Path of Least Resistance
After a Miami, Florida hotel received their new FCC radio license, they found the level of interference on their assigned channels to be totally unacceptable. The hotel contacted EWA who identified other authorized users. It was determined that the source of the voice interference was from a well established retail clothing store that was using the channels legitimately their day to day activities at two store locations within eight miles of one another.EWA provided the hotel with the department store’s contact information; however, the hotel ultimately asked EWA to change their frequency.
Category: Keeping the PeaceSpring Will Arrive - Hopefully
A Minnesota farmer started experiencing voice interference on his UHF radios, mostly conversations relating to requests for snow removal. EWA’s search showed no licensed users within 125 miles of the farmer that indicated a snow removal business. The farmer thanked EWA for its efforts and advised that he will wait and see if the interference ceases once the snow melts.
Category: Keeping the PeacePositive Train Control (PTC) News
The FCC has approved the waiver requested by PTC-220 LLC, (a joint venture of the nation’s seven Class I freight railroads) to operate higher power and antenna heights in the 221-222 MHz band. This will allow PTC-220 LLC members and other railroads in the United States to deploy positive train control (PTC) safety systems designed to reduce the risk of rail accidents caused by human error, by facilitating real-time information sharing between trains, rail wayside devices and control centers, speed restrictions, and the state of signal and switch devices. The main condition of the waiver grant is that the PTC systems do not cause harmful interference to other 220 MHz band licensees’ operations. The Commission noted that this decision would “serve the public interest of all Americans in rail safety “and also provide most freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads the availability of spectrum to meet the Rail Safety Improvement Act that is to be operational by December 31, 2015.
Category: In the newsExclusive Use Channel Analyses Modified
The FCC continues to fine-tune various rules that arose in the context of this now eight-year old proceeding that addressed multiple issues, including the below-800 MHz trunking rules. On March 11, the FCC released a Second Order on Reconsideration in which it clarified that Public Safety applications seeking centralized trunked authorization do not need to conduct the bi-directional contour analysis as required for Business/Industrial applicants; and both the service and interference contours of VHF mobiles that are associated with a base station will be the associated base station’s service contour. EWA supports both of these rule changes.
Category: EWA On Your Side900 MHz PEBB News
Technical solutions continue to be identified by EWA and Pacific DataVision (PDV) intended to address interference concerns from adjacent 900 MHz band vendors and system operators. On March 23, EWA and PDV representatives met with officials from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Office of Engineering & Technology and discussed potential solutions. Ex Parte Filing
Category: EWA On Your Side800 MHz Interstitial Comment Dates Established
Publication within the Federal Register of the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that may enable the use of 12.5 kHz interstitial channels in the 800 MHz Mid-Band (809-817/854-862 MHz) has triggered May 11 and May 26 as the dates on which comments may be filed in this proceeding. The proposal, initially introduced in 2009 by EWA, creates the opportunity to use 319 additional voice-grade channels for use by business enterprises, private carriers and public safety licensees. The LMCC will meet to identify amendments to its previously submitted “Adjacent Channel Contours Table” that will serve to benefit all 800 MHz technologies.
Category: EWA On Your Side