Verify Emission Designators
EWA received a call from a radio dealer in Illinois requesting information regarding emission designators. They had been contacted by another radio dealer in the area who indicated one of his customers, a school district, was experiencing digital signals on their licensed frequency. The school contacted the FCC with the complaint, and claims the FCC identified the source of the interference as another school using the same frequency located nineteen miles away. A technician was sent to the identified school to ensure they were operating within the parameters of their FCC license. It was discovered that the school’s license reported permission to transmit digital voice, but not digital data. EWA filed the required license modification to add the proper emission designator to the school’s license.
Category: Keeping the PeaceMaking It Work in Miami
An educational facility located in Miami, Florida started experiencing interference on one of their licensed frequencies, which made it difficult to conduct business. EWA was contacted to identify licensees using the same frequency in the area as the possible source of the interference. Several users were located within 10 miles using analog and digital technology. The facility decided to meet internally to decide whether to pursue the interference issue or to simply change their frequency.
Category: Keeping the PeaceChanges in 3.65 GHz Rules Expected in April
The FCC is scheduled to adopt rules in this proceeding at its April meeting. There has been intensive lobbying in favor of optimizing the use of this band for unlicensed devices so it is unclear whether the protection EWA sought for the adjacent 3650-3700 MHz band (in comments filed in Sept. 2014), used extensively by CII and other Part 90 licensees, will be considered adequate by those licensees.
Category: In the newsUse of Vehicle Repeaters at 173 MHz Challenged
Representatives from American Petroleum Institute (API), Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) opposed authorizing the use of six 173 MHz telemetry channels for Vehicular Repeater Systems (VRS) via a jointly filed ex parte letter to the FCC. The letter noted interference to utilities, pipeline companies and other critical infrastructure industries (CII) would pose “unreasonable risk to public safety and operational reliability” and that other alternatives to VRS use are available. Further, the letter charged that the VRS proponents suggesting use of this spectrum have failed to provide sufficient justification for the use of 173 MHz channels for their technologies.
Category: In the newsEnforcement Bureau
There has been substantial opposition to the FCC’s proposal regarding OET resource allocation. Whether these highly vocal concerns will have an impact on the FCC’s decision remains to be seen. Emerging plans call for concentrating staff in Washington, DC and even the formation of mobile “Tiger Teams” that will be launched from Columbia, Maryland to address critical enforcement matters around the country. Watch for EWA’s take on this proposed plan in an upcoming issue of Wireless Connections.
Category: In the newsSmartcomm Opposes Ketchum Filings
On March 31, Smartcomm asked the FCC to dismiss a number of applications filed by Ketchum Enterprises for new licenses in the 800 MHz Guard Band, citing irregularities, and suggesting that the new applications seek to avoid FCC license construction requirements in order to “warehouse” spectrum. The applications were filed on behalf of Janus Spectrum and TD Spectrum. In its letter, Smartcomm notes that Ketchum “has attempted this same filing sequence previously” and suggests that the frequency coordinator MRFAC/Radiosoft violated FCC rules. Smartcomm calls for greater scrutiny of future applications by Ketchum as well as an audit of MRFAC/Radiosoft practices.
Smartcomm’s letter comes just three months after it won $28 million in damages against Janus Spectrum’s Kent Maerki in a suit against Maerki and his business partners David Alcorn and Jon Palmeiri for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information. The trial against Janus, Alcorn and Palmieri is scheduled for October 12.
900 MHz PEBB
On November 26, the FCC issued a Public Notice requesting comment on the joint EWA and Pacific DataVision (PDV) Petition for Rulemaking to realign the 900 MHz band to accommodate a 3/3 MHz broadband opportunity while retaining a 2/2 MHz allocation for narrowband B/ILT and specialized mobile radio (SMR) voice and data systems. Reply Comments were filed on January 27, including a joint Reply from EWA and PDV addressing issues raised in the Comment stage. The filing included exhibits documenting the scope of PDV’s 900 MHz spectrum holdings. EWA and PDV continue to explore approaches that will alleviate concerns noted by parties participating in this proceeding and met with FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) staff to discuss those efforts. The FCC meeting was well-attended by WTB and OET staff, and there was a useful exchange regarding technical issues. EWA and PDV are preparing draft Private Enterprise Broadband (PEBB) rules that will be filed after discussion with representative of incumbent licensees.
Category: In the newsSEC Alleges Fraud against Janus Spectrum
Attorneys for the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint in the US District Court of Arizona on April 6, 2015, alleging securities fraud against David Alcorn and Kent Maerki through the company they founded and managed, Janus Spectrum LLC. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Janus Spectrum “offered and sold securities purporting to raise funds to apply for FCC licenses” for 800 MHz spectrum, promising investors that their investments would yield substantial returns through the sale or lease of the licenses to major wireless carriers. According to the complaint, Alcorn and Maerki, through Janus and 11 other entities, raised over $12.4 million between May 2012 and October 2014. Alcorn and Maerki told investors that wireless carriers, such as Sprint, would purchase the licenses at significant profit to the investors. However, the carriers are not permitted to deploy cellular infrastructure within these bands that are allocated for public safety and Business/Industrial and Land Transportation (B/ILT) use.
Category: In the newsRemove Wideband Emission Designators
With the narrowband deadline in the rear view, EWA continues to encourage its customers to remove the leftover wideband emissions from their licenses by using the FCC’s Wideband Removal tool before filing a renewal with the FCC. This can also be done while filing a renewal by selecting “RM” (renewal-mod) as the purpose code. Renewals that still reflect wideband emissions run the risk of being dismissed by the FCC, with any fees being forfeited. As reported in a previous issue of the Insider , although the FCC chooses not to take direct action against licensees, other than to deny their renewals, enforcement action may result if there is evidence of interference or knowledge that the system continues to operate in wideband mode.
Category: EWA On Your SideEWA Policy Clarification on Preliminary Monitoring
In either shared or exclusive use frequency environments, EWA encourages the practice of advance channel monitoring to support frequency coordination and selection processes. However, EWA reminds customers that channels identified by EWA as potential frequencies for certification in “Preliminary Spectrum Availability Reports” (PSARs) cannot be reserved pending the outcome of the monitoring exercise unless and until EWA receives a formal application for frequency coordination. This policy maintains the integrity of the frequency coordination process as live applications may be received after the PSAR is issued which will have priority. Further, given the demand for spectrum, at the time a customer is prepared to initiate processing of a formal license application, the channel results in the PSAR must be automatically reevaluated as the spectrum landscape changes daily. Frequencies available yesterday may not be available today. Customers will incur a fee for preparing the Preliminary Spectrum Availability Report for either shared or exclusive use frequency reports which may not be credited against any future frequency coordination activities.
Category: EWA On Your SideAnnual LMCC Meeting
The 2015 Annual Membership meeting of the LMCC will convene on April 14 in Washington, DC. Highlights will include advocacy decisions associated with among others, the use of 800 MHz interstitial channels, the Enforcement Bureau’s pending reorganization and the potential use of several 173 MHz channels for vehicular repeater systems. An FCC panel will brief the membership on current activities and Julius Knapp, Chief, FCC Office of Engineering & Technology (OET) will be the luncheon speaker.
Category: EWA On Your Side800 MHz Interstitial Channels
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to introduce full power, interstitial 12.5 kHz “offset” channels in the 809-817/854-862 MHz band (800 MHz Mid-Band), subject to certain protections designed to safeguard 800 MHz incumbents from interference—in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by EWA in 2009. The proposal creates the opportunity for 319 additional voice-grade channels for use by Public Safety, Business/Industrial, General Category, and high-site Specialized Mobile Radio licensees. The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) will meet to discuss changes to its previously submitted frequency coordination procedures proposals that will be used by participating frequency advisory committees. Comments are due on May 11, and Reply Comments on May 26.
Category: EWA On Your Side