Enterprise Wireless Insider, Volume 12, Issue 5

EWA Meets with House Committee on 4.9 GHz

EWA met with staff members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 4, 2018, at their invitation, to discuss this proceeding. In the Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, released in March, the FCC seeks comment on alternatives to stimulate expanded use of and investment in the 4.9 GHz band, drawing on comments in the record as well as the NPSTC Plan submitted in 2013 and the APCO report of 2015. It specifically asks about expanding eligibility to entities such as critical information infrastructure (CII) and about leasing, spectrum-sharing approaches, alternative uses, and coordination procedures. In its meeting with the House Committee, EWA noted business enterprise’s need for licensed broadband and emphasized that expanding eligibility for this spectrum would promote equipment development and economies of scale for all users. (WP 07-100) 

NPSTC on T-Band: Demonstrating the Value of Advocacy

In a recent newsletter, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) gave an overview of the T-Band issue and NPSTC’s advocacy efforts to repeal Section 6103 of Public Law 112-96 which mandates that the Federal Communications Commission begin an auction of the public safety spectrum in the T-Band (470-512 MHz) by February 21, 2021. NPSTC has formed a T-Band Coalition of public safety representatives, the work of which has resulted in the introduction of legislation entitled “Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act” (H.R. 5085), which currently has nine co-sponsors.  EWA has been a vocal advocate for the business enterprise users of this spectrum, raising the issue that the law that delivers the mandate neither mentions whether business enterprises are included in the repurposing of the band nor makes any provision for forced relocation reimbursement.

LMCC Submits Alerts on Non-Compliant Devices

On April 9, the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) sent draft FCC Bulletin Alerts to the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau for their review and eventual distribution. The alerts are intended to remind those that purchase, sell or distribute imported electronic devices of FCC equipment certification as well as licensing requirements. 

Multiple Technical Studies at 6 GHz

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) met with the FCC on March 29 and presented a report that seeks to refute the RKF Engineering report submitted on behalf of Google, Microsoft, et al. The RKF Report concludes that unlicensed Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) devices could be deployed nationwide in the 6 GHz band using “established RLAN mitigation techniques and regulatory constraints similar to those applied in the neighboring 5 GHz band” without causing interference to fixed microwave facilities in the band. Other parties criticizing the RKF report include APCO, AT&T and the National Spectrum Management Association. (GN 17-183)

EWA Counters APCO’s Opposition

On April 2, 2018, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) responded to opposition from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) to a waiver request from Flint Hills Resources to use UHF Public-Safety (PS) spectrum for its new TETRA system. EWA disagreed with APCO’s position that the request to use three channels at a single site covering an 8 by 10-kilometer area within the Company’s oil refinery with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5 watts and a highly directional, down-tilt antenna “would set a dangerous precedent.” EWA also said it could hardly imagine a more narrowly drawn waiver request, one less likely to have an impact on future PS operations in an area. It also disagreed with APCO’s claim that licensees are obligated to ensure that they have all the frequencies they need – without resorting to waivers – before making their equipment choice, a standard that is not met by PS entities that seek waivers to use Industrial/Business spectrum, requests typically coordinated by APCO. (File No. 0008061316)

Signal Boosters

The FCC has eliminated the confusing personal-use restriction on Provider-Specific Consumer Signal Boosters. This decision was made easier because major carriers report no instances of interference since the FCC adopted a consent and registration process as well as a Network Protection Standard for boosters in 2013. The Second Report and Order and Second FNPRM released on March 23 proposes to eliminate that same personal-use restriction on Wideband Consumer Signal Boosters. It also requests comments on whether these boosters should be permitted to operate in additional spectrum bands and proposes to remove barriers, so that these devices may be embedded in cars, boats, and RVs. (DA 17-220; WT 10-4)

Encouraging New Technologies and Services

Thirty-five years after Section 7 was added to the Communications Act, the FCC has begun a proceeding to determine how to accelerate the process for introducing new technologies and services. Section 7 requires the FCC to determine whether proposals meet the “new” test within a year. Smart money says it will take longer than that to decide what the review process should be. (GN 18-22)

UHF Central Station Channels

Aviation Spectrum Resources, Inc. and The Monitoring Association have clarified their concerns regarding adjacent channel protection issues that will enable increased access to certain central station channels by non-central station entities under very conservative conditions. The proposal was reviewed during the April 18 Annual LMCC Membership Meeting. (WP Docket 16-261) 

EWA Honors Marc Lockard

EWA learned last week of the passing of long-time EWA Board member and friend Marc Lockard, founder of Lockard & White, a telecommunications engineering firm located in College Station, Texas. Marc graduated in 1972 from Texas A&M University, with a degree in electrical engineering and was a registered professional engineer in Texas and Louisiana. Marc’s career included many roles for many organizations, including the Lower Colorado River Authority, the Arabian American Oil Company and Exxon. He founded Lockard & White and served as CEO for 33 years, stepping down in 2017. Marc was highly regarded in the industry for his expertise, providing engineering support and guidance to many, including EWA. Marc is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ann, three children and four grandchildren. 

Praxis Aerospace Leases 700 MHz for Drone Operations

Praxis Aerospace Concepts International (PACI) has entered into a long-term lease agreement with Access Spectrum for the lease of spectrum within the Upper 700 MHz A Block. PACI will use this spectrum for unmanned drone operations. According to Access Spectrum Chairman and CEO Michael Gottdenker, the Upper 700 MHz A Block provides drone operating companies with exclusive, licensed spectrum without needing to compete with commercial carriers.

Pai Touts Record on Pirate Radio

• Undertaken 306 investigations of unlawful broadcasting;
• Issued 210 Notices of Unlicensed Operation;
• Fined illegal broadcasters $143,800; and
• For the first time, found property owners liable for actively supporting illegal activity on their property, resulting in many unlicensed stations ceasing operation.

Head Scratcher

The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $235,668 against a company called Aura Holdings of Wisconsin. According to the NALF, Aura “submitted false and misleading information in 10 changes in ownership applications” in the FCC’s ASR system, claiming to be the tower owner; made “false and misleading statements to a Commission employee” about one of the towers; and failed to respond to further FCC questioning. Hard to understand what it expected to get by changing the registration name on towers owned by AT&T and Wisconsin Bell, among others.  (DA 18-40)