Disgruntled employee steals radios, becomes pirate… Argh!
A major business segment of a US defense conglomerate contacted EWA to determine the cause of interference it had been experiencing. The nature of the interference was loud music and obscene language. EWA conducted a search for possible offenders in a 100 mile radius but turned up nothing. After further investigation, the company discovered that a former employee had stolen radios and was broadcasting on the company’s own licensed channels. EWA turned this matter over to the FCC for action.
Spectrum Networks Group Challenges Denial of Waiver Request
On May 13, 2015, Spectrum Networks Group challenged the FCC’s denial of its waiver request, citing “at least five reasons,” including an alleged disparity in treatment. SNG had filed a waiver stating that it sought to provide a machine-to-machine data network for business/industrial eligible entities. Rather than respond to the waiver denial from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, SNG has taken the matter to the Commission, and has asserted that it is being discriminated against for its honesty.
Category: In the newsEnforcement Bureau Under Fire
More organizations are commenting on the FCC plan to restructure its Enforcement Bureau. Both the public safety and business/industrial communities believe that the process has lacked transparency and input from affected parties. Further, many view that the plan would further hinder an already stressed process. Members of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council expressed their concerns last week in a meeting with Enforcement Bureau Deputy Chief William Davenport. On May 11, Society of Broadcast Engineers President Joseph Snelson wrote to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler that neither SBE nor any broadcaster had been consulted during the formation of the plan and suggested that the plan revisited so that stakeholders could provide comment. EWA’s Mark Crosby continued his commentary in a May 8 blog post, suggesting that the Enforcement Bureau’s difficulty in responding to requests for assistance may have contributed to fewer requests over time, and may have served to undervalue the need for Bureau.
In a related story, according to a May 14 blog post by Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, the FCC is unable to track whether “parties are actually satisfying the terms of its enforcement actions.” The failure is, in part, the result of the “distribution of responsibilities between the Commission, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Justice.” O’Rielly called for the process to be reviewed by the newly formed Process Review Task Force.
Category: In the newsFCCSeeks Comment on Proposed Rules for the Realignment of 900 MHz Spectrum
On May 13, The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released a Public Notice requesting comment on a supplement to the Petition for Rulemaking filed by Enterprise Wireless Alliance and Pacific DataVision that proposed specific rules that would govern a 900 MHz band realignment. It was not lost on EWA that the FCC’s filing deadlines were longer than normal, perhaps in anticipation of a significant number of comments which are due June 29. Reply comments are due July 14.
Category: In the newsEWA and LMCC File 800 MHz Interstitial Comments
On May 11, 2015, The Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) and the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) filed comments separately in response the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the creation of new, full-power, interstitial 12.5 kHz channels in the 809-817/854-862 MHz band.
In its comments, LMCC stated that it supports the proposal, noting that the opportunity will enable the private land mobile radio user community to derive more use from its limited spectrum options. LMCC is preparing a matrix that defines reciprocal interference protection criteria for interstitial channels, which it plans to file with the FCC during the Reply Comment stage of the NPRM. The task is rather complex because of the number of technologies in play today.
EWA sought a rulemaking in this matter originally in 2009 in order to promote spectrum efficiency in this band, especially given the introduction of narrower, digital technologies that do not necessarily occupy entire 25 kHz wide channels. EWA raised concerns that application-marketing-and-preparation firms would potentially flood the system with applications from entities seeking spectrum for investment purposes only. The FCC’s proposed approach would protect channels designated for public safety interstitial use, but not business/industrial channels and certainly not SMR spectrum. The Alliance recommended that the FCC convene a meeting of interested parties to discuss how to address this issue before any interstitial channels or additional Expansion Band/ Guard Band (EB/GB) spectrum is released.
This NPRM generated a large number of comments—everything from suggestions of other uses of the band to not taking any action today in order to see what technologies may develop in the future. From EWA’s perspective, the opportunities for additional allocations for use by B/ILT entities is remote at best, so we use better utilize the allocations we do have today.
Reply comments are due May 26.