Enterprise Wireless Insider® Volume 7, Issue 23

Big Munga Faces Big Penalties

Big Munga Development, LCC, owner of antenna structure at 1206 Maple Avenue, Los Angeles, CA was issued a Citation and Order for multiple antenna structure violations including failure to register the structure with the FCC as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); failure to inform the FAA that the antenna height exceeds 20 feet above ground level; failure to paint the structure at this height; and failure to notify the FAA of any light or flashing obstruction.  “The FCC's rules governing antenna tower lighting and painting requirements are based upon the advisory recommendations of the FAA, which are set forth in two FAA Advisory Circulars. 47 CFR §§ 17.21-17.58.”  Learn more on antenna tower lighting and marking requirements here. Big Munga was given thirty days to respond in writing explaining detailing corrective actions.

We Are Using a Federal Government Channel?

Acumen Communications, Station WQJF635 licensee, in Los Angeles, California received a $17,000 fine for operating on a frequency not authorized by their license and failing to take measures to avoid harmful interference to United States Coast Guard’s operations in the area.  Acumen was given 30 days to provide details on what they will do to come into compliance.
 

Wideband Lo-Jack Device Rules Again Under Scrutiny

The International Association of Auto Theft Investigators has requested a partial, indefinite waiver to allow wideband Lo-Jack devices already installed in vehicles prior to May 27, 2005, to continue operating in that mode on 173.075 MHz after the Federal Government narrowband deadline of May 27, 2019.  The waiver request noted that these devices transmit infrequently, if at all, and only when activated by law enforcement agencies.  It also pointed out that the number of such devices still in service by that date is expected to be de minimis.  Reply Comments are due January 9, 2014, at the FCC.  Public Notice

FCC Grants Florida 800 MHz Sprint Waiver

Sprint’s request to deploy broadband LTE throughout the State of Florida has been granted, except in those areas identified in the Order where 800 MHz rebanding has not yet been completed. There are also certain conditions designed to protect against interference from the LTE network in specified areas.

Renewals and Construction Notifications Made Easy

Some customers are unaware that EWA has the ability to submit renewals and construction notifications directly to the FCC without the need for an FRN or password.  EWA needs to know only the call sign for renewals and the call sign and build-out date for construction notifications.

Filing renewals and construction notifications are part of license maintenance, which can be done directly with the FCC through its Universal Licensing System (ULS). To gain access to records, each license must be associated with a unique FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password. An FRN is the property of the licensee as it is tied to the licensee’s taxpayer identification number (TIN) or, in the case of an individual, their social security number (SSN). Unfortunately, in many instances, it has been EWA’s experience that not all licensees maintain their FRN and password which has resulted in missed license renewals and construction notifications. EWA recommends maintaining the FRN and password with your license documents and, for more protection, setting up a Personal Security Question (PSQ). If you don’t have the FRN and password, EWA can help you obtain that and make sure your information is up-to-date in the ULS. Contact EWA at 800.482.8282 for further assistance.

LMCC Members Convene

The LMCC membership convened earlier this month to, among other issues, discuss matters associated with pre-coordination procedures for Expansion Band/Guard Band 800 MHz applications; unique narrowband waivers; and the need to extend conditional licensing to bands above 470 MHz. Regarding the 800 MHz Expansion Band/Guard Band spectrum, Industrial/Business and Public Safety frequency advisory committees must execute a Memorandum of Agreement on pre-coordination processes prior to the release of such additional spectrum.  Please visit www.lmcc.org for further information.

900 MHz Applications Raise Eyebrows

This should be an easy call for the FCC.  A batch of applications recently filed for I/B 900 MHz channels in multiple markets around the county clearly do not comply with FCC eligibility requirements.  Not only do the applicants identify themselves as proposing “non-common carrier” as opposed to private internal systems, but their eligibility statements proposing to provide wireless service to Part 90 eligibles make them commercial SMR applicants. It also is striking that these applicants have the same contact , a company out of Phoenix that shares lineage with Smartcomm.  Smartcomm, in turn, is involved with many licensees of 800 MHz Expansion Band and Guard Band spectrum in the few markets in which it has been made available, some of whom already have expressed surprise to EWA that no commercial carrier has offered to buy their frequencies.

Even if the FCC acts quickly to dismiss these applications, as it should, how they got through the coordination process is beyond EWA.  Frequency coordinators are certified by the FCC to file applications that at least on their face meet FCC requirements, not to simply rubber-stamp whatever comes through the door. The Commission may want to take a long, hard look at all the parties involved with these applications to see what went wrong here.

NPSTC May Have Spoken - But It Is Not Yet Over at 4.9 GHz

It may be a bit optimistic on NPSTC’s part to label its 4.9 GHz reorganization effort as the “National Plan Recommendations Final Report”. It’s not final by any means as yet. In comments filed late November solicited by the FCC in response to this “Final Report”, EWA recommended that the FCC should allow all licensees of private internal systems co-primary access to the frequencies designated for shared public safety/non-public safety use; and (ii) stated that it is confident that EWA and other non-public safety frequency advisory committees have both the capability and commitment to process 4.9 GHz applications in conformance with whatever rules and policies the FCC adopts.  As long as the technical criteria adopted by the Commission for the 4.9 GHz band are followed by all frequency coordinators, either public safety or non-public safety, every licensee will enjoy the appropriate level of interference protection and confidence that their 4.9 GHz applications were processed on an equal basis.

FCCA, IMSA and IAFC noted in a joint filing later, however, that it was their “experience with coordination of Sprint/Nextel vacated spectrum, in which business/industrial coordinators are allowed to participate, that many more problems develop with the addition of coordinators who are not part of the regular public safety coordination process.” EWA responded to this allegation that “the Joint Commenters provided no details about any alleged problems caused by non-public safety FACs, and EWA is at a loss to understand what they possibly could be. Indeed, this complaint is particularly odd, since none of the Joint Commenters have ever raised this issue with EWA, with any other non-public safety FAC to the best of the Alliance’s knowledge, or within the LMCC where such matters typically would be vetted. Before the FCC gives any credence to this unsubstantiated claim … it should require them to provide specific details of the ‘many’ problems that have arisen.”