Welcome Back To The Wireless Messaging News

In searching for news each week, I frequently run across self-styled “experts” making reports like this:

Smartphone technology has the potential to improve care collaboration and patient care by delivering relevant data from disparate information sources into one place. “It helps me share with my patients what I’m doing and why I’m doing it,” said Ashutosh Goel, MD, senior vice president and CIO for Bronson Healthcare Group in Michigan. “And it helps to have it all in the palm of my hand. It makes it a lot easier.”

But Goel and others admit physicians and clinicians still rely on outdated communications tools, such as pagers, for their convenience, reliability and cost. A survey of 620 hospital-based clinicians highlighted in the July 2017 Journal of Hospital Medicine showed pagers remain the most common technology for patient care-related communication. Almost 80 percent said they had a hospital-issued pager, and 49 percent preferred to receive patient-related messages using pagers. [source]

I guess it makes them think comments like this make them look important and look like they understand technology — by saying that Paging is an outdated communications tool. It is no accident that many “physicians and clinicians still rely on [...] pagers, for their convenience, reliability and cost.”

PAGING TECHNOLOGY IS NOT OUTDATED

If you have any doubts about this issue, then I suggest that you read (or re-read) Jim Nelson's excellent paper “Is Paging Going Away?”

So . . . on to the news.

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Emergency Radio Communications Wireless Messaging Critical Messaging Two-way Radio Technology Telemetry Science Paging Wi-Fi

Wireless Messaging

This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.

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.

I spend the whole week searching the Internet for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I do freely express my opinions.

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Grupo Televisa (TV) Rating Lowered to Sell at Zacks Investment Research

Posted by Jennifer Salazar on Dec 8th, 2017
The Ledger Gazette

Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note published on Tuesday, November 21st.

According to Zacks, “Grupo Televisa, S.A, is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world, and a major player in the international entertainment business. They have interests in Television production, broadcasting, international distribution of television programming, direct-to-home satellite services, publishing, music recording, radio production and broadcasting, cable television, professional sports and show business promotions, paging services, feature film production and distribution and dubbing.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. UBS upgraded shares of Grupo Televisa from an under-perform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. ValuEngine upgraded shares of Grupo Televisa from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Grupo Televisa from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their target price for the company from $29.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, BidaskClub lowered shares of Grupo Televisa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $27.00.

Shares of Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV) remained flat at $$18.59 during trading on Tuesday. 1,759,958 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,336,119. Grupo Televisa has a 52 week low of $17.24 and a 52 week high of $27.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.47 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The stock has a market cap of $10,776.25, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.21.

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Keybank National Association OH lifted its holdings in shares of Grupo Televisa by 2.0% during the second quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 26,672 shares of the company’s stock worth $650,000 after purchasing an additional 520 shares during the period. High Pointe Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 6.4% in the second quarter. High Pointe Capital Management LLC now owns 10,370 shares of the company’s stock valued at $253,000 after buying an additional 620 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 14.8% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 9,900 shares of the company’s stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 1,277 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 2.1% in the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 64,373 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,568,000 after buying an additional 1,328 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 3.2% in the second quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 74,359 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,812,000 after buying an additional 2,282 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.87% of the company’s stock.

Grupo Televisa Company Profile

Grupo Televisa, SAB. is a media company in the international entertainment business. The Company operates in four business segments: Content, Sky, Telecommunications, and Other Businesses. It operates four broadcast channels in Mexico City and has affiliated stations throughout the country. It produces pay-television channels with national and international feeds, throughout Latin America, the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Spok Holdings Inc. (SPOK) Moves Lower on Volume Spike for December 07

Equities Staff | equities.com
Thursday, 07 December 2017 17:18 (EST)
(All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.)

Spok Holdings Inc. (SPOK) traded on unusually high volume on Dec. 07, as the stock lost 1.87% to close at $15.75. On the day, Spok Holdings Inc. saw 256,338 shares trade hands on 2,562 trades. Considering that the stock averages only a daily volume of 103,567 shares a day over the last month, this represents a pretty significant bump in volume over the norm.

Generally speaking, when a stock experiences a sudden spike in trading volume, it may be seen as a bullish signal for investors. An increase in volume means more market awareness for the company, potentially setting up a more meaningful move in stock price. The added volume also provides a level of support and stability for price advances.

The stock has traded between $22.60 and $14.45 over the last 52-weeks, its 50-day SMA is now $16.82, and its 200-day SMA $17.03. Spok Holdings Inc. has a P/B ratio of 1. It also has a P/E ratio of 31.6.

Spok Holdings Inc is a provider of critical communication solutions for enterprises to the healthcare, government, public safety and other industries. It offers paging services and selected software solutions in the United States and abroad.

Headquartered in Springfield, VA, Spok Holdings Inc. has 587 employees and is currently under the leadership of CEO Vincent D. Kelly.

Wireless Communication Solutions

USB 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)

Paging Data Receiver (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

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 CLICK

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Back To Paging

Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!

Minnesotans can now text 911 in an emergency

POSTED: DEC 05 2017 01:47PM CST
VIDEO POSTED: DEC 05 2017 05:52PM CST
UPDATED: DEC 06 2017 09:13AM CST

(KMSP) — Minnesotans now have the option to text 911 instead of calling in an emergency situation where it is unsafe for them to speak.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Emergency Communications developed Text-to-911, which is now available statewide.

“Imagine having to hide from an intruder in your bedroom closet or witnessing a domestic violence situation,” DPS-ECN Director Jackie Mines said in a statement. “Text-to-911 is a lifeline for people who would put themselves in harm's way if they called 911.”

The new texting service also allows Minnesotans with some form of hearing loss to text emergency dispatchers as a first contact option. Prior to Tuesday, those who are deaf did not have a direct way to contact 911 centers.

DPS officials say calling 911 and speaking with a dispatcher is still the fastest way to receive help. If you text 911, dispatchers will ask if they can call you.

What to do if you cannot call 911 in an emergency:

1. Enter the numbers 911 in the "To" field
2. Text your exact address and type of emergency
3. Send the message
4. Use simple words, but do not include abbreviations, emojis, pictures or slang
5. Promptly answer questions and follow instructions

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Who We Are

Prism-IPX is a leader in providing reliable communications systems using modern designs to meet today’s demands for critical message alerting and delivery. Prism-IPX designs versatile and robust Critical Message Management systems using paging and other wireless technologies for high performance and dependable communications.

What We Make

Prism-IPX Systems products include full-featured radio paging systems with VoIP input, IP based transmitter control systems and paging message encryption. Other options include e-mail messaging, remote switch controllers, Off-The-Air paging message decoders and logging systems.

Contact Us 

Repair and Refurbishment Services

Product Support Services, Inc.

511 South Royal Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 462-3970 Ext. 261
sales@pssirl.com
www.pssirl.com

PSSI is the industry leader in reverse logistics, our services include depot repair, product returns management, RMA and RTV management, product audit, test, refurbishment, re-kitting and value recovery.

Specialists in sales and service of equipment from these leading manufacturers, as well as other two-way radio and paging products:

	Motorola SOLUTIONS
	Motorola MOBILITY

Disaster-Proven Paging for Public Safety

Paging system designs in the United States typically use a voice radio-style infrastructure. These systems are primarily designed for outdoor mobile coverage with modest indoor coverage. Before Narrowbanding, coverage wasn’t good, but what they have now is not acceptable! The high power, high tower approach also makes the system vulnerable. If one base station fails, a large area loses their paging service immediately!

Almost every technology went from analog to digital except fire paging. So it’s time to think about digital paging! The Disaster-Proven Paging Solution (DiCal) from Swissphone offers improved coverage, higher reliability and flexibility beyond anything that traditional analog or digital paging systems can provide. 

Swissphone is the No. 1 supplier for digital paging solutions worldwide. The Swiss company has built paging networks for public safety organizations all over the world. Swissphone has more than 1 million pagers in the field running for years and years due to their renowned high quality.

DiCal is the digital paging system developed and manufactured by Swissphone. It is designed to meet the specific needs of public safety organizations. Fire and EMS rely on these types of networks to improve incident response time. DiCal systems are designed and engineered to provide maximum indoor paging coverage across an entire county. In a disaster situation, when one or several connections in a simulcast solution are disrupted or interrupted, the radio network automatically switches to fall back operating mode. Full functionality is preserved at all times. This new system is the next level of what we know as “Simulcast Paging” here in the U.S.

Swissphone offers high-quality pagers, very robust and waterproof. Swissphone offers the best sensitivity in the industry, and battery autonomy of up to three months. First responder may choose between a smart s.QUAD pager, which is able to connect with a smartphone and the Hurricane DUO pager, the only digital pager who offers text-to-voice functionality.

Bluetooth technology makes it possible to connect the s.QUAD with a compatible smartphone, and ultimately with various s.ONE software solutions from Swissphone. Thanks to Bluetooth pairing, the s.QUAD combines the reliability of an independent paging system with the benefits of commercial cellular network. Dispatched team members can respond back to the call, directly from the pager. The alert message is sent to the pager via paging and cellular at the same time. This hybrid solution makes the alert faster and more secure. Paging ensures alerting even if the commercial network fails or is overloaded.

Swissphone sets new standards in paging:

Paging Network

• It’s much faster to send individual and stacked pages digitally than with analog voice.
• If you want better indoor coverage, you put sites closer together at lower heights.
• A self-healing system that also remains reliable in various disaster situations.
• Place base station where you need them, without the usage of an expensive backhaul network.
• Protect victim confidentiality and prevent unauthorized use of public safety communications, with integrated encryption service.

Pager

• Reliable message reception, thanks to the best sensitivity in the industry.
• Ruggedized and waterproof, IP67 and 6 1/2-feet drop test-certified products.
• Battery autonomy of up to three months, with a standard AA battery.
• Bluetooth enables the new s.QUAD pager to respond back to the dispatch center or fire chief.

Dispatching:

• Two-way CAD interfaces will make dispatching much easier.
• The new s.ONE solution enables the dispatcher or fire chiefs to view the availability of relief forces.
• A graphical screen shows how many of the dispatched team members have responded to the call.

Swissphone provides a proven solution at an affordable cost. Do you want to learn more?
Visit: www.swissphone.com or call 800-596-1914.

Thursday, December 7, 2017	Volume 5 | Issue 238

Pai On Net Neutrality Defense Blitz

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai intends to keep Net Neutrality on the December 14 Commission agenda for a vote. In an Op-Ed that appeared in the Washington Times on Wednesday, Pai said the repeal of the 2015 rule that re-classified the internet as a utility would “restore the successful, light-touch regulatory framework that governed the internet from 1996 to 2015,” and "get the government out of the business of micromanaging the internet.”

He also stopped by Verizon’s Washington office on Tuesday and spoke before an International Institute of Communications event. Pai noted the “huge gulf between the rhetoric on this issue and the reality.” He said: “Some have tried to whip Americans into a frenzy by making outlandish claims. Feeding the hysteria are silly accusations that the plan will ‘end the internet as we know it’ or threaten American democracy itself.”

Opponents, meanwhile, cite concerns about the amount of fake comments filed to the agency on the issue and the FTC’s jurisdiction over ISPs. Those include FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, who on Monday, joined New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to ask for the vote to be delayed until the source of the fake comments, estimated to be eight million out of a total of 21 million, and a way to prevent the system from being misused, can be found. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Wednesday urged Pai to put off the vote as well.

Some members of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association met with Chairman Pai and some of his staff on Tuesday to support the changes. They believe the rollback will eliminate some regulatory uncertainty, reduce unnecessary compliance burdens and help small companies attract additional private capital for bridging the digital divide in rural America.

---

Southern California Takes the Heat

By Jim Fryer, Managing Editor, Inside Towers

Rincon Peak Ablaze
Photo by Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department courtesy of Noozhawk

Rincon Peak is known for transmitting many things in Southern California but heat is not one of them. As of Thursday, Santa Barbara County firefighters were trying to keep that temperature to a minimum. The antenna farm on Rincon Peak, shared by most public safety agencies is home to several towercos, Crown, American and to Verizon (ASR#1215063).

An army of firefighters was battling on several fronts Thursday in their efforts to tame the giant 96,000-acre “Thomas Fire,” as it is called, scorching the Carpinteria Valley, according to Noozhawk. The citizens of Carpinteria were evacuated in the early morning hours yesterday as flames continued to approach from the east. The fire has menaced the community as it has much of Ventura County over the last two days, Noozhawk reported.

Ryan Cullom / Ventura County Fire
Department photo courtesy of Noozhawk

The FCC has been monitoring the California wildfires and Chairman Ajit Pai thanked first responders “who are working tirelessly” to combat the blazes. He said Thursday the Commission is ready to help.

Wireless Emergency Alerts have been used successfully to warn affected communities affected by the flames, according to Pai. The WEAs included clickable URLs in text messages that give the public direct access to additional public safety information. Clickable URLs are one of the WEA upgrades the Commission and wireless industry have been working to implement, Inside Towers reported.

As the fire has started to cross over into Santa Barbara County, Verizon is working around the clock to keep residents and first responders connected, according to Jonathan LeCompte, president of the Pacific Market for Verizon.

“Our wireless network performance is running at 97 percent within the Thomas and Creek Fire coverage areas,” LeCompte said. “This situation is dynamic, so we’re working 24×7 to monitor, reinforce and maintain our network.”

LeCompte listed the following steps the carrier is taking to save not just just their own sites but preserve and protect surrounding properties in addition to aiding emergency responders:

• added capacity to cell sites covering the CAL FIRE incident command center and evacuation shelters in Ventura County.
• working to install microwave transport (connectivity) where fiber has been lost or damaged.
• In areas experiencing commercial power outages, several of Verizon’s cell sites are running on backup power.
• Mobile equipment – such as cells on wheels (COWs), cells on light trucks (COLTs), satellite picocells on trailers (SPOTs) and repeaters on trailers (RATs) – are on standby to increase capacity when and where it becomes necessary.
• Verizon’s Southern California retail stores are being kept open and staffed to assist customers with their needs during this difficult time. Click here to find the nearest location.

Thomas fire map, source Call-fires

“To serve the community, the Verizon Response Team is in the field, partnering with first responders and relief organizations,” LeCompte said. “Our Disaster Recovery Trailer is located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, offering displaced residents free cell phone charging and Internet-connected laptops so they can keep in touch with loved ones, employers and friends while they are away from home.”

Santa Barbara County issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Rincon Point area and Sheriff’s Department personnel evacuated about 300 residents from the area of Bates Road around 1:45 a.m.

Evacuation warnings were expanded Wednesday to include the coastal areas from Ventura to Rincon Point, on Santa Barbara County’s eastern border, Noozhawk reported. An estimated 12,000 structures remained threatened, and more than 50,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Southern California Edison was working to return power to fire-impacted areas and as of 4 a.m. Wednesday, reported a 6,565-customer outage due to the Thomas Fire, a significant decrease since the day before.

On Monday night into early Tuesday, more than 200,000 customers lost power in southern Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County. As of Wednesday, there were also fire-related outages reported for the Rye Fire in Santa Clarita and the Creek Fire in Sylmar.

By Jim Fryer, Managing Editor, Inside Towers

Selected portions [sometimes more — sometimes less] of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP — are reproduced in this section of The Wireless Messaging News with kind permission from the firm. The firm's contact information is included at the end of this section of the newsletter.

Rate-of-Return Reform Order Tariff Filing Requirements Effective December 4

On December 4, the FCC announced that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements associated with the 2016 Rate-of-Return adopted in March of last year. Specifically, this refers to the amendments to Sections 51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 69.132, 69.311, and 69.416, of the FCC’s rules. These amendments are effective as of December 4.

Responses to Mandatory 4G LTE Data Collection Due in Less Than One Month

This is a reminder that substantive responses to the FCC’s 4G LTE Coverage Data Collection are due to be filed with the FCC by Thursday, January 4, 2018.

See the full articles below for more information.

Headlines

Rate-of-Return Reform Tariff Filings Requirements Effective December 4

On December 4, the FCC announced that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements associated with the 2016 Rate-of-Return adopted in March of last year. Specifically, this refers to the amendments to Sections 51.917(f)(4), 69.4(k), 69.132, 69.311, and 69.416, of the FCC’s rules. These amendments are effective as of December 4.

• Section 51.917(f)(4) requires rate-of-return carriers to impute an amount equal to the Access Recovery Charge for each Consumer Broadband-Only Loop line that receives support, with the imputation applied before CAF ICC recovery is determined.
• Section 69.4(k) allows non-price cap ILECs to include a charge for the Consumer Broadband-Only Loop.
• Section 69.132 allows non-price cap ILECs to assess a Consumer Broadband-Only Loop service charge for each line without regulated local exchange voice service provided by a rate-of-return incumbent local exchange carrier to a customer, for use in connection with fixed Broadband Internet access service, and provides parameters for calculating the charge.
• Sections 69.311 and 69.416 require non-price cap LECs to remove consumer broadband-only loop investment assigned to the special access category by Sections 69.301 through 69.310 or 69.401 through 69.410, and instead assign them to the Consumer Broadband-Only Loop category.

Carriers with questions about these sections of the FCC’s rules should contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Mary Sisak, and Gerry Duffy.

Responses to Mandatory 4G LTE Data Collection Due in Less Than One Month

This is a reminder that substantive responses to the FCC’s 4G LTE Coverage Data Collection are due to be filed with the FCC by Thursday, January 4, 2018. With the holidays fast approaching, we urge clients who offer mobile LTE service and who are subject to the data request to line up the RF engineering support they will need without delay. Companies that offer, or that previously offered, mobile 4G LTE service should have already completed the registration process with the FCC and activated a box.com folder for transmitting their coverage data (shapefiles) and other required data to the FCC. The response will need to include LTE coverage maps in shapefile format, clutter data and a handset list each in Excel format, and a certification from a qualified engineer.

If your company DOES NOT HAVE qualifying 4G LTE mobile wireless coverage (e.g., if you previously reported offering mobile 4G LTE service on Form 477 but are selling or have sold your system, or if your LTE service does not meet the 5 Mbps download speed at cell edge with 80 percent probability and a 30 percent loading factor), you still need to complete the registration process and provide a response. However, rather than providing coverage shapefiles, your will upload only a form with a qualified engineer’s certification that your company does not have qualifying coverage. We can assist our affected clients in determining whether and what filing needs to be made, and to help complete and submit the necessary form.

BloostonLaw Contact: Cary Mitchell

Amendments to Caller ID Rules Effective January 2

On December 1, the FCC published in the Federal Register its item amending the Caller Identification (Caller ID) privacy rules to allow law enforcement and security personnel, as directed by law enforcement, to obtain quick access to blocked Caller ID information needed to identify and thwart threatening callers. These rules are effective January 2, 2018, except for 64.160(d)(4)(ii) and (f), which still require approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

Normally, FCC rules require that any service based on Signaling System 7 functionality recognize certain inputs as an indication that the caller wishes his or her calling party number (CPN) not to be passed along, and that no common carrier may override this privacy request. Effective January 2, for law enforcement or security personnel of the called party investigating a threat: (1) the CPN on incoming restricted calls may not be passed on to the line called; (2) any system used to record CPN must be operated in a secure way, limiting access to designated telecommunications and security personnel, as directed by law enforcement; (3) telecommunications and security personnel, as directed by law enforcement, may access restricted CPN data only when investigating phone calls of a threatening and serious nature, and shall document that access as part of the investigative report; (4) carriers transmitting restricted CPN information must take reasonable measures to ensure security of such communications; (5) CPN information must be destroyed in a secure manner after a reasonable retention period; and (6) any violation of these conditions must be reported promptly to the Commission.

Upon OMB approval of the remaining sections, the entirety of the privacy section for CPN will not apply to CPN delivery to law enforcement made in connection with a threatening call. Upon report of such a threatening call by law enforcement on behalf of the threatened party, the carrier will provide any CPN of the calling party to law enforcement and, as directed by law enforcement, to security personnel for the called party for the purpose of identifying the party responsible for the threatening call.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, John Prendergast, and Mary Sisak.

Remainder of Revised 800 MHz Cellular Services Rules Effective December 1

On November 30, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the remaining rules adopted in the Second Report and Order in the 800 MHz Cellular Service (Cellular) reform proceeding on March 24. These rules became effective on December 1.

Specifically, as of December 1, Cellular licensees may test and deploy Cellular facilities using a power spectra l density (PSD) model, and no longer need to file a notification for an individual cell site’s permanent discontinuance, nor a minor modification application for coverage reduction in the licensee’s Cellular Geographic Service Area (CGSA). The FCC encourages “any and all cooperation aimed at avoiding interference to public safety communications.”

AT&T and Verizon are permitted to begin testing their Cellular PSD operations, having voluntarily committed to various measures to address possible interference to public safety systems.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell and John Prendergast.

Law & Regulation

Comment Deadlines Established for Wireline Infrastructure Investment NPRM

On November 29, the FCC released the text of its Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Wireline Broadband Deployment proceeding. Comments on the NPRM portion of the document are due January 17, 2018, and reply comments are due February 16, 2018.

As reported in previous editions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the NPRM portion of the document seeks comment on a number of issues related to pole attachment, network changes, and discontinuance processes. Specifically, proposals in the NPRM include:

• a uniform reduced public comment period of 10 days and an auto-grant period of 25 days for applications seeking to grandfather data services with download/upload speeds of less than 25 Mbps/3 Mbps.
• codifying a rule that overlashing — i.e., the process of physically tying additional cables to the cables that are already attached to a utility pole — is subject to a notice-and-attach process and that any concerns with overlashing should be satisfied by compliance with generally accepted engineering practices.
• revising the rule governing short-term network change notices to calculate the effective date of such notices from the date the incumbent LEC files its notice or certification of the change rather than from the date the Commission releases its public notice.
• eliminating the requirement that incumbent LECs provide public notice of network changes affecting the interoperability of customer premises equipment.
• forbearance from applying the section 214(a) discontinuance requirements when carriers seek to discontinue, reduce, or impair services with no existing customers.
• further streamlining the processing of section 214(a) discontinuance applications for legacy voice services where a carrier certifies: (1) that it provides interconnected VoIP service throughout the affected service area; and (2) that at least one other alternative voice service is available in the affected service area.

Carriers interested in filing comments or reply comments on these proposals should contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Mary Sisak, and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Announces Opening of Filing Window for Form 323

On November 30, the FCC’s Media Bureau announced the availability of FCC Forms 323 and 323-E in the Commission’s Licensing and Management System (LMS), as well as the opening of the filing window for said forms. The filing window for Form 323 and 323-E closes on March 2, 2018.

All licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, TV, LPTV, and Class A stations, as well as all entities with attributable interests in such stations, are required to file Form 323 (commercial) or Form 323-E (noncommercial). Filings must include information reflecting ownership interests existing as of October 1, 2017.

Both the Form 323 and 323-E must be filed electronically using LMS. Paper submissions will not be accepted.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy.

Comment Deadline Established for Ancillary or Supplementary Services and Broadcast PNs

On November 30, the FCC issued a Public Notice establishing comment and reply comment deadlines for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in MB Docket No. 17-264, in which the FCC proposes to update two provisions in Part 73 of its rules governing broadcast licensees. Comments are due December 29, and reply comments are due January 16, 2018.

In the NPRM, the FCC seeks to update Section 73.624(g), which establishes certain reporting obligations relating to the provision of ancillary or supplementary services, and Section 73.3580, which sets forth requirements concerning public notice of the filing of broadcast applications. First, the FCC proposes amendments to Section 73.624(g)(2) that would relieve certain television broadcasters of the obligation to submit FCC Form 2100, Schedule G, which is used to report information about the provision of ancillary or supplementary services.

Second, the FCC seeks comment on whether to update or repeal Section 73.3580 of our rules, which requires broadcast applicants to provide public notice of the filing of various license applications, to afford such applicants more flexibility in how they provide that notice. As part of this inquiry, the FCC seeks comment on whether to permit broadcast applicants that currently provide written notice in a local newspaper, instead to provide that notice online. Similarly, in cases where an applicant is required to broadcast announcements regarding the filing of a broadcast application, the FCC seeks comment on whether to permit the applicant to refer the public to an Internet website that contains the text of such announcements.

Finally, the FCC is also seeking comment on whether there is a comparable way for broadcasters to inform consumers of various license applications, if not done through on-air announcements.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy.

Industry

Senators Ask FCC to Delay Net Neutrality Vote, Initiate Investigation into Comment Fraud

On December 4, a group of 28 Senators led by Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai requesting that he “delay [the] planned vote on this item until you can conduct a thorough review of the state of the record and provide Congress with greater assurance of its accuracy and completeness.” Supporting their concerns, the Senators cite to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by the National Hispanic Media Coalition demonstrating that “an additional 50,000 consumer complaints seem to have been excluded from the public record in this proceeding,” and allegations by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that "hundreds of thousands" of comments may have impersonated New York residents, and assertions that the FCC has not cooperated with requests for additional data and information. Finally, the Senators cited to an analysis run by data scientist Jeff Kao that estimates “over a million comments filed in support of repealing net neutrality may have been fake.”

A similar request seeking delay of the Net Neutrality vote was filed by several consumer advocacy groups and the City of New York, noting an additional concern regarding the possibility that the Ninth Circuit will find that the Federal Trade Commission — which the FCC asserts will protect consumers after Net Neutrality is repealed — will not have jurisdiction over common carriers like AT&T, even where they are offering Internet access. According to Ars Technica, Commissioner Pai’s office has stated that the vote will proceed as scheduled on December 14.

Deadlines

JANUARY 16: HAC REPORTING DEADLINE. The next Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) reporting deadline for digital commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers (including carriers that provide service using AWS-1 spectrum and resellers of cellular, broadband PCS and/or AWS services) is January 16, 2018. Non-Tier I service providers must offer to consumers at least 50 percent of the handset models per air interface, or a minimum of ten handset models per air interface, that meet or exceed the M3 rating, and at least one-third of the handset models per air interface, or a minimum of ten handset models per air interface, that meet or exceed the T3 rating. Month-to-month handset offering information provided in annual reports must be current through the end of 2017. With many of our clients adjusting their handset offerings and making new devices available to customers throughout the year, it is very easy for even the most diligent carriers to stumble unknowingly into a non-compliance situation, resulting in fines starting at $15,000 for each HAC-enabled handset they are deficient. Following the T-Mobile USA Notice of Apparent Liability (FCC 12-39), the FCC’s enforcement policy calls for multiplying the $15,000 per-handset fine by the number of months of the deficiency, creating the potential for very steep fines. It is therefore crucial that our clients pay close attention to their HAC regulatory compliance, and monthly checks are strongly recommended. In this regard, we have prepared a HAC reporting template to assist our clients in keeping track of their HAC handset offerings, and other regulatory compliance efforts. ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS SUBJECT TO THE FCC’S HAC RULES — INCLUDING COMPANIES THAT QUALIFY FOR THE DE MINIMIS EXCEPTION — MUST PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL HAC REPORTING. To the extent that your company is a provider of broadband PCS, cellular and/or interconnected SMR services, if you are a CMRS reseller and/or if you have plans to provide CMRS using newly licensed (or partitioned) AWS or 700 MHz spectrum, you and your company will need to be familiar with the FCC’s revised rules.

BloostonLaw contacts: John Prendergast, Cary Mitchell, and Sal Taillefer.

FEBRUARY 1: FCC FORM 499-Q, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. All telecommunications common carriers that expect to contribute more than $10,000 to federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support mechanisms must file this quarterly form. The FCC has modified this form in light of its decision to establish interim measures for USF contribution assessments. The form contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. Form 499-Q relates only to USF contributions. It does not relate to the cost recovery mechanisms for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP), which are covered in the annual Form 499-A that is due April 1.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Mary Sisak.

FEBRUARY 1: FCC FORM 502, NUMBER UTILIZATION AND FORECAST REPORT. Any wireless or wireline carrier (including paging companies) that have received number blocks—including 100, 1,000, or 10,000 number blocks—from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), a Pooling Administrator, or from another carrier, must file Form 502 by February 1. Carriers porting numbers for the purpose of transferring an established customer’s service to another service provider must also report, but the carrier receiving numbers through porting does not. Resold services should also be treated like ported numbers, meaning the carrier transferring the resold service to another carrier is required to report those numbers but the carrier receiving such numbers should not report them. Reporting carriers are required to include their FCC Registration Number (FRN). Reporting carriers file utilization and forecast reports semiannually on or before February 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending December 31, and on or before August 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending June 30.

BloostonLaw contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Mary Sisak.

Calendar At-A-Glance

December
Dec. 12 – Comments are due on Toll Free Assignment Modernization proceeding.
Dec. 18 – Reply comments are due on international circuit bearer fees and MDU calculation.
Dec. 27 – Comments are due on Nationwide Number Portability NPRM.
Dec. 29 – Comments are due on Ancillary or Supplementary Services and Broadcast Public Notices.
Dec. 31 – Carriers receiving CAF Phase II funding must complete deployment to at least 40 percent of
supported locations in each state (the interim build-out milestone).

January
Jan. 4 – Deadline to submit 4G Data Collection data.
Jan. 16 – Reply comments are due on Ancillary or Supplementary Services and Broadcast Public Notices.
Jan. 16 – Annual Hearing Aid Compatibility Report is due.
Jan. 17 – Comments are due on Wireline Infrastructure NPRM.
Jan. 23 – Comments are due on Robocall Blocking FNPRM.
Jan. 25 – Comments are due on Spectrum Frontiers / Above 24 GHz Report and Order.
Jan. 26 – Reply comments are due on Nationwide Number Portability NPRM.
Jan. 31 – FCC Form 555 (Annual Lifeline ETC Certification Form) is due.

February
Feb. 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Feb. 1 – FCC Form 502 (Number Utilization and Forecast Report) is due.
Feb. 16 – Reply comments are due on Wireline Infrastructure NPRM.
Feb. 22 – Reply comments are due on Robocall Blocking FNPRM.
Feb. 22 – Reply comments are due on Spectrum Frontiers / Above 24 GHz Report and Order.

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld 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. Each one has unique abilities. We would be happy to help you with a project, and maybe save you some time and money.

Note: We do not like Patent Trolls, i.e. “a person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question.” We have helped some prominent law firms defend their clients against this annoyance, and would be happy to do some more of this same kind of work.

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— Chinese Proverb

Wireless Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

R.H. (Ron) Mercer Consultant 217 First Street East Northport, NY 11731
Telephone: 631-786-9359
www.wirelessplanners.com
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2-1-1 San Diego overwhelmed amid flood of emergency calls

By Jeff McDonald, Contact Reporter
The San Diego Union-Tribune
December 7, 2017, 5:00 PM

The county’s much-vaunted emergency communications system was unavailable for a multitude of callers as a runaway wildfire raced across north San Diego County most of Thursday.

Caller after caller could not connect with a live person for fire information or directions about where to evacuate the Lilac Fire.

“I got a recording from Verizon that said the line was disconnected,” said Edward Collins, a retired airline marketing professional who was watching the fire from the backyard of his San Marcos home.

“I assumed it was going to say the area’s under mandatory evacuation and which areas should be concerned, but all I got was a non-working number,” Collins added. “I called several times and my wife called also. We called on two different cell phones.”

The San Diego Union-Tribune could not get through to 2-1-1 San Diego Thursday afternoon either.

The organization known as 2-1-1 San Diego said on Twitter that it was experiencing a high volume of calls but indicated the system was operational.

“Please only use 2-1-1 for non-emergency information if the Lilac Fire is affecting you directly,” the organization tweeted. “This will help 2-1-1’s lines remain ready for those in need of critical information immediately.”

At a news conference, county officials say the system was down for about 40 minutes.

Michael Workman, a spokesman for San Diego County, said the system may have received too many calls at the same time.

“We had 70 lines open,” he said in an e-mail. “WEA (wireless emergency alerts) went out. Calls increased and we increased our lines by 400 … There may be wait times.”

The 2-1-1 San Diego website directed visitors to the San Diego County emergency website, which in turn referred visitors to 2-1-1 San Diego.

The San Diego Police Department also urged people to contact 2-1-1 San Diego for updated information about the wildfire so it’s 9-1-1 emergency call system would not be flooded with non-emergency calls.

Workman also said there may be issue with cell-phone service across the North County, where what’s being called the Lilac Fire broke out Thursday morning and quickly consumed thousands of acres and at least some homes.

2-1-1 San Diego is a local charity that operates a program that is supposed to provide callers information around the clock about public services.

Brad on the soapbox again: “Why in the world are people surprised when cellphones don't work in times of crisis?” READ THIS

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For, indeed, that's all who ever have.”

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“Cotton Fields”

“Cotton Fields” is a song written by blues musician Huddie Ledbetter​, better known as Lead Belly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940. Since then it's been recorded by other musicians more than 15 times. Here's our version...

Playing For Change
Published on Mar 12, 2015

We created this Song Around The World to make you all move your feet and smile from ear to ear. “Cotton Fields” around the world features Blind Boy Paxton, Luke Winslow King, Esther Rose, Takuya Kuroda and the California Feetwarmers. Turn it up and let music bring in the light.