Temple University Flunks “FCC Licensing 101”
A Notice of Violation was issued to Temple University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for transmitting digital signals on 463.2375 MHz under WQNE519, which presently authorizes only analog emissions. The FCC has provided Temple University twenty days to formally respond to the Commission; specifically what steps will be taken to correct this violation. Hint to Temple University – to receive passing grade, inform the FCC that you will amend the emission designator on your license to match exactly what you have technically in operation.
Category: Enforcement CornerNo Breaks for Public Safety Expired Licensees
The FCC has dismissed requests from two public safety agencies that had requested the reinstatement of their expired licenses. The City of Lewiston, Maine filed its request for reinstatement six months after their license had expired. The FCC denied the application, which will require the City of Lewiston to start all over again. The State of Nebraska filed a waiver request to reinstate their two licenses, but somehow failed to also file a renewal application. The FCC dismissed the waiver request and told the State to apply for a new license altogether.
Category: In the newsWheeler Nominated to Head FCC
Asked at a recent industry function whether “Tom Wheeler will be good for our industry,” EWA’s Mark Crosby didn’t hesitate with his endorsement, noting that “Mr. Wheeler is very familiar with the wireless industry and has a solid business background that will be beneficial.” Mr. Wheeler, who previously served as head of the leading cellular and cable television trade associations, has been nominated by President Obama as the next FCC Chairman. Confirmation hearings are next in order which should result in Mr. Wheeler taking the agency’s reins in the September 2013 timeframe.
Category: In the newsAccessing Sprint Vacated Channels - Coordinators Back on Board
After a few “letters of encouragement” were issued by the FCC to those frequency coordinators that were unable to resolve instances of mutual exclusivity resulting from higher demand than actual Sprint vacated spectrum could accommodate, the seven affected frequency advisory committees (including EWA) met recently and agreed to adhere to application submittal processes that had been adopted earlier in an MOU. Recent instances of application mutual exclusivity for Sprint 800 MHz channels actually resulted in the FCC dismissing such applications.
Category: In the newsPending EWA Comments
Later this week, EWA will be filing comments associated with the enforcement of rules associated with system construction requirements and discontinuance of service. These comments will be filed in a proceeding concerned with MC/LM’s application to assign 216/218 MHz Automated Maritime Telecommunication Service (AMTS) licenses to Choctaw Holdings, LLC. EWA will also be filing a Petition for Reconsideration concerned with recently adopted rules associated with signal boosters, particularly regarding device registration requirements which will prove to be problematic for many industrial/business entities.
Category: EWA On Your SideUse Public Safety Spectrum - Please
It’s not personal, but if public safety spectrum is available for use by a public safety entity, even if it is discovered to be available after an application is on file at the FCC, it’s best to use that spectrum in lieu of reaching across the aisle for Industrial/Business spectrum. This is the case in a licensing matter in Weld County, Colorado, that EWA recently brought to the attention of the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau. [See EWA correspondence].
Category: EWA On Your SideSimple Trunking Rules Adopted
EWA is pleased that the Commission opted to keep technical details and requirements out of the rules, relying instead on consensus agreements supported by all certified frequency advisory committees. EWA was also pleased that the FCC confirmed that exclusive use analyses must consider the potential for interference to and from proposed and incumbent systems. To do otherwise would corrupt the intent of the trunking rules and would place incumbent systems at a potential spectrum disadvantage. However, we are still scratching our heads over the FCC’s new rules on how best to recognize and protect mobile only systems. The FCC has now provided in its rules that the “authorized operating area of a mobile only system shall be used as that system’s service and interference contour.” EWA’s appetite to wade into these trunking rules again is limited, but accommodating these new mobile only rules within automated spectrum management processes will be extremely difficult, and this new rule affords an excessive level of protection to mobile only systems. After nearly six years of effort and multiple filings submitted by the LMCC and others, the FCC finally modified its rules governing frequency coordination and licensing requirements necessary to secure exclusive use channels for use within trunked radio systems in the 150-512 MHz band. [See the FCC’s Fifth R&O].
Category: EWA On Your Side