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AAPC Wireless Messaging News

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FRIDAY — AUGUST 5, 2011 - ISSUE NO. 467

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Paging and Wireless Messaging Home Page image Newsletter Archive image Carrier Directory image Recommended Products and Services
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Reference Papers Consulting Glossary of Terms Send an e-mail to Brad Dye

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Greetings Dear Readers, and Friends of Wireless Messaging,

There is a lot of very interesting news in today's newsletter. Be sure to read the letters to the editor as there are several important ones. There is also an exclusive report from Vic Jackson that you don't want to miss.

I have done a very quick survey of iPhone apps that are related to paging or wireless messaging. I encourage readers to comment of these apps and to point out others — if I have missed any.

"Keep those cards and letters coming in" as they used to say on the radio.

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Now on to more news and views.

aapc logo
Wireless Messaging News
  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Paging
  • VoIP
  • Wi-Fi
  • WiMAX
  • Location-Based Services
WIRELESS
wireless logo medium
MESSAGING

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This is the AAPC's weekly newsletter about Wireless Messaging. You are receiving this because I believe you have requested it. This is not a SPAM. If you have received this message in error, or you are no longer interested in these topics, please click here , then click on "send" and you will be promptly removed from the mailing list.

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iland internet sulutions This newsletter is brought to you by the generous support of our advertisers and the courtesy of iland Internet Solutions Corporation . For more information about the web-hosting services available from iland Internet Solutions Corporation , please click on their logo to the left.

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A new issue of The Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account.

There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get readers' comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of AAPC, its publisher, or its sponsors.

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donate today

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Please help support the AAPC Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above.

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subscribe

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ a copy and they hardly ever mention paging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $25.00 would represent approximately 50¢ a copy for one year. If you are willing and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above.

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CONSULTING ALLIANCE

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, and Vic Jackson are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects. Click here   for a summary of their qualifications and experience. They collaborate on consulting assignments, and share the work according to their individual expertise and their schedules.

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pagerman

 

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NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING

If you would like to have information about advertising in this newsletter, please click here . Your support is needed.

USED PAGING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Please click right arrow here left arrow for a list of used paging infrastructure and test equipment for sale from Ray Primack in Vancouver. Pagers, a big UPS, and other equipment as well. Check it out!

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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PAGING CARRIERS

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aapc logo American Association of Paging Carriers

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aapc

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help wanted

Critical Alert Systems is looking for an experienced RF field technician responsible for managing complex activities associated with paging network, systems and tower sites. Responsibilities include planning, designing, implementing and/or overseeing installation of a paging communications system including base station, controller, and satellite linking equipment. In addition, this person will be responsible for the maintenance of tower sites, upkeep and installation of the paging system infrastructure to include transmitters, associated antenna, paging terminals, servers, routers, ancillary computers hardware, and interconnecting circuits. Recommendations and decisions regarding equipment and the overall system should be based upon industry practices, company policies, experience, and previous skills acquired in the field. The appropriate candidate will interact professionally with customers and be available for emergency situations if needed. This is a full-time position requiring some travel and includes full benefits.

Responsibilities

  • Install and maintain transmitters, receivers, antenna, and telephony equipment.
  • Ability to troubleshoot potential system problems.
  • Develop, present, and implement strategic system recommendations.
  • Ability to present information before key customers in a professional and clear manner.

Requirements

  • At least 5 years work experience in telecommunications, specifically in disciplines of RF engineering, paging industry experience preferred.
  • At least 2 years hands-on experience with the installation and/or troubleshooting of base station and related equipment.
  • Knowledge of basic electronics, electricity, and RF theory.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
  • Ability to prioritize competing projects and multi-task while maintaining composure.
  • Must possess strong organizational skills and the ability to exercise flexibility and resourcefulness in challenging situations.
  • Candidate ideally will reside in Northern Massachusetts or New Hampshire area.
  • Willingness to travel regularly throughout the service area.

Compensation

  • To be determined based upon experience.

About the Company

Critical Alert Systems is an actively growing company whose mission is to provide fast, efficient, and reliable wireless messaging alerting solutions specifically targeting the healthcare and public safety industries. They currently deliver millions of critical wireless transmissions daily to the northeast (headquartered in Portland, ME) as well in the south central United States. The company prides itself on prioritizing “People”, thus providing the highest level of customer service in a casual working environment that encourages innovation and fosters professional growth.

Deadline: Resumes will be reviewed upon receipt. Absolute deadline Friday, September 2.

Contact: Submit resumes in Word/PDF format to Alan Carle, Director of Engineering, acarle@ucom.com , Critical Alert Systems, 100 Larrabee Road, Suite 150, Westbrook, ME 04092-5105.

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Thanks to our Premier Vendor!

prism ipx
Prism-IPX Systems LLC

Thanks to our Silver Vendors!

methodlink
Method Link, LLC
unication
Unication USA

Thanks to our Bronze Vendors!

AAPC Executive Director
441 N. Crestwood Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
Tel: 866-301-2272
E-mail: info@pagingcarriers.org
Web: www.pagingcarriers.org
AAPC Regulatory Affairs Office
Suite 250
2154 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007-2280
Tel: 202-223-3772
Fax: 202-315-3587

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ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER

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Advertiser Index

AAPC—American Association of Paging Carriers Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC
  Preferred Wireless
Daviscomms USA Prism Paging
Hahntech-USA Ron Mercer
Hark Technologies Product Support Services
HMCE, Inc. TC Promotion GmbH
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E. UCOM Paging
Ivycorp Unication USA
Leavitt Communications United Communications Corp.
Northeast Paging WiPath Communications

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Product Support Services, Inc.

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Based in Coppell, Texas, a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth, and located just five minutes north of the DFW Airport, PSSI receives, repairs and ships approximately 4,000 discrete units each day.

  • PSSI is ISO certified and has comprehensively integrated robust lean manufacturing processes and systems that enable us to deliver timely and benchmark quality results.
  • PSSI is certified for Levels III and IV repair by a wide variety of OEMs including, for example, Motorola, Nokia, Sony/Ericsson, Samsung, Stanley and LG.
  • PSSI ’s service center is a state-of-the-art facility, complete with multiple wireless test environments and board-level repair capabilities.
  • PSSI ’s state-of-the-art and proprietary Work-In-Process (WIP) systems, and its Material Planning and Warehouse Management systems, enable PSSI to track discrete units by employee, work center, lot, model, work order, location and process through the entire reverse logistics process. Access to this information can be provided to our customers so that they can track the real-time movement of their products.

Pager and Electronics Repair

Product Support Services, Inc.

pssi

pssi

Contact:
Product Support Services, Inc.
511 South Royal Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
Phone:
877-777-8798 (Toll Free)
972-462-3970
info@productsupportservices.com
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www.productsupportservices.com left arrow

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iPhone Applications Related To Paging or Wireless Messaging

From a quick search of the Apple iTunes App Store, I think I found them all, but there may be more. Reader's comments are welcome. Come on, let's discuss this!

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Recess Paging System

Go have fun, we’ll text you when it’s time to come in.

Notify your guests when you’re ready for them and stay in touch beyond their visit with one simple text message paging application. Recess is a simple text message paging system for any service-based business where customers experience a wait. The whole system runs off of an iPhone or iPod touch and costs less than just a few plastic pagers. Recess consists of a custom iPhone application, web-based marketing platform and management console, as well as a custom-tailored API.

Reference: http://www.recessapp.com

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MessageSync ® Family of Products from
Indiana Paging Network

messagesync MessageSync ® Mobile
MessageSync ® Mobile is a GLOBAL messaging application. In today's world many mobile professionals are carrying multiple devices, a pager to be notified for critical alerts and a smartphone for emails and phone calls. MessageSync ® brings the simplicity and urgency of paging to your smartphone.

messagesync MessageSync ® LITE
MessageSync ® LITE is a messaging service that sends a copy of any message received on your pager to your mobile phone or e-mail. Like MessageSync ® Mobile you can keep your cell phone number Private and Keep your pager number™

messagesync MessageSync ® Portal
MessageSync ® Portal is a cloud based messaging platform that ensures reliable and secure delivery of critical and time sensitive information.

No software or hardware to purchase, maintain or update. Your online directory allows secure and streamlined communication. With features like scheduled delivery, message and application audit trail and MessageSync ® Mobile integration it is hard to go wrong.

MessageSync ® Mobile is available for the following:

  • iPhone ® OS 4.2 or above
  • Android ® OS 2.2 or above
  • BlackBerry ® OS 4.5 or above
  • MessageSync ® Lite requires a text messaging plan from your cellular provider.

Reference: http://www.messagesync.com

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dispatcher Dispatcher: Messaging Manager

Dispatcher lets you quickly send messages to alphanumeric pagers and cell phones which can accept text via email.

Dispatcher was designed for a hospital ER waiting room. In the ER, patients are given a labeled text pager while they are waiting, and that pager is noted on their chart. Physicians in the ER then use Dispatcher to send pre written messages with private updates and instructions to their patients, directly from their own iPhone or iPod Touch.

  • Write, save, and edit any number of pre-written messages
  • Group messages however you desire, in groups you define
  • Messages with the placeholder text "xxx" allow immediate substitution for sending; for example, "Please meet me in Room 5 in XXX minutes" will prompt you for the number of minutes before sending
  • Supports any number of pagers and cell phones; the devices just need to be able to receive messages via an email to their phone number/carrier, e.g. 5551237777@usamobility.com. The device's standard rates, if applicable, for receiving messages will apply.

Besides use in a waiting room setting, Dispatcher is perfect for any common or repetitive messaging task. If you page or message team members with meeting times or request the same information from certain colleagues on a regular basis, you'll love the time Dispatcher can save you.

Reference: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dispatcher-messaging-manager/id364910004?mt=8

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AppsOnIce, LLC

ipage iPage (version 1.0.2 and later)

iPage is an application for sending text messages from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to an alphanumeric pager.

Compatible Pagers: Cook Paging, USA Mobility

Contact Support to see if Contact Lists are available for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Current ones available are:

  • Anesthesia Department
  • Pediatric Residents 2011
  • Pediatric ICU

Reference: http://www.appsonice.com

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pager Pager App

Features

Pager app mimics the functionality of a conventional pager (beeper) with the added advantages of:

  • Delivery confirmation
  • End-to-end security using SSL
  • Choice of ring-tones
  • Users can choose their own 7-digit pager number on a first-come first-served basis or a random number can be assigned.

To Send a Message

  • Using the website https://pagerapp.com
    The web browser maintains a log of all messages sent and displays a time stamp of when the message was actually viewed by the receiver. The log is erased when the browser is closed.
  • Using an iPhone or iPod Touch
    Pager messages can be sent using an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Reference: https://pagerapp.com/doc.php

 

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ipager - fire iPAGER - your fire pager

 

This is evidentially a fake pager app for iPhones, to "impress" your friends and make them think you have a real pager. The link from the iTunes store to their support site doesn't work, so no more information is available. You can buy it for $0.99 but I wouldn't.

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onpage OnPage™

 

OnPage™: Get Priority Messages on Your Smartphone

  • Replace your old pager with the OnPage virtual pager service
  • Never miss another urgent message
  • Raise important messages above the clutter on your Smartphone
  • Works everywhere cellular or Wi-Fi coverage are available

Reference: http://www.onpage.com

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text page TextPage & TextPage Lite

 

Two Versions

  • TextPage
    A full-featured paging app with address book, paging history, and more.
  • TextPage Lite
    A simplified version with just a dialer, for those who only send occasional messages.

TextPage Features

The full version of TextPage provides the following features:

  • Paging
    TextPage allows you to send text messages to alphanumeric pagers right from your iPhone or iPod touch, and you can compose messages in portrait or landscape mode.
  • Security
    TextPage uses SSL to securely send the messages directly from your device to the pager networks' messaging servers. SSL is the same technology used with online banking.
  • Contact List
    Instead of remembering pager numbers, store a list of contacts and select them with one touch. Contacts can be sorted by first or last name and can be easily searched.
  • Favorites
    Have many contacts? Keep a quick list of favorites.
  • Dialer
    Send ad hoc pages without creating a contact by simply entering the pager number.
  • Prefix
    Do your organization's pager numbers always start with the same area code and/or three-digit prefix? Have TextPage remember the prefix so you only have to enter the last few digits.
  • History
    Keep a log of the pages you send, including the date & time the page was sent, the recipient, and the content of the message.

Supported Pager Networks

TextPage & TextPage Lite support the major nationwide pager networks:

  • USA Mobility
  • American Messaging
  • SkyTel

Not sure which pager network your organization uses? Just install TextPage Lite for free and send a test page. Both apps use the same underlying technology, so if you can use TextPage Lite, then you can use the full version of TextPage too.

Regional pager networks are not supported. While I would love to support all pager networks, none of the smaller companies support the modern technology for securely sending text pages to their networks.

Limitations

Note that TextPage is not intended for critical messaging and should not be used when message failure, delay, or incorrect delivery could cause harm or financial loss.

TextPage only works with alphanumeric text pagers, it does not work with numeric pagers. iPod touch users require a WiFi connection to send messages.

Reference: http://guelich.net/textpage

Source: If you need more information, please open iTunes, then go to the iPhone app store and search for "paging" and "pager."

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UNICATION USA

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x
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uni logo Are you ready for CMAS?
Unication’s Elegant or Legend Pagers are
uni fireman
uni alpha

 

Elegant / Legend CMAS Requirements
check Presidential Alerts
check Imminent Threat Alerts
check Amber Alerts
check Unique ability to Opt Out
     • Amber Alerts
     • Imminent Threat
check Filters Duplicate Alerts

spacer Contact: Tim Meenan 817-303-9320

x
x

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FCC Request May Allow Paging System Interconnection Using Direct IP-to-IP Transmission

Exclusive for Wireless Messaging News

Vic Jackson, Interconnection Services, Inc.
August 2, 2011

Recently, Time Warner Telecom, Inc. (TWTC) filed a petition at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking for a declaratory ruling that TWTC has the right under section 251(c)(2) of the Communications Act, as amended, to direct IP-to-IP interconnection with incumbent LECs for certain IP-based services. 1 In the petition, TWTC also asks the Commission to clarify that TWTC’s facilities-based VoIP services are telecommunications services as well as telephone exchange services and/or exchange access. ( http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1198A1.doc )

This FCC docket could have a significant and positive impact on the Paging industry by requiring Local Exchange Carriers to interconnect with paging systems using Internet Protocol (IP) instead of the traditional DS-1 (T-1) connections or analog lines. If adopted by the FCC, this petition would also define Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a telecommunications service and telephone exchange service.

Because IP interconnection is a much more efficient method of transmission for voice and data traffic, it would reduce and simplify the bandwidth requirements for interconnection facilities and would even allow interconnection of paging systems using the public Internet. Additionally, the cost and complexity of networking and provisioning paging switches and/or paging base stations within the entire paging network holds great potential to be significantly reduced by using direct IP-to IP transmission schemes that eliminate conversion of voice and data traffic from outmoded analog or time division multiplex protocols to other protocols such as TNPP. For example, a paging base station could be configured to directly connect to the Internet and act as both switch and database for incoming calls from the PSTN. Another use for an all IP interconnection would be a virtual direct connection to all other carriers, both wireless and landline thus enabling direct one-way text messaging from cell phone to pager via the paging base station, without the need for any central office based switches or equipment. (I am aware of third-party inter-carrier gateway involvement in some text messaging arrangements.)

Currently, virtually all paging and cellular systems interconnect with other carriers and the landline telephone companies using time division multiplexing (DS-1 or DS-3) connections. This fifty year old landline telephone based protocol has become costly, burdensome and outmoded in the age of IP based digital voice and data. Paging systems are thus required to convert the time division multiplexing (DS-1) signals using a switch (or “terminal”) which then converts the paging information into a protocol that connects with the base station network. This outmoded arrangement is both expensive to maintain and very limited in its capabilities such as direct communications with cellular carriers.

In the future, if the FCC rules in favor of TWTC, Paging carriers would have the option to use IP interconnection to help them maintain one-way radio paging as a valuable and viable part of the public telecommunications networks. Parties may file comments at the FCC on either or both petitions on or before August 15, 2011 and reply comments on or before August 30, 2011. All pleadings should reference WC Docket No. 11-119.

1 COMMENT SOUGHT ON TW TELECOM INC. PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING REGARDING DIRECT IP-TO-IP INTERCONNECTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(C)(2) OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT. (DA No. 11-1198). (Dkt No 11-119 ). Comments Due: 08/15/2011. Reply Comments Due: 08/30/2011.

Source: Vic Jackson vic@interconnectionservices.com

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TC PRO MOTION

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TC

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TC PRO MOTION

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IVYCORP

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ivy corp

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IVYCORP

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DAVISCOMMS USA

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daviscomms

PAGERS & Telemetry Devices
FLEX & POCSAG

(12.5 KHz or 25 KHz - POCSAG)

br502 numeric
Br502 Numeric

br802 front
Br802
Alphanumeric

tmrp-1
Telemetry

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Contract Manufacturing Services
Board Level to complete “Turn-Key”

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Bob Popow
Scottsdale, AZ
www.daviscommsusa.com
480-515-2344

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Daviscomms (S) Pte Ltd-Bronze Member-AAPC

 

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DAVISCOMMS USA

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gcs logo

Newsletter Supporter

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canyon ridge

Newsletter Supporter

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propage

Newsletter Supporter

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teletouch

Newsletter Supporter

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cook paging

Newsletter Supporter

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methodlink

Newsletter Supporter

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communication specialists

Newsletter Supporter

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

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Complete Technical Services For The Communications and Electronics Industries

Design • Installation • Maintenance • Training • Engineering • Licensing • Technical Assistance

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Registered Professional Engineer

Tel/Fax: 972-960-9336
Cell: 214-707-7711
7711 Scotia Dr.
Dallas, TX 75248-3112
E-mail: iwiesenfel@aol.com

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

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pat merkel ad

hmce@bellsouth.net left arrow Click to e-mail
Joshua's Mission left arrow Helping Wounded Marines Homepage

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Hahntech-USA

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www.hahntechUSA.com

 

2-Way 4-Button Pager

  • ReFLEX™ v 2.7.5
  • DSP Technology
  • Industrial Grade

e940
E940 PAGER & CHARGER

more

E-mail: sales@hahntechUSA.com
Telephone: 011-82-31-735-7592

 

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Hahntech-USA

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Paging & Wireless Network Planners

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PAGING & WIRELESS
NETWORK PLANNERS LLC

WIRELESS SPECIALISTS

www.pagingplanners.com
rmercer@pagingplanners.com

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Consultant
217 First Street South
East Northport, NY 11731
ron mercer

Cell Phone: 631-786-9359

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Paging & Wireless Network Planners

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PRISM PAGING

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prism
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PRISM IP MESSAGE GATEWAY

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THE ULTIMATE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE RADIO PAGING SYSTEMS
prism
  • VoIP telephone access — eliminate interconnect expense
  • Call from anywhere — Prism SIP Gateway allows calls from PSTN and PBX
  • All the Features for Paging, Voicemail, Text-to-Pager, Wireless and DECT phones
  • Prism Inet, the new IP interface for TAP, TNPP, SNPP, SMTP — Industry standard message input
  • Direct Connect to NurseCall, Assisted Living, Aged Care, Remote Monitoring, Access Control Systems
prism
prism

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How Pagers Can Save Lives in Natural Disasters

By: Leslie Prichard
Co-Author: Jon D. Word

prichard

If there's anything we should have learned recently in the wake of 911, hurricane Katrina and Haiti, it's that in spite of all the technology available to us there's still a problem with effective communication during disasters. Experts are scratching their heads as emergency workers run around grasping to find a way to get messages to each other and to perform their jobs effectively, while the public shakes their collective heads at the appearance of chaos. It's apparent to many the failures of cell phones, internet and even the mobile radios that occurred during Katrina still have not been addressed. Discussions of ramping up networks, adding towers for cell phones and making mobile phones compatible, have all been thrown into the mix of the proposed solutions, but the reality is all come with huge complications, the same un-resolvable issues and high price tags. And, in this faltering economy, nobody has found a way that makes any economic sense to instigate those solutions, the reality is they are just not practical.

What is realistic is going back to a tried and true form of communication that is dependable, economic and proven over time to work in a variety of situations including natural disasters. That communication system is pagers. When many people hear the word pager they think about the old fashioned "beeper" which is anything but sleek and sexy compared to a smart phone that has an application for everything, except communication during natural disasters. However, if the old beeper is what comes to mind at the verbal cue "pager," then clearly a pager store needs to be on the list of destinations and soon.

Today's pagers are sophisticated and capable of much more then, "back in the day," and include one-way pagers, two-way pagers and pagers that have internet capability and e-mails. The brilliance of a pager though is found in the way a pager receives its signals and sends messages. For cell phones to function they depend on networks assigned a single channel in a single transmitter to a mobile connection with a much smaller range and then rely on the network to "hand off" the call to another tower, if there is a channel available and not overloaded. Pagers on the other hand, operate off a simulcast network which simultaneously delivers a radio signal from several transmitters providing wider coverage area and better in-building penetration than other technologies. One paging tower can cover an area of approximately sixty miles wide as compared with a cell tower which may cover ten miles maximum. So what happens in the case of a hurricane, tornado or flood when these towers are damaged or downed? In the case of a paging tower, an emergency tower can be immediately erected and run off a gas generator. Setting up an emergency paging tower can be done in the most remote of locations and can literally be done in the back of a pick-up truck if the situation demands. This is not the case with a cell phone tower, in fact, replacing a tower and getting a signal for cell phone operation is complicated and takes much more to function and not likely to happen in an emergency situation, and then there is the issue of actually getting a signal from that temporary tower. The problem of no signal is eliminated with pager use.

Paging systems can also easily designate priorities and block or limit non-critical users automatically for periods of time where it is imperative emergency users have access. Pagers were designed to send mass messages to large groups of people and have been used in this function for years. In the case of natural disasters, the first responders and other emergency personnel need information disseminated in this fashion without fail. This problem was widespread during hurricane Katrina and there was no way to counteract the crisis. If pagers had been used, information could have been broadcast and sent to the masses without problems instead of dropping messages in bottles from airplanes as occurred in Katrina.

The last feature of a pager that demonstrates the advantages of the device over cell phones, is the reliability. Pagers do not operate off a battery that needs to be charged with electricity. Pagers operate off standard batteries and the battery life, and therefore the pager life, is several months to up to a year. With the simple replacement of a battery, the pager functions again. Try recharging a cell phone in a natural disaster when the power has been wiped out. Clearly a pager is the more dependable choice when comparing the two.

It's time to ask the hard questions with the easy answers and ask ourselves why we are ignoring what's in front of us and available. Why aren't we using the one communication tool that is dependable, economic, reliable and certain to save lives in these emergency situations? Why aren't pagers in the hands of every first responder on the job? Sometimes newer with more apps and functions isn't what the job requires. Sometimes, practical and proven is what we should be using, that is, if we want to avoid the calamity that was known as Katrina. Our first responders and our public deserve to have this simple solution. No amount of cell phone features or ring tones will make up for the lack of communication this country has endured throughout the most recent natural disasters. It's time to put the tools to save lives back in the hands and pockets of our first responders. It's time to return to pagers.

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Jon D. Word , a twenty-plus-year veteran of the paging, cellular phone and wireless telecommunications industries, is currently President and CEO of SelectPath, Inc., a wireless service provider, paging carrier, and tower management company. Contact Wireless, a SelectPath subsidiary is a paging carrier that provides service in the States of New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. Another SelectPath subsidiary, Wireless Repair, Inc. provides repair and refurbishment services for wireless companies nationwide. Mr. Word holds a B.S. degree in Engineering Technology from Texas A & M University. Mr. Word was elected “Who's Who in Denver Telecommunications” in 1990 and “Who's Who in Telecommunications” in 1996. Mr. Word can be contacted at http://www.contactwireless.com

Leslie Prichard is a freelance writer who consults with corporations in order to prepare articles and web content for their industry and specific needs. Leslie's work has been published throughout various media including websites and magazines. She has also won awards for her writing. In addition, Leslie has been a paralegal for twenty plus years and holds a B.A. degree from Texas Tech. University. Leslie can be contacted via e-mail at onenoseybroad@gmail.com

Source: Ezine@rticles

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CRITICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS

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Critical Response Systems

Over 70% of first responders are volunteers
Without an alert , interoperability means nothing .

Get the Alert.

M1501 Acknowledgent Pager

With the M1501 Acknowledgement Pager and a SPARKGAP wireless data system, you know when your volunteers have been alerted, when they’ve read the message, and how they’re going to respond – all in the first minutes of an event. Only the M1501 delivers what agencies need – reliable, rugged, secure alerting with acknowledgement.

Learn More

FEATURES
  • 5-Second Message Delivery
  • Acknowledged Personal Messaging
  • Acknowledged Group Messaging
  • 16 Group Addresses
  • 128-Bit Encryption
  • Network-Synchronized Time Display
  • Simple User Interface
  • Programming/Charging Base
  • Secondary Features Supporting Public Safety and Healthcare

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IPAWS Training Coming?

August 04, 2011

In recent testimony before a U.S. House subcommittee, the head of FEMA’s National Continuity Programs Directorate said the next major step for IPAWS is training state and local officials who want to be able to send alerts through IPAWS. IPAWS training will be necessary before officials are given authority to issue alerts through IPAWS. The training will be offered through FEMA's EMI — the Emergency Management Institute.

Training for certification is expected to first be made available in the coming months, at least on a selective basis to get ready for early-stage use of cell broadcast alerts later this year in New York City and Washington, DC.

We’ve not seen the training program yet, but we expect it to be heavily skewed toward teaching when IPAWS can and cannot be used. There are limitations that vary from the type of alert delivery to be used. For example, for cell broadcast (also known as CMAS — Commercial Mobile Alerting System or PLAN — Personal Localized Alerting Network), it can be used only for imminent threats, Amber Alerts, and Presidential messaging. Emergency Alert System (EAS) alerts, which will eventually be activated through IPAWS, will have different alerting criteria.

We also expect questions on the test about message preparation, particularly important with CMAS because of the 90 character limitation on messages. Sorry, URLs cannot be used in the messages per the agreement with the mobile carriers. They don’t want networks clogged should lots of people in a concentrated area hit the same URL at the same time.

No word yet on exactly when specific guidance will be issued to local and state authorities on what they need to do to make IPAWS happen for them, but there does seem to be progress in that direction.

All the best,

Rick

www.galainsolutions.com

Source: Emergency Management

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BloostonLaw Telecom Update

Published by the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP

[Portions reproduced here with the firm's permission.]

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NOTICE TO CLIENTS: The BloostonLaw Telecom Update newsletter will be on vacation during the month of August. We will resume publication on September 7. Meanwhile, we will keep clients apprised of significant developments via memos and special supplements.

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BloostonLaw Private Users Update

Published by the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP

[Portions reproduced here with the firm's permission.]

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11 AT&T Customers Seek Arbitration To Block T-Mobile Merger

Eleven AT&T customers are filing arbitration requests to block AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile, according to various press sources, including Cnet and PCmag. The first “arbitration demand” filing occurred last week. It argued that the proposed merger would violate the Clayton Antitrust Act by harming competition in the wireless market. More specifically, the filing asserts that the merger will result in higher prices and diminished service, according to Cnet. It reported that the customer is asking that the merger be blocked, or that certain requirements be imposed, including the divestiture of some AT&T spectrum, and that AT&T cease its practice of entering into exclusive contracts with handset manufacturers.

As Cnet noted, AT&T’s customer contracts prohibit customers from suing the company either individually or as part of class action. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld this practice earlier this year in AT&T v. Vincent Concepion. Thus, customers must use the arbitration process, but they must file their claims individually rather than as a “class.” The Court said that “class arbitration” is too costly, time-consuming, and defeats the “informal” purpose of arbitration. Each arbitration request will be assigned to a separate judge, and each case will be decided independently.

AT&T responded in a statement that the claims “are completely without merit." It said that “an arbitrator has no authority to block the merger or affect the merger process in any way. Our arbitration provision allows customers to resolve their individual disputes with AT&T in a prompt and consumer-friendly manner."

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, and Cary Mitchell.

Guidance For Seeking Waiver of Jan. 1, 2013 Narrowbanding Deadline

The FCC has released a Public Notice reiterating the current narrowbanding deadlines for private land mobile radio services in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz (VHF/UHF) bands to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz or narrower) technology. However, the FCC advises licensees that anticipate the need for additional time beyond January 1, 2013, to request a waiver and provides guidance on how to file such a waiver request. It also strongly encourages licensees that anticipate the need for additional time to file their waiver requests as soon as possible and preferably before the end of 2011.

Our clients should be aware that requests for rule waiver are not routinely granted. The FCC is likely to grant a waiver only if it is convinced that the applicant was diligent in its efforts to narrowband its facilities and that its inability to meet the narrowbanding deadline is due to circumstances beyond the licensee’s control.

Information that should be included in any waiver request is:

  • Steps already taken to plan for, initiate, and complete the transition to narrowband operations.
  • System size and complexity.
  • Whether system equipment is narrowband-capable or must be replaced or upgraded.
  • Whether the licensee plans additional system upgrades or improvements in addition to converting to narrowband operation.
  • Funding sources, including whether the licensee’s budget requires government approval or a multi-year budget process.
  • Whether the licensee’s narrowbanding schedule is affected by neighboring systems due to interoperability relationships or other interdependencies
  • Plans to minimize the negative impact of extended wideband operations on co-channel and adjacent channel operations, including a description of the spectrum environment in the affected area.
  • If the licensee plans to migrate to a non-VHF/UHF band (e.g. , 700 MHz or 800 MHz), whether it will relinquish VHF/UHF spectrum once it has migrated and the amount of spectrum to be relinquished.

Licensees should also provide a proposed timetable for completion of narrowbanding that includes the following elements:

  • What steps in the process have been or will be taken prior to January 1, 2013
  • Anticipated dates of commencement and completion of:
    • Replacement or retuning of mobiles/portables
    • Infrastructure replacement or retuning

The FCC has also warned that it will take enforcement action against licensees operating in a wideband mode after January 1, 2013, unless they have been granted a waiver. Enforcement action could include letters of admonishment, license revocation and/or monetary fines of up to $16,000 for each violation or day of a continuing violation and up to $112,500 for any single act or failure to act.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, Gene Maliszewskyj.

FCC Releases Order On FY 2011 Regulatory Fees

The FCC has issued a Report and Order, concluding its Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees proceeding to collect $335,794,000 in regulatory fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. In its annual regulatory fee assessment, the FCC said it will use the same methodology adopted last year.

The FCC concluded that the FY 2011 Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Messaging regulatory fee should remain at a rate of $0.08 per subscriber. The fee rate for the Private Land Mobile Radio Service (PLMRS) (Shared) fee category is $20 per year for a 10-year license.

The regulatory fee for private land mobile systems will remain unchanged from FY 2010. The regulatory fee for a Marine Coast license and for an Aircraft station license will increase by $5 year, thus increasing the FCC filing fee for a new license or a license renewal by $50 for the ten-year license. The regulatory fees for private land mobile systems, Marine Coast and Aircraft station licenses will continue to be collected upfront—at the time an application is filed for an initial license or license renewal.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

LMCC Asks FCC To Consider Public Safety, Others When Granting T-Band Waivers

In order to find radio spectrum for the burgeoning demand for broadband communications, the FCC is examining a number of possible sources for broadband spectrum, including TV spectrum. Several rule waivers the FCC recently granted to public safety entities for operations in the 470-512 MHz band (T-Band), which falls on TV channels 14-20, have included language indicating that the FCC was considering ways to repurpose TV bands, including the 470-512 MHz band, for flexible use, including commercial mobile broadband.

In granting the waivers, the FCC strongly urged public safety entities contemplating future waivers for TV and other non-public safety to consider use of the 700 MHz band to meet their public safety needs. Implicit in the FCC Order granting the waivers is that the FCC was looking at the T-band spectrum for some of the spectrum needed for future broadband use. If so, the FCC may decide to use some of the T-Band spectrum for broadband. It is unclear what would happen to existing T-Band licensees if that happens.

However, the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) has sent a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, urging the FCC to consider the very significant investments that have been made in non-broadband communications equipment and applications that are being used in the effective operation of public safety, critical infrastructure and other business activities in the T-Band. The LMCC noted that the T-Band is intensively used and essential spectrum for this part of the wireless community. There is no indication at this time that the FCC may be considering a mandatory relocation for existing T-Band systems, but licensees should carefully watch FCC proposals for this spectrum.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

Build Out Deadline For State-licensed Public Safety Narrowband Channels Is Set at June 13, 2014

The FCC has issued a Declaratory Ruling, clarifying that the five- and ten-year substantial service deadlines applicable to state-licensed 700 MHz public safety narrowband channels (set forth in section 90.529(b)) to comply with substantial service requirements on their statewide narrowband channels run from the actual DTV transition date of June 12, 2009. Specifically, the five-year benchmark date will fall on June 13, 2014 , five years after the June 12, 2009, final DTV transition date. Similarly, the ten-year benchmark date will fall on June 13, 2019, ten years after the final DTV transition date.

In issuing this clarification, the FCC observed that it has always been the Commission’s intent that the five- and ten-year substantial service periods for the statewide narrowband channels would commence upon the actual DTV transition date. The FCC said the original language of section 90.529(b) indicates as much, expressly describing the deadlines as occurring five and ten years from “the date that incumbent broadcasters are required to relocate to other portions of the spectrum.”

The Commission said its failure to update the numerical five- and ten-year dates set forth in section 90.529(b) to reflect the extension of the DTV transition date to June 12, 2009, was an inadvertent omission. With this Declaratory Ruling, the FCC said, it corrects that administrative oversight and provides clarity to state public safety licensees. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, and Cary Mitchell.

Draft House GOP Spectrum Bill Sparks Controversy

But It Is Only One of Several Measures
Addressing Public Safety Spectrum

The House GOP Discussion Draft of the Spectrum Innovation Act of 2011, which would authorize the FCC to conduct incentive auctions for broadcast TV spectrum, has drawn fire from a number of people in the telecommunications sector . The GOP draft differs from the draft Public Safety Broadband and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011, recently released by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), and S. 28, a bill with the same title, introduced last January by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) that was supplemented by S. 911 , the Strengthening Public-safety and Enhancing Communications Through Reform, Utilization, and Modernization Act or the SPECTRUM Act, which expresses the sense of Congress that bipartisan public safety legislation should be enacted. S. 911 was introduced by Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) last May.

The GOP version has some controversial provisions, including the following:

  • In lieu of reimbursement for relocation costs, a broadcast TV licensee or a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) may seek a waiver or modification of its application regarding “any provision of law administered by the [FCC], or any regulation of the Commission promulgated under any such provision.”
  • The Commission may only exercise its authority to allocate a portion of the spectrum for unlicensed use if (1) the Commission conducts a system of competitive bidding (a) for the allocation of such portion for unlicensed use, and (b) for a license for the use of such portion; and (2) the bids for unlicensed use, in the aggregate, exceed the highest bid for such license. The proposed sale of unlicensed spectrum constitutes a significant departure from existing FCC policy.
  • In assigning licenses or allocating spectrum for unlicensed use through competitive bidding, the Commission may not impose any condition on the licenses that (1) limits the ability of a licensee to manage the use of its network, including management of the use of applications, services, or devices on its network, or to prioritize the traffic on its network as it chooses; or (2) requires a licensee to sell access to its network on a wholesale basis. The FCC also may not (A) limit participation on the basis of the total amount of spectrum licenses held by a person seeking such participation; or (B) impose any other condition on eligibility for participation that is not related to the qualifications of an applicant.
  • The Commission would be directed to assign to each State (without an auction) a license for the exclusive use within such State of the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the frequencies from 763 megahertz to 768 megahertz and from 793 megahertz to 798 megahertz for public safety (the already allocated Public Safety broadband block). The public safety community has been seeking a reallocation of the D Block because of their belief that the existing 10 MHz public safety broadband block does not provide adequate capacity.

The Waxman-Eshoo Discussion Draft does not include the above provisions. Among other things, the Waxman-Eschoo proposal would give the FCC incentive auction authority, allocate the 700 MHz D-Block to public safety, require federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive spectrum inventory, and create a federal spectrum strategic plan.

In many respects, this draft is similar to S. 911 , the Rockefeller bill, which includes the following:

  • Allocating 10 megahertz of spectrum, known as the “D-block,” to public safety;
  • Directing the FCC to establish standards that allow public safety officials, when not using the network, to lease capacity on a secondary but preemptible basis to non-public safety entities;
  • Providing the FCC with voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing authority. This allows existing spectrum licensees to voluntarily relinquish their airwaves in exchange for a portion of the proceeds of the commercial auction of their spectrum.
  • Directing surplus revenue from spectrum auctions, estimated to be more than $10 billion, to the U.S. Treasury for deficit reduction.

The Rockefeller proposal was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in mid-June (BloostonLaw Telecom Update, June 15).

Chairman Rockefeller has made ensuring the necessary public safety communications resources for the nation’s first responders one of his top legislative priorities. To that end, he has secured the support of Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) for his initiative. Rep. King had introduced his own HR 607, the Broadband for First Responders Act, last February.

In the House, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) recently introduced HR 2482 , titled the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act, which differs from S. 911 and both House Discussion Drafts in that it would establish a single public safety wireless network license in the D-Block, with an initial term of 10 years, and a Public Safety Broadband Corporation to oversee the license.

Other related bills include:

  • HR 911 , the Spectrum Innovation and Auction Act, introduced March 3, by Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.). This bill would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the FCC to conduct an inventory of broadband spectrum, and to conduct voluntary incentive auctions and share the proceeds with licensees who relinquished their spectrum.
  • HR 1622 , the Spectrum Innovation Act, introduced April 15 by Rep. Robert E. Latta (R-Ohio), which also would provide for voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing.
  • S. 415 , the Spectrum Optimization Act, introduced Feb. 17 by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), which also would provide for voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing.
  • S. 455 , the Reforming Airwaves by Developing Incentives and Opportunistic Sharing (RADIOS) Act, introduced by Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), which would provide for a spectrum inventory, measurement studies, relocation cost-benefit analyses, as well as voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing.

Clearly, the House and the Senate have a lot of work to do to resolve the differences in the various proposals and come up with a comprehensive bill that can pass in both chambers. It is not clear, however, if they will be able to achieve this by September 11—the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks—the target date Chairman Rockefeller has set for passage of such a bill.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Declines To Give More Guidance On Government Use Of 700 MHz Band

The FCC has declined to issue a declaratory ruling seeking guidance on the scope of permissible operations under Section 337 of the Communications Act as undertaken by state, local, and other governmental entities in the public safety broadband spectrum of the 700 MHz band. The request was filed by the City of Charlotte, N.C. While dismissing Charlotte’s request, the FCC said in its Fourth Report & Order in WT Docket No. 06-150 that it will consider Charlotte's request in the context of a pending rulemaking.

The FCC said that while it disagreed with Charlotte's interpretation of the statute, it found that a reasonably broad interpretation of the definition of "public safety services" under Section 337 of the Act would allow some of the uses proposed by Charlotte and other commenters in the proceeding. The FCC said that Charlotte seeks a declaratory ruling on a matter of statutory interpretation (specifically, Section 337) that has already been raised and remains an open issue. Issuing a declaratory ruling apart from the WT Docket No. 06-150 rulemaking — without taking into account the portions of the rulemaking record relevant to Charlotte's request — would unnecessarily and inappropriately truncate the rulemaking process governed by the Administrative Procedure Act. As a result, the FCC said it would consider Charlotte’s request in the context of the rulemaking.

Accordingly, the FCC found find that the presumption that Charlotte seeks that any use of a public safety broadband network in the 700 MHz band by a government entity is permissible is not supported by a plain reading of the statute. However, the FCC found that there is sufficient flexibility within the statute to encompass many of the uses contemplated by Charlotte and many of the commenters.

While the FCC has not discussed all of the possible uses of the 700 MHz spectrum that would meet each of the prongs of the statute, it believes it has provided an adequate structure for analyzing the statute that can provide guidance to government entities seeking to determine who may use its systems in this spectrum and how those systems may be used in order to qualify as "public safety services" under Section 337(f). To the extent that any doubt remains as to a particular use, parties may seek a declaratory ruling pursuant to Section 1.2 of our rules. The FCC delegated authority to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to consider specific uses proposed by a government user and issue a ruling as appropriate.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

Beaumont Granted Waiver For Public Safety Expansion

The FCC has granted the City of Beaumont, Texas’ application seeking authority to expand its public safety land mobile operations on frequency 854.3625 MHz as part of a shared regional simulcast system. Beaumont seeks a waiver in order to use this frequency at two new sites prior to Sprint Nextel Corp. vacating this channel. Beaumont operates public safety trunked station WPMG304 at several locations in Jefferson County, TX. In 2009, Beaumont added frequency 854.3625 MHz to call sign WPMG304 in order to replace frequency 860.7375 MHz as part of the 800 MHz rebanding process. Beaumont now seeks to expand its operation on this frequency by adding this frequency to two new sites on Beaumont’s public safety trunked station WPMJ575.

To facilitate the licensing of 800 MHz spectrum vacated by Sprint as part of 800 MHz rebanding, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a Public Notice announcing application and licensing procedures for the channels relinquished by Sprint in the 809-809.5/854-854.5 MHz Band. The Bureau noted that Sprint-vacated channels would become available for licensing to public safety in multiple stages and that Sprint initiated the process for making frequency 854.3625 MHz available in non-border NPSPAC regions in the first stage. The Bureau also advised licensees to consult the Vacated Channel Search Engine (VCSE) to identify specific channels that are available for licensing. According to the VCSE, however, frequency 854.3625 MHz is unavailable for licensing in the Beaumont area. Thus, Beaumont requires a waiver to expand its operations on this frequency.

In support of its waiver request, Beaumont states that it has been engaged in efforts to bring various jurisdictions in Jefferson County into a shared regional radio system “to resolve shortcomings in the capacity and coverage of their current system.” Beaumont explains that “frequency, 854.3625 MHz, is the primary control channel for the expanded regional radio system that serves all of Jefferson and Hardin counties.” Beaumont states that this frequency “is programmed into over 3,000 radios served by our system.” Beaumont states that “Police, Fire and EMS in both counties depend on the regional radio system for Public Safety communications and need the expanded coverage.” Thus, Beaumont claims, that “[n]o other frequency was able to be found in place of 854.3625 MHz and even if one somehow became available it would be an enormous burden and cost to have to reprogram all of our subscriber radios.”

Finally, Beaumont pointed out that the Region 51 Regional Planning Committee (RPC) approved Beaumont’s proposed use of this frequency as part of the expanded regional system and “[i]f the waiver is granted the frequency is fully constructed and we will be able to activate it and make use of it immediately.”

The FCC found that Beaumont has demonstrated a compelling need to expand its operations on frequency 854.3625 MHz before the VCSE makes this channel available. Beaumont has successfully retuned its existing license (WPMG304) to this frequency as part of band reconfiguration, but it cannot expand its operations on WPMJ575 by adding new sites on the same frequency until the Commission updates the VCSE, the FCC said. It added that it believed that requiring Beaumont to delay its expansion would be unduly burdensome and contrary to the public interest. Beaumont has demonstrated that it has no reasonable alternative to using this frequency because no Public Safety Pool frequency is available that could be substituted for its control channel, the FCC said.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Partially Grants Waiver To Operate PLMR System On ATMS Spectrum

The FCC has granted in part, and denied in part Vermont Transco’s request for a waiver of certain Part 80 rules to allow it to operate a private land mobile radio (PLMR) system on Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) spectrum to provide communication services for Transco’s electric distribution operations. The AMTS service originally was intended to authorize specialized systems of coast stations providing integrated and interconnected marine voice and data communications. In 1997, the Commission amended its rules to permit AMTS licensees to provide commercial service to fixed and mobile units on land, under certain conditions. In 2002, the Commission adopted a geographic area licensing approach for AMTS stations. In 2007, the Commission amended its rules to permit AMTS licensees to provide private mobile radio service, as well as commercial service, to units on land.

Transco owns Vermont’s high-voltage electric transmission system, and provides service throughout Vermont and elsewhere in New England. Its communications system will be used to satisfy both fixed and mobile communications requirements, and will provide data and voice service, the FCC said. It added that among other features, the system will provide increased functionality with respect to monitoring equipment performance and service quality, placing back-up facilities into operation or rerouting power distribution when required, dispatching repair crews, and metering.

With respect to the monitoring requirement in Section 80.92(a), Transco argues that monitoring the frequencies prior to transmitting is incompatible with the operation of a centralized trunked land mobile radio system, and unnecessary because Transco is authorized for an exclusive geographic area license. Because there are no co-channel site-based incumbent licensees that Transco must protect, the FCC agreed that a waiver of this requirement is warranted under the circumstances presented. The FCC also found that grant of the requested waiver would be in the public interest. The FCC said that Transco’s proposed use of the AMTS frequencies does not jeopardize the maritime community’s ability to meet its operational, safety and security communications needs, and permitting the use of the subject frequencies for PLMR operations will promote the efficient use of AMTS spectrum and serve the public interest by supporting critical power utility operations.

However, the FCC noted that Transco states only that it “intends to offer interoperable nonprofit radiocommunication service to affiliated electric utilities in Vermont and the requirement[s] of [these sections] [are] unduly burdensome to that effort.” The FCC said it is not persuaded by this recitation, for Transco does not explain how it would be burdened by providing a letter to each land station or obtaining written consent for mobile-to-mobile operations from affected licensees. Therefore, the Commission denied this aspect of the waiver request.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

FCC Issues Official Citation For Programming Unauthorized Frequencies Into Transmitter

The FCC has issued an official Citation to Flatcode Communications, Inc., for programming into a transmitter certain frequencies for which the operator of the transmitter was not authorized, in violation of section 90.427(b) of the Commission’s Rules. The FCC said that Flatcode should take immediate steps to come into compliance and to avoid any recurrence of this misconduct. Future violations of the Rules in this regard may subject Flatcode to substantial monetary penalties, seizure of equipment, and criminal sanctions. Our clients should note that it is sometimes the case that a contractor may program the wrong frequency into a transmitter, which creates a violation that is still the responsibility of the licensee.

On March 15, 2011, agents from the Enforcement Bureau’s Philadelphia Office conducted an investigation and found that Flatcode had programmed radio transmitting equipment for the Sheraton Four Points in Allentown, Pa., with the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequency 462.550 MHz for which the Sheraton was not authorized. A representative for Flatcode later admitted to the FCC agent during a telephone conversation that Flatcode programmed the Sheraton’s two-way portable radios.

After receiving the Citation, if Flatcode violates the Communications Act or the Rules by engaging in such conduct, the Commission may impose monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation and up to $112,500 for any single act or failure to act. In addition, violations of the Communications Act or the Rules can result in seizure of equipment through forfeiture actions, as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment, the FCC said.

Flatcode may respond to the Citation within 30 days either through (1) a personal interview at the closest FCC office, or (2) a written statement. Any written statements should specify what actions have been taken by Flatcode to ensure that it does not program radio transmitters with unauthorized frequencies in the future.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

FCC Dismisses Petition Regarding Rebanding Costs, Use of Vacated Channels

The FCC has dismissed a petition for partial reconsideration filed by Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, LLP and Schulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A. seeking reconsideration of an Order released by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau on March 31, 2010. Specifically, Petitioners sought reconsideration of the Bureau’s decisions governing (1) costs associated with the preparation of reports regarding the status of licensees’ 800 MHz rebanding progress and (2) licensees’ eligibility to apply for vacated 800 MHz spectrum.

In the August 2004, 800 MHz Report and Order, the Commission ordered Sprint Nextel Corp. and certain 800 MHz licensees, to reconfigure their systems to new frequencies within 36 months. A substantial number of licensees failed to meet that rebanding deadline and were granted multiple extension waivers by the Bureau. The March 2010 Waiver Order granted these licensees a further extension of time in which to complete rebanding. In the Waiver Order — as an incentive for licensees to timely complete rebanding — the Bureau stated that: (a) until a licensee executes a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA) with Sprint, it is not eligible to apply for channels vacated by Sprint as part of rebanding (Sprint-vacated channels), and (b) that Sprint is presumptively not responsible for payment of costs incurred by a licensee in filing rebanding progress reports.

Petitioners argued (1) that restricting licensees from applying for Sprint-vacated channels penalizes licensees for matters outside their control, and will not advance rebanding, and (2) that the presumption that progress report costs are non-reimbursable is not supported by Commission rule or policy.

The FCC dismissed the Petition for lack of standing. When evaluating standing, the Commission said it applies “the same test that courts employ in determining whether a person has standing under Article III to appeal a court order: the person must show (a) a personal injury ‘in fact’; (b) that the injury is fairly traceable to the challenged action; and (c) that it is likely, not merely speculative, that the requested relief will redress the injury.”

Moreover, Courts have consistently held that “the mere precedential effect of an adjudicatory order within an agency is not enough to confer standing,” the FCC said.

The FCC noted that Petitioners are not licensees in their own right, do not claim to be representing specific Commission licensees, and are filing on their own behalf. They are, therefore, not parties to the proceeding, the FCC said.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Richard Rubino.

Hackers Target Both Large And Small Businesses

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World scandal in the United Kingdom has brought computer “hacking” to the world stage, and it comes on the heels of the recent controversy over WikiLeaks’ online “publication” of U.S. government documents. Hacking has become a widespread problem for both large and small companies. Recently, our sister publication, Blooston Telecom Update, reported that a New Mexico man, Lance Moore, was charged with stealing AT&T’s documents regarding the company’s 4G and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network plans and posting them on the Internet.

In this regard, on the same day that accused hacker Lance Moore was arrested, the FBI conducted more than a dozen raids and made more than a dozen arrests across the United States in connection with the “Anonymous” computer hacking investigation, according to CBS News. It reported that FBI agents conducted raids at four New York residences as well as locations in California, New Jersey, and Florida in connection with the investigation. Agents reportedly seized computers and computer accessories under search warrants at four homes of suspected hackers in Baldwin and Merrick both on Long Island, in Brooklyn and the Bronx. CBS said the allegations are that the network of hackers allegedly carried out distributed denial of service attacks on numerous victims including corporations and their websites.

Further, CBS reported that members of the Anonymous hacker group have stated, via Twitter, that they have stolen a gigabyte of information from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The hackers claim that they have a good deal of “restricted material.” The group indicated that this breach was in retaliation for the FBI arrests of some of its members, although it did not explain why it targeted NATO, according to CBS.

Additionally, the New York Times reported that Aaron Swartz, a 24-year-old programmer and online political activist, was recently indicted in Boston on charges that he stole more than 4 million documents from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and JSTOR, an archive of scientific journals and academic papers. According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, the charges against Swartz could result in up to 35 years in prison and a $1 million fine if he is convicted. The charges filed against Swartz include wire fraud, computer fraud, obtaining information from a protected computer and criminal forfeiture, the Times said.

Swartz, a well-known figure in Internet academic circles, created a site called Infogami that later merged with the social news site Reddit, according to the Times. He is also a founder and director of the nonprofit group Demand Progress, which calls itself a political action group hoping to change public policy that relates to the Internet, the Times said. In 2009, Swartz downloaded 19 million pages of federal court documents from a government database system, acting on the belief that they should be made available for free, the Times said.

Recently, too, Sony, CitiGroup, and Lockheed Martin experienced cyber attacks.

Targeting Small Companies

A caveat for our clients is: “What can happen to AT&T, NATO, MIT, etc., could happen to you.” The Wall Street Journal recently reported that hackers are expanding their sights beyond multinationals to include any business that stores data in electronic form. Small companies, which are making the leap to computerized systems and digital records, have now become hackers' main target, the Journal said.

Last year, cyber thieves planted a software program on the cash registers at two Chicago-area magazine shops that sent customer credit-card numbers to Russia. MasterCard demanded an investigation, at the City Newsstand owner’s expense, and the whole ordeal left him out about $22,000, the Journal said. It noted that with limited budgets and few or no technical experts on staff, small businesses generally have weak security. Cyber criminals have taken notice. In 2010, the U.S. Secret Service and Verizon Communications Inc.'s forensic analysis unit, which investigates attacks, responded to a combined 761 data breaches, up from 141 in 2009. Of those, 482, or 63%, were at companies with 100 employees or fewer. Visa Inc. estimates about 95% of the credit-card data breaches it discovers are on its smallest business customers, the Journal said.

The Journal noted that it takes time to break into a major company, but hackers have discovered that they can steal data from dozens of small businesses and not get detected. The fact that there are so many types of security threats makes it difficult for small firms to protect themselves, the Journal said. In April, it added, the FBI issued an alert about a style of attack in which hackers steal a business's online banking login details and use them to transfer funds out of the business's account. That's what happened to Lease Duckwall, when someone logged into his company's bank account for Green Ford Sales Inc. in Abilene, Kansas. The hacker added nine new employees to the car dealership's payroll and transferred $63,000 to them, the Journal said.

The costs of a breach can put a small company out of business. In 2006 and 2007, a Bellingham, Wash., restaurant called Burger Me LLC had its computerized cash register hacked, the Journal said. It noted that criminals made untold numbers of fraudulent charges on customer credit cards. As a result, credit card firms shut down the restaurant’s account and put a hold on thousands of dollars in incoming payments. The resulting investigation, combined with the inability to accept credit cards, forced the owner to close the restaurant, the Journal reported.

The upshot is that smaller companies are less likely to grasp the security threat from hackers. The Journal noted that a 2010 survey by the National Retail Federation and First Data Corp. of small- and medium-size retailers in the U.S. found that 64% believed their businesses weren't vulnerable to card data theft and only 49% had assessed their security safeguards.

Federal Government Response

The FCC came up with similar findings last May, when it convened a cybersecurity roundtable of members from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The Commission came to the following conclusions:

As larger companies do more to secure their technology systems, less-secure small businesses are becoming easier targets for cyber criminals. American small businesses lose billions to cyber attacks annually and 74% of small and medium businesses report being affected by cyber attacks in the past 12 months. The average cost of these attacks for business, per incident, was $188,242.

Small businesses often struggle to protect confidential data, with 42% of small and medium businesses surveyed reporting the loss of confidential or private data in the past 12 months and 40% experiencing direct financial costs as a result.

Small businesses often do not back-up their data, with 47% reporting that they do not ever back up their data.

Further, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), a proponent of comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, recently called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to clarify corporate disclosure requirements for cybersecurity breaches so that the American public can learn more about when hackers make efforts to penetrate companies’ computer systems. Rockefeller, in a letter to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro , said “Securing cyberspace is one of the most important and urgent challenges of our time. In light of the growing threat…it is essential that corporate leaders know their responsibility for managing and disclosing security risk.” The letter was signed by four other senators: Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn). The letter stated that cyber risk management is a critical corporate responsibility. Federal securities law requires publicly traded companies to disclose “material” risks and events, including cyber risks and network breaches. A review of past disclosures suggests that a significant number of companies are failing to meet these requirements. The SEC has longstanding authority to publish “interpretive guidance” to clarify corporate responsibilities, protect investors, and promote fair and efficient markets.

Congressional Initiatives

In this regard, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last week unanimously approved the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2011 (HR 2096)—legislation aimed to boost cybersecurity education, research and development. Debate by the full House could come after the August recess. HR 2096, sponsored by Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), would require increased coordination and prioritization of federal cybersecurity R&D activities and the development and advancement of cybersecurity technical standards. The measure also would strengthen cybersecurity education and talent development and industry partnership initiatives. The bill would:

  • Give the National Institutes of Standards and Technology the authority to set security standards for federal computer systems and develop cybersecurity standards for agencies to follow.
  • Create a task force to coordinate research and development efforts between the federal government, universities and the private sector.
  • Establish cybersecurity research and development grant programs. Create scholarship programs at National Science Foundation that can be repaid with federal service.
  • Require the president to conduct an assessment of cybersecurity workforce needs across the federal government.

In the meantime, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade , last week approved legislation to protect American consumers from cyber attacks and identity theft. The Secure and Fortify Electronic Data Act (H.R. 2577), or SAFE Data Act, passed the subcommittee by voice vote. The bill now moves to the full Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration. The SAFE Data Act, authored by Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), would establish uniform national standards for data security and data breach notification. H.R. 2577 builds on legislation passed by the House last Congress and reflects the changing landscape of data security. The legislation also encompasses many of the lessons learned at recent subcommittee hearings, which examined this year’s massive data breaches at Sony and Epsilon.

FCC Initiatives

In addition to establishing a cybersecurity web site (at www.fcc.gov/cyberforsmallbiz ), the FCC has compiled a list of things small businesses can do to protect themselves against hackers:

1. Train employees in security principles: Establish basic security practices to protect sensitive business information and communicate them to all employees on a regular basis. Establish rules of behavior describing how to handle and protect customer information and other vital data. Clearly detail the penalties for violating business cybersecurity policies.

2. Protect information, computers and networks from viruses, spyware and other malicious code: Install, use and regularly update antivirus and anti-spyware software on every computer used in your business. Such software is readily available online from a variety of vendors. Most software packages now offer subscriptions to "security service" applications, which provide additional layers of protection. Set the antivirus software to automatically check for updates at a scheduled time of low computer usage, such as at night (midnight, for example), and then set the software to do a scan after the software update.

3. Provide firewall security for your Internet connection: A firewall is set of related programs that prevent outsiders from accessing data on a private network. Install and maintain firewalls between your internal network and the Internet. If employees work from home, ensure that their home systems are protected by firewalls. Install firewalls on all computers – including laptops – used in conducting your business.

4. Download and install software updates for your operating systems and applications as they become available: All operating system vendors regularly provide patches and updates to their products to correct security problems and improve functionality. Configure all software to install such updates automatically.

5. Make backup copies of important business data and information: Regularly backup the data on every computer used in your business. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files and accounts receivable/payable files. Back up data automatically if possible, or at least weekly.

6. Control physical access to your computers and network components: Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft, so make sure they are stored and locked up when unattended.

7. Secure your Wi-Fi networks: If you have a Wi-Fi network for your workplace make sure it is secure and hidden. To hide your Wi-Fi network, set-up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). In addition, make sure to turn on the encryption so that passwords are required for access. Lastly, it is critical to change the administrative password that was on the device when it was first purchased.

8. Require individual user accounts for each employee: Set up a separate account for each individual and require that strong passwords be used for each account. Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel.

9. Limit employee access to data and information, and limit authority to install software: Do not provide any one employee with access to all data systems. Employees should only be given access to the specific data systems that they need for their jobs, and should not be able to install any software without permission.

10. Regularly change passwords: Passwords that stay the same, will, over time, be shared and become common knowledge to coworkers and can be easily hacked. Passwords should be changed at least every three months.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubio, and Cary Mitchell.

Telecom Users Update: The following developments may affect prices paid for, and capabilities of, telecom services that may be used by our Private Radio clients in connection with their business operations.

FCC Adopts Measures To Strengthen E911 Location Accuracy Regulations

The FCC, at its July 12 open meeting, adopted measures to strengthen the Enhanced 911 (E911) location accuracy rules for wireless carriers and sought comment on improving both 911 availability and E911 location determination for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Specifically, the Commission adopted a Third Report & Order (R&O), Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) . Thus, clients whose personnel use cellular, PCS and other commercial wireless services subject to the new E911 rules will know that emergency service providers may soon be better able to reach such personnel in the event of a crisis. The enhance location capability is likely to be translated at some point in the future to a commercially available tracking service that may allow our clients to better manage their operations.

The FCC said that E911 technology automatically provides a 911 call operator with the caller’s telephone number and location information from either a landline or a wireless phone. Wireless carriers have historically provided E911 location information by one of two methods: “handset-based,” where location information is generated by Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar technologies installed in the caller’s handset, or “network-based,” where location information is generated by triangulating the caller’s wireless signal in relation to nearby cell sites in the carrier’s network. The FCC’s rules require wireless carriers to identify the caller’s location for a specified percentage of 911 calls within a range of 50 to 150 meters for carriers that use handset-based technology, and 100 to 300 meters for carriers that use network-based technology. In September 2010, the Commission adopted benchmarks for wireless carriers to meet these handset- and network-based accuracy thresholds at the county or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) level for increasing percentages of 911 calls over an eight-year period.

At yesterday’s open meeting, the Commission announced that after the conclusion of the eight-year implementation period in early 2019, it will sunset the existing network-based rule and require all wireless carriers to meet the more stringent location accuracy standards in the handset-based rule. The Commission said it will set a specific sunset date for the network-based standard at a later date, after further notice and comment. The Commission also required new wireless network carriers to meet the handset-based accuracy standard going forward.

The FCC also required all wireless carriers to test their E911 location accuracy results periodically and to share the results with PSAPs, state 911 offices, and the Commission, subject to confidentiality safeguards. The Commission directed the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) to make recommendations to the Commission in six months on specific, cost effective testing requirements and methodologies.

With respect to VoIP services, the Commission is seeking comment on whether it should apply existing 911 rules that cover two-way interconnected VoIP services to “outbound-only” interconnected VoIP services, which allow users to place outbound telephone calls but not to receive inbound telephone calls. The Commission is also asking for ways it might ensure that all interconnected VoIP providers can provide automatic location information for VoIP 911 calls, rather than relying on the subscriber to register his or her location with the VoIP provider. This includes considering mechanisms that would enable “over-the-top” interconnected VoIP service providers and underlying network access providers to jointly support the provision of location accuracy information to PSAPs.

The Commission is also seeking input on ways that location technologies that are already being developed for commercial broadband applications might be leveraged to support 911 location determination. Finally, the Commission is soliciting comment on how to improve location accuracy for 911 calls made from indoors, including large office buildings where it may be difficult to locate an individual in trouble based only on a street address, and directed the CSRIC to develop recommendations for cost effective indoor location accuracy testing.

Commissioner Michael Copps supported the item, but he added: “To me public safety communication means two-way communications. Two-way communications become really important if an emergency call gets disconnected, goes dead for any reason, or if other emergency responders need to contact the caller. So I am pleased that we will also inform ourselves about what consumers need in the way of receiving calls back from emergency call centers. I understand that the Net 911 Improvement Act bolsters our legal authority in this area. Nevertheless, as I have said before, I believe the Commission should look comprehensively at the proper classification of VoIP. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, our charge to protect the safety of the American people is clear and should never have to hinge on semantics or distinctions without a real difference.”

At our deadline, the text of the items in this GN Docket No. 11-117; PS Docket No. 07-114; WC Docket No. 05-196 , had not been released.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, and Cary Mitchell.

House Bill Would Put New Wireless Taxes On Hold

The House Judiciary Committee has approved the Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011, which would put a five-year moratorium on new state and local taxes targeting wireless services but not other goods or services, according to several sources, including FierceWireless and the National Journal. The bill would only apply to new taxes and does not affect to those already in place. CTIA-the Wireless Association has long fought for the bill, arguing that wireless services are unfairly taxed compared with other services. However, state and local governments have said that the bill would deprive them of revenue at a time when budgets are being cut because of the weak economy. The tax hold would obviously help keep the lid on costs for our private user clients that use commercial wireless services such as cellular.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) earlier this spring, and will now go to the full House for a vote. Lawmakers also approved an amendment allowing a state or city to impose a new wireless tax if it is approved by the affected voters. A companion bill in the Senate, introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), is still at the committee level. Similar legislation was introduced in 2008 and 2009, but the bills died in Congress.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

Source: Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy and Prendergast, LLP For additional information, contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or halmor@bloostonlaw.com

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WiPath Communications

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Intelligent Solutions for Paging & Wireless Data

WiPath manufactures a wide range of highly unique and innovative hardware and software solutions in paging and mobile data for:

  • Emergency Mass Alert & Messaging Emergency Services Communications Utilities Job Management Telemetry and Remote Switching Fire House Automation
  • Load Shedding and Electrical Services Control

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  • FLEX & POCSAG Built-in POCSAG encoder Huge capcode capacity Parallel, 2 serial ports, 4 relays
  • Message & system monitoring

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welcom wipath

  • Variety of sizes Indoor/outdoor
  • Integrated paging receiver

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  • Highly programmable, off-air decoders Message Logging & remote control Multiple I/O combinations and capabilities
  • Network monitoring and alarm reporting

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  • Emergency Mass Alerting Remote telemetry switching & control Fire station automation PC interfacing and message management Paging software and customized solutions Message interception, filtering, redirection, printing & logging Cross band repeating, paging coverage infill, store and forward
  • Alarm interfaces, satellite linking, IP transmitters, on-site systems

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Mobile Data Terminals & Two Way Wireless  Solutions

mobile data terminal

radio interface

  • Fleet tracking, messaging, job processing, and field service management Automatic vehicle location (AVL), GPS
  • CDMA, GPRS, ReFLEX, conventional, and trunked radio interfaces

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Contact
Postal
Address:
WiPath Communications LLC
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Street
Address:
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Web site: www.wipath.com left arrow CLICK
E-mail: info@wipath.com left arrow CLICK
Phone: 770-844-6218
Fax: 770-844-6574
WiPath Communications

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Preferred Wireless

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preferred logo

Terminals & Controllers:
1 Motorola ASC1500
2 GL3100 RF Director 
9 Glenayre GLS2164 Satellite Receivers
1 GL3000L Complete w/Spares
1 GL3000ES Terminal
2 Zetron 2200 Terminals
  Unipage — Many Unipage Cards & Chassis
Link Transmitters:
2 Glenayre QT4201 & 6201, 25 & 100W Midband Link TX
2 Glenayre QT6201 Link Repeater and Link Station in Hot Standby
1 Glenayre QT6994, 150W, 900 MHz Link TX
3 Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
2 Motorola 30W, Midband Link TX (C42JZB6106AC)
2 Eagle Midband Link Transmitters, 125W
5 Glenayre GL C2100 Link Repeaters
VHF Paging Transmitters
1 Motorola VHF PURC-5000 125W, ACB or TRC
6 Glenayre GLT8411, 250W, VHF TX
1 Motorola Nucleus, 125W, VHF, TX
2 Motorola Nucleus, 350W, VHF, TX
UHF Paging Transmitters:
20 Glenayre UHF GLT5340, 125W, DSP Exciter
6 Motorola PURC-5000 110 & 225W, TRC & ACB
2 QT-7795, 250W, UHF TX
900 MHz Paging Transmitters:
3 Glenayre GLT 8600, 500W
2 Glenayre GLT8200, 25W (NEW)
15 Glenayre GLT-8500 250W
35 Glenayre 900 MHz DSP Exciters
25 Glenayre GLT-8500 Final PAs
35 Glenayre GLT-8500 Power Supplies

SEE WEB FOR COMPLETE LIST:
www.preferredwireless.com/equipment left arrow CLICK HERE

Too Much To List • Call or E-Mail
Rick McMichael
Preferred Wireless, Inc.
10658 St. Charles Rock Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63074
888-429-4171 or 314-429-3000
rickm@preferredwireless.com
left arrow CLICK HERE
www.preferredwireless.com/equipment
left arrow OR HERE  

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Preferred Wireless

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EastWest Communications Inc.

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Media 1 ® live
by EastWest Communications Inc.

Real-time response to live events

spacer The audience may attend or view/listen to an event nationwide and respond in real time without requiring a computer — even respond while attending an event.

spacer Participate in sporting events, concerts, training programs or other programs to allow the producers to change the program based on audience participation.

Ed Lyda
P.O. Box 8488
The Woodlands, Texas 77387
Cell: 832-928-9538

E-mail: eastwesttexas@sbcglobal.net

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EastWest Communications Inc.

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Note from Phil Leavitt:

For Sale

I have about 95 new CreataLinks and about 285 DataLinks, all 900 MHz POCSAG.

I have approximately 250 ± J39DNW0050 DataLink II Plus — boards only — new, and approximately 95 CreataLink modules. I also have 2 developer's kits and some CreataLink II units.

Philip C Leavitt, Manager
Leavitt Communications
7508 N Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
www.leavittcom.com
Tel: 847-955-0511
Fax: 270-447-1909
Mobile: 847-494-0000
Skype ID: pcleavitt

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Hark Technologies

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hark logo

Wireless Communication Solutions

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USB Paging Encoder

paging encoder

  • Single channel up to eight zones
  • Connects to Linux computer via USB
  • Programmable timeouts and batch sizes
  • Supports 2-tone, 5/6-tone, POCSAG 512/1200/2400, GOLAY
  • Supports Tone Only, Voice, Numeric, and Alphanumeric
  • PURC or direct connect
  • Pictured version mounts in 5.25" drive bay
  • Other mounting options available
  • Available as a daughter board for our embedded Internet Paging Terminal (IPT)

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Paging Data Receiver (PDR)

pdr

  • Frequency agile - only one receiver to stock
  • USB or RS-232 interface
  • Two contact closures
  • End-user programmable w/o requiring special hardware
  • 16 capcodes
  • POCSAG
  • Eight contact closure version also available
  • Product customization available

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Other products

  • Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.
Contact
Hark Technologies
717 Old Trolley Rd Ste 6 #163
Summerville, SC 29485
Tel: 843-821-6888
Fax: 843-821-6894
E-mail: sales@harktech.com left arrow CLICK
Web: http://www.harktech.com left arrow CLICK

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HARK—EXHIBITS AT THE
NASHVILLE CONFERENCE

hark

David George and Bill Noyes
of Hark Technologies.

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Hark Technologies

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UCOM Paging

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satellite dish ucom logo

Satellite Uplink
As Low As
$500 /month

  • Data input speeds up to 38.4 Kbps Dial-in modem access for Admin Extremely reliable & secure
  • Hot standby up link components

Knowledgeable Tech Support 24/7

Contact Alan Carle Now!
1-888-854-2697 x272
acarle@ucom.com www.ucom.com

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UCOM Paging

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its stil here

 

It's still here — the tried and true Motorola Alphamate 250. Now owned, supported, and available from Leavitt Communications. Call us for new or reconditioned units, parts, manuals, and repairs.

We also offer refurbished Alphamate 250’s, Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging!

E-mail Phil Leavitt ( pcleavitt@leavittcom.com ) for pricing and delivery information or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

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Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

leavitt logo

7508 N. Red Ledge Dr.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

www.leavittcom.com

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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From: Steve — TKO Networks
Subject: The OnPage Article [In last week's newsletter.]
Date: August 1, 2011 8:56:29 AM CDT
To: Brad Dye

In response to the OnPage article, then looking at their web site. . .  I find this:

http://www.onpage.com/are-you-seriously-still-using-a-pager-yes-let-me-guess-you-work-in-healthcare.html   — Yes, and I don't work in healthcare — I use it for network alarms etc.

  • Maintains Advantages Gained with Pager Devices   As you know, pagers are still used by healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and first responders, etc.) because they provide a direct funnel for critical, emergency messages that are prioritized over all the other e-mail/text noise out there. OnPage ensures the same, making a unique sound no matter what audio settings your phone is on.  So does a pager????  Very unique sound.
  • Eliminates the Need for a Separate Device Rather than carrying a separate paging device, users can consolidate using OnPage.  Except, like in the June 27th aftermath of the big storm here in Illinois, where basically Cell Phones DIDN'T work ?????  My pager did.  There was no power here for almost three days.  My pager worked flawlessly — period. People need to read the 411 article, and look around.  When disaster hits, cell phones fail. [overload, backhaul failure etc.]
  • Protects User Privacy/Identity OnPage enables people to contact you on your phone without actually having to give out your personal phone number; something many doctors don't want to do.  I personally know several doctors, and some do give out their numbers now, depending on the patient, or they have 24 hour answering service?  How is this a problem?
  • Enables Two-Way Communications On classic paging devices, it is impossible to guarantee that your message went through without confirmation via follow-up phone call. OnPage creates an audit trail that shows when the page was sent, delivered and read.  Two-way paging?
  • Speeds Response Time in Emergencies Pager networks are often slow, so using OnPage can actually shave seconds off of message delivery time which can be critical in emergency situations.  ??? Not here.  I hit send exactly at the same time, with the word Test to both my pager and my cell phone — from my own cell phone.  25 seconds to receive SMS from my phone to my phone, 9 seconds to get the PAGE from my pc to my PAGER!!!!!  Slow paging?  Not here.  I've almost never seen a page take more than 10 seconds.

The major point being, after seeing the fragility of cell networks, the fact that they now rely on GPS to handle tower handoffs, [GPS can be jammed] and living through several "disastrous situations" where my phone faltered, failed, I don't trust it as a fail safe communications device.  Even in peak times like 8 am or 5 pm on a Friday, some messaging can be slow on cell networks.  I'm not saying paging is impervious to disasters, just saying for the most part, in my world, it's been rock solid for over 17 years.

Thanks Brad,

Steve Donohue
steve@tkonetworks.com

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From: Ron Mercer rmercer@pagingplanners.com
Subject: Comments on Article
Date: August 3, 2011 4:09:15 PM CDT
To: Brad Dye

Hi Brad,

I have been excited by the recently published articles by Jon Word and Leslie Prichard. It is encouraging to see people willing to expend resources in support of the industry that many of us have been part of for a very long time. Congratulations and thanks to both Jon and Leslie. Thanks to you also Brad, for publishing the articles as well as for your comments.

Enthusiastic though I am about all of this, I am also concerned lest our good intentions harm more than help our cause by overplaying several concepts which, although somewhat true some years ago, are no longer valid!

1. We need to beware of the tendency to claim benefit based on paging’s high-power transmitters that produce coverage areas that are larger than those found in cellular systems. The smaller coverage areas typical in cellular systems are the result of “Cell-Splitting” decisions made by cellular carriers as subscriber bases grew. In truth, cell splitting, which creates multiple smaller coverage areas from a single large coverage area was done purely to allow the cellular channels to be reused over shorter distances and thus increase the total number of calls processed concurrently. There are, however, several inherent advantages to these “smaller” coverage areas:
  i) Multiple radio propagation paths that increase reliability by arriving at most locations from multiple angles;
  ii) Reduced consequence from a single site failure;
  iii) More even signal distribution throughout the coverage area;
  iv) More precisely “Targeted” mass alerting for (as demanded by FCC)
  v) And of course, higher traffic volumes.

As an example of this trend, in the late 90s Verizon alone had approximately 500 cell sites in New York City. Today they are believed to have approximately 2200! It is very difficult to find a location that does not “see” several cell sites.

2.

We need to remember that the cellular system overload and “jamming” that was widely reported following 911 was related primarily to voice phone calls. Because of its “Store and Forward” mode of operation, wherein calls can be “queued” to smooth traffic peaks, paging is inherently less prone to traffic overload and jamming than real-time voice telephony.

Most importantly, however, the traffic now processed by cellular systems is increasingly “Text Messaging” which, like conventional paging and unlike voice traffic, benefits from the smoothed traffic peaks inherent in “Store and Forward” services. Thus, any perceived paging advantage has been diminished.

3. We should refrain from referring to cellular SMS (Short Message Service) techniques as creating a competitive advantage for paging. Having recognized the performance limitations of SMS, most organizations, that have developed and/or are promoting applications that allow Smartphones to replace pagers, distain rather than encourage the use of SMS. Instead, these organizations (Onset, Wallace Wireless, etc.) flaunt the use of much more efficient and reliable techniques running on hi-speed data networks with “fallback” to WiFi networks when such provides better signal levels. ( e.g. RIM’s Pin-to-Pin protocol, iPhone’s hi-speed wireless e-mail etc.). By emphasizing SMS in our rebuttals, we actually advance our competitors’ claims of superiority. Also, we should remember that the paging carriers’ collective refusal to support wireless e-mail on ReFLEX networks in the late 90s allowed Blackberry, the earliest Smartphone, to dominate the two-way messaging field leaving ReFLEX in the dust.

By committing any of the above tactical errors, we appear to be unknowledgeable and we need to understand that our competitors as well as many of our customers are quite knowledgeable. As outlined by Wireless Veteran last week, there are clear factual advantages to paging as well as distinct disadvantages to some implementation of smartphones. Lets stick to the facts and maintain an image based on knowledge not rumor, hearsay or fabrications. We need to establish a dialog and possibly get the PTC to help us fully understand the technical issues at hand.

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From: Jerry Griffith bsaa65s@fuse.net
Subject: From the Paging Information Web Site
Date: July 29, 2011 6:53:36 PM CDT
To: Brad Dye

Hello again Brad from Jerry Griffith in Cincinnati. (Motorola shop PM)

Although this is not a paging issue as such, there is quite a bit of conversation about the “Lightsquared” system that the FCC, in their vast wisdom, has allowed to be placed into the middle of the GPS frequency spectrum. The FAA has now said this system would essentially destroy the GPS system as we know it. Can we say Nextel rebanding? Sure we can! There is also conversation in the Public Safety community about Cell 4G also destroying the GPS system. GPS is the timing source for all modern P25 digital 2-way and paging simulcast systems nationwide and our local Public Safety Fire/EMS paging systems, as well as CAD clocks, OC3, OC48, etc. timing systems. To place a broadband service of unknown transmitter sidebands when hundreds of channels are up is un-responsible and looks way too much like the “Nextel” effect. The GPS frequencies are 1200 to 1600 MHz. Lightsquared freqs are smack-dab in the middle of that freq range.

This is insane!

Reference:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904800304576472361793662904.html

Jerry

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From: Ron Mayes Ron@advcom.net
Subject: RE: AAPC Wireless Messaging News for Ron Mayes
Date: July 29, 2011 5:10:28 PM CDT
To: Brad Dye
Cc: Ira Wiesenfeld

Hey Brad,

While considering the articles that expound the benefits of Paging and whether or not imitation paging applications on phones will work to eliminate pagers, I was wondering, is there a SMARTPHONE application to send SNPP messages to one way or two way pagers? Seems to me that this could be a benefit to provide people with such an application to put on their iPhone, Android or Blackberry data capable phone so that they can send pages to “old fashion” pagers. This is especially true with people using more of their smartphone web browsers and such. The more ways we make people aware of easy pager messaging access and benefits the more likely people are to consider keeping their pager.

Let me know if you are aware of any. I’ve not researched for such apps just yet.

Have a great day!

Ron Mayes
President
Advantage Communications & Paging
Wichita, KS

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From: Brad Dye <brad@braddye.com>
Subject: Re: AAPC Wireless Messaging News for Ron Mayes
Date: July 30, 2011 11:11:22 AM CDT
To: Ron Mayes <Ron@advcom.net>

Hey Ron,

Good idea. I did a quick check on iPhone aps and found several things related to paging. I think I will do an article on this. [In this issue.]

Best regards,

Brad Dye

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UNTIL NEXT WEEK

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Brad Dye
With best regards,

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Newsletter Editor

73 DE K9IQY

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Wireless Messaging News
Brad Dye, Editor
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

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—Robert Louis Stevenson

 

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HOBBY REPORT—NEW AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA

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