Quiet! Hospital Zone…
An Atlanta-area hospital was experiencing interference described as a “screeching sound.” EWA researched and identified the interfering co-channel licensee, a nearby hotel, and provided to the radio dealer contact information for the hotel. Once notified, the hotel made the necessary power adjustments to their units, which solved the problem.
Category: Keeping the PeaceNorthwestern Energy Purchases 700 MHz Spectrum
NorthWestern Energy (NWE) and Access Spectrum, LLC have signed a purchase agreement through which Northwestern Energy will acquire spectrum in the Upper 700 MHz A Block covering Montana and South Dakota. NWE will use the spectrum for a variety of fixed and mobile data solutions.
Category: In the newsFCC Commissioner O’Rielly Calls for Evaluation of Advisory Committees
In a blog post published on May 1, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly called for “review and reform [of] the Commission’s advisory committees (and councils).” Though the concept of seeking counsel from industry experts or active technology users is sound, O’Rielly finds that the Chairman’s office exercises “absolute and complete power over every aspect of their existence,” leading the Commissioner to question the independence and value as currently conducted. He recommends a complete, top-to-bottom review.
Category: In the newsSpectrum Network Group and Smartcomm News
In an April 27 letter filed with the FCC, Spectrum Networks Group, LLC and M2M Spectrum Networks Group, LLC, noted its opposition to a recent Order that denied a waiver to use 2,000 plus 900 MHz B/ILT channels, and advised that they are considering procedural options as well as alternative means to secure rights to use 900 MHz spectrum. On April 24, MRFAC submitted a response to an informal opposition filed by Smartcomm, LLC, which had claimed that 40 percent of MRFAC’s coordinations are defective. MRFAC stated that Smartcomm’s statements were “false and misleading.” On May 1, Smartcomm responded noting that its informal opposition was based on “factual predicatates.”
Category: In the newsFCC Dismisses Havens Petition for Reconsideration
On April 20, the FCC released a Third Order on Reconsideration dismissing as repetitious a Petition for Reconsideration filed by Warren C. Havens. In its order, the FCC cautioned Havens against additional filings related to Havens petition to deny captioned applications filed by MariTEL, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Congressional Questioning of FCC Enforcement Bureau Consolidation Proposal
On April 23, Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Tim Murphy (R-PA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler questioning the “proposal to shutter 16 of the commission’s 24 field offices” and have requested documentation related to that proposal.
Category: In the newsPyramid Formally Supports LMCC Proposal on VRS
On April 18, Pyramid Design & Manufacturing filed Ex Parte Comments supporting the proposal submitted by the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) that FCC-approved Frequency Advisory Committees be permitted to develop coordination procedures for permitting Vehicular Repeater Units.
Category: In the newsFCC Workshop on Use of Smartphone Apps for 911 on May 8
On May 8, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will host a public workshop to discuss the use of smartphone apps in the provision of 911 services. The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room. Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live.
Category: In the newsNon-Compliant Operators Beware!
As reported in the April 22 Insider, frequency advisory committees may ignore licenses that list only non-compliant narrowband emission designators during frequency coordination processes that seek 150-470 MHz exclusive use channels to be used within hybrid or centralized trunked systems. In other words, any such licenses may be considered as if they were terminated. EWA offers a report of non-compliant licenses, a standard component of its Premier Reporting service, which may be of value to wireless system sales and service organizations. Call your spectrum advisor or EWA Customer Service at 800-482-8282 for more information.
Category: EWA On Your SideLMCC Delayed in Submitting 800 MHz Interstitial Coordination Protocols
The Land Mobile Communications Council had planned to file comments that included frequency coordination processes that would serve to protect both incumbent 25 kHz operations as well as enable the use of adjacent 12.5 kHz interstitial channels on May 11 – the date on which comments are due in response to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would introduce full power “offset” channels in the 809-817/854-862 MHz “Mid-Band”. However, since EWA’s initial Petition for Rulemaking was filed in 2009, the availability of very spectrum efficient technologies have grown more numerous, making the task of creating a matrix that captures all technology opportunities more challenging. The LMCC will not file specific recommendations on May 11, but now plans to submit its revised “Interstitial 800 MHz Coordination Procedures” on May 26, the FCC’s reply comment date in this proceeding.
Category: EWA On Your SideEWA and PDV File Proposed Rules for 900 MHz Realignment
On May 3, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and Pacific DataVision filed with the Federal Communications Commission draft rules related to the proposed realignment of the 900 MHz band to create a Private Enterprise Broadband allocation that would provide priority access for critical infrastructure industry entities. This submission has come only after significant conversations with organizations whose constituencies would be affected by the proposed realignment.
Category: EWA On Your Side