PSCC position on coordinating VHF TDMA systems.  The PSCC’s most recent submittal advised the Commission that the four public safety frequency coordinators would limit the coordination of such systems to power levels that are 3 dB or more below their currently licensed ERPs (for modifications) or at least 3 dB or more below the power levels in the Section 90.205 “safe harbor” table.

While recognizing the “challenging” US spectrum environment at VHF where there is no standard channel pairing, the Association confirmed that DMR TDMA technology is designed to co-exist compatibly in a shared spectrum environment.  The clarification explained that the equipment includes Listen before Transmit (LBT) capability that monitors for co-channel transmissions and thereby avoids causing interference.  The clarification also emphasized the enhanced spectral efficiency and improved quality of this technology and urged that any issues that arise be addressed on a case-by-case basis.    
 

FCC Regulatory Fee Assessments

On July 13, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that seeks comment on proposals to reform the Commission’s policies and procedures for assessing and collecting regulatory fees. In the past, EWA has encouraged the FCC to revisit the methodology used to calculate Industrial/Business license and regulatory fees, and may use this opportunity to do so once again.