Enterprise Wireless Insider, Vol. 9, No. 22

HAC Requirements May Affect SMRs in 800/900 MHz Bands

Although the FCC adopted rules on November 19 expanding the services subject to Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements to include a number of IP-based communications services, it is believed that efforts by EWA and others have been successful in maintaining an exclusion from those obligations for most Part 90 commercial providers.  These earlier comments reminded the FCC that Part 90 usage, both on private and commercial systems, are “closed-loop” networks that are not accessed by consumers or the general public. Prior comments also explained that “Part 90” radios rarely include access to the telephone network. It is possible that Specialized Mobile Radios in the 800 and 900 MHz bands will be affected, however, and the economic impact of this decision on these users is unknown at this time. The text of the FCC decision has not been released as yet by the FCC. 

EWA ATTENDS LMCC MEMBERSHIP MEETING DEC. 2

The members of the Land Mobile Communications Council will be meeting this week to review a number of pending matters that are due for an FCC decision, including the potential release of 12.5 kHz interstitial channels at 800 MHz, and the LMCC’s request to provide incumbent licenses an opportunity to enhance their 800 MHz systems as necessary in advance of permitting new applicants to seek Expansion and Guard band channels.  There are also a few other items of interest including how frequency advisory committees are to treat non-compliant wideband licensees in the 150-470 MHz bands; and, the adoption of the coordination protocols to permit vehicular systems to operate on six 173 MHz channels that were previously available for only data telemetry purposes.  Updates will be provided in future issues of Insider.  

EWA MEETING WITH MBAN PLAYERS

As soon as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) had been authorized to serve as the frequency coordinator for Medical Body Area Networks (MBAN) operating in the 2360-2390 megahertz (MHz) band, EWA began to enhance its automated capabilities to accept requests for MBAN system registrations.

Additionally, EWA will be meeting this week with representatives from the American Society of Hospital Engineers of the American Hospital Association (ASHE/AHA) at their headquarters in Chicago.  After events conclude at the World Radio Conference (WRC), EWA will also be meeting with the critical members of the Aerospace & Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) to identify MBAN registration concurrence protocols.   

HAVENS SEEKS BUILD-OUT EXTENSION REQUEST

On November 19, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued a Public Notice inviting comment on requests from four companies controlled by Warren Havens for a 5-year extension for 2,132 Part 22 Economic Area licenses in the 35 and 43 MHz bands, which were purchased in Auction 87. The Notice states that the requests discuss combining these licenses with other authorizations held by these and other Havens-controlled entities in a “nationwide multi-cell system based on Meteor Burst propagation technology … that could be used for non-profit services in support of Federal and other governmental agency programs.”  The extension requests note that there is no demand for the low-band paging for which this spectrum was originally allocated.  EWA is currently in the process of preparing its comments that are to be filed on December 21.