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Texas company plans 160m band Wireless Power Transfer

SWLing Post reports Texzon Technologies has been granted an FCC experimental license, callsign WJ2XGB, to test Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) from 1710 kHz to 1900 kHz in the 160 meter band.

Texzon Technologies apparently aim to conduct testing in the spectrum range from 1710 kHz to 1900 kHz with an input power of less than 5 kW and EIRP limited to 100 watts or less.

The FCC license permits an ERP of 1000 watts.

Source: Southgate Amateur Radio News

More details and FCC documentation follow below near the end of this issue. There is considerable interest from ham radio operators in Texas about this technology. (Is it viable?)

My grandfather believed that someday electric power would be delivered to homes without wires.

Of course, we know that the famous “mad scientist” Nikola Tesla first discovered resonant coupling during his pioneering experiments in wireless power transfer around the turn of the 20th century. [Wikipedia]

By the way, lots of people — in recent years — have become interested in Tesla's research and are wondering if he was mad or just an eccentric genius.

You are welcome to comment on this topic.

Burch Falkner has written an op-ed about his take on Super Bowl LII and his concern about the effects of RF radiation.

I always like receiving comments from Burch. He is one of those silver tongued, southern gentlemen, and he marches to a different drummer. Don't miss it in the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR section below.

New Zealand Selects one2many for National Emergency Mobile Alert System

So . . . on to more news.

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 own opinions.

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Advertiser Index

The Internet of Lifesaving Things: Smarter Cities, Smarter Response

BUSINESS / Jan 09, 2018

With all 50 U.S. states, 3 territories and the District of Columbia opted in to FirstNet, AT&T is given a unique opportunity to bridge public safety’s capabilities with the Internet of Things (IoT).

By Mike Zeto, general manager, AT&T Smart Cities

Boots on the ground. Eyes in the sky. First responders are always there when we need them. And we believe it’s our responsibility to help serve the everyday heroes who help protect us.

All 50 U.S. states, 3 territories and the District of Columbia opted in to FirstNet. That presents a unique opportunity to bridge public safety’s capabilities with the Internet of Things (IoT). This can help create smarter cities and smarter responses. And ultimately, it can help connect first responders to the world around them like never before. It’s an exciting time to explore how technology and connectivity will transform public safety in 2018 and beyond.

Here’s how we see the intersection of IoT and FirstNet helping support public safety. Some already exist and others are future possibilities.

• Connected vehicles – Our all-in-one fleet tracking and management solution, Fleet Complete, just launched for FirstNet customers. It helps dispatch centers and first responders see the status of vehicles in the field like never before.
  
  Fleet Complete details location, destination, speed and engine diagnostics. And it also allows for geofencing and customizable exception reporting. Take a crime scene, for example, or a duty station. Geofencing can give incident commanders better visibility into available resources or help create a log of who goes in and out of an area.
  
  Plus, it comes fully integrated with Enhanced Push-to-Talk, giving first responders a built-in communications platform. That means fleet managers and dispatch centers can speak directly with field operators and first responders. So in the event of an emergency, a dispatcher can visually identify assets in the field instead of putting out a generalized request over the radio, which is what happens today.
  
  Dispatchers can also determine the on-board capabilities of those assets and simultaneously communicate with them. All of this brings transparency and control to public safety. This can mean greater situational awareness and a speedier response for teams.
  
  
• Connected infrastructure – We’re working to make cities and municipalities more tech-driven. This can benefit public safety in a big way. Take smart lighting solutions, for instance. Right now, through our Digital Infrastructure solutions, we can retrofit existing lighting to help cities monitor traffic and road conditions and provide situational awareness. This helps cities identify and proactively manage repairs, road closures and maintenance needs to keep roads safer.
  
  This could help firefighters choose the fastest route to a house fire. And decibel sensors placed on lights around the city could also help police detect gunshots when and where they happen.
  
  
• Connected drones – We’re working to help first responders improve outcomes. Imagine if paramedics could see what was happening at a car accident before they arrived. The potential to deploy a connected drone and collect information from the scene of an emergency could help EMS personnel make key decisions about the type of response needed. The seconds saved could mean the difference between life and death.
  
  Think of the potential for firefighters using a connected drone as they battle the blaze of a rapidly moving wildfire. As conditions quickly change, firefighters on the front line could still have access to the information they need in near real time from a camera-equipped drone.
  
  
• Connected gear – Wearable cameras can provide “see-what-I-see capabilities” to support search and rescue. And along with cameras, wearable sensors can feed data to incident commanders and first responders. This is critical to help improve situational awareness.
  
  For example, the leading cause of death on the job among firefighters is cardiac arrest. Monitoring firefighters’ health data can send early warning alerts to help keep them safe.¹ If a firefighter’s heart rate increases, it could trigger the wearable camera to auto stream their current conditions. This would let command centers evaluate the need for backup based on what’s happening in near real time.

As these capabilities are brought onto the FirstNet platform, first responders can be confident they’ll have highly secure, reliable access to near real-time data and video feeds. This information can support response, help with situational awareness and boost collaboration.

Plus, all public safety traffic on the FirstNet platform will be routed through a dedicated core with end-to-end encryption to help meet first responders’ sensitive communications needs.

We’ve only just scratched the surface of possibilities. AT&T is helping shape the future through the Internet of Lifesaving Things innovation. We plan to make it easy for first responders to manage their connections through the launch of AT&T Control Center for FirstNet later this quarter.

And we look forward to empowering first responders by placing innovative and dependable new tools in their hands to help them respond to incidents more quickly, safely and effectively.

¹ Based on a 2015 report from the National Fire Protection Association.

Wireless Communication Solutions

Paging Data Receiver (PDR)

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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.

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Tel: 843-821-6888

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Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.

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Experts in Paging Infrastructure

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Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or e-mail us for more information.

Back To Paging

Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!

Rick McMichael has some equipment for sale — left over from the inventory of his business that he recently sold.

If you are interested, please e-mail Rick directly by clicking here.

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

The Board of Advisor members are people with whom I have developed a special rapport, and have met personally. They are not obligated to support the newsletter in any way, except with advice, and maybe an occasional letter to the editor.

If you are reading this, your potential customers are reading it as well. Please click here to find out about our advertising options.

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Dominica Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Cites Amateur Radio's Role after Maria

The ARRL Letter for February 8, 2018

A post-hurricane disaster needs assessment published this past fall by the Government of Dominica points up the significance of Amateur Radio's role in the relief and recovery effort on the tiny Caribbean island nation in the wake of Hurricane Maria last September. It also calls for expanding the pool of radio amateurs on the island who could help in future disasters.

The report, Commonwealth of Dominica Post-Disaster Needs Assessment — Hurricane Maria, September 18, 2017, noted that all telecommunication services on Dominica except for Amateur Radio were disabled from September 19 to 21. Some 30 cellular sites were destroyed or severely damaged, and the fiber-optic backbone was severed in several locations, leading to a nationwide loss of connectivity, the report said. In addition to the private telecommunications networks, “an emergency communications network consisting of Amateur Radio operators is supposed to exist within the purview of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC),” the report pointed out.

The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment concluded that Hurricane Maria caused nearly $931 million in damage, plus losses of more than $380 million — which, according to the report, amounts to 226% of Dominica's 2016 gross domestic product (GDP).

“The interruption of telecommunication services had a significant negative human impact as Dominica was almost cut off from the outside world for 3 days. Communities within Dominica were isolated from one another,” said the report, which was published last November 15.

The needs assessment said that “a sparse Amateur Radio network” suffering from a lack of trained operators and back-up power, plus “a few satellite phones” delivered information “required for critical relief and rescue activities.”

“The Government should rehabilitate the ECN (Emergency Communications Network) by offering training to persons interested in becoming Amateur Radio operators nationwide, with the goal of having a licensed Amateur Radio operator in every community with an emergency shelter,” the report recommended.

Dominica is still in the recovery phase in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

The report also proposed that emergency shelters and the EOC be equipped with Amateur Radio and/or a satellite phone, “so that contact may be quickly established during or after a storm.” The report also recommended that the government of Dominica “develop a plan for the operation and maintenance of the network long term, including replacement of equipment, training of operators and activation procedures for the network in case of an emergency.”

In the short term, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment advised, rehabilitation of the existing National Emergency Communications Network should include the purchase of Amateur Radio equipment, including repeaters, as well as satellite phones and “other technology required for the network.”

The Yasme Foundation, Yaesu USA, the Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service (FAIRS), and individual GoFundMe donors joined forces last fall to restore country-wide Amateur Radio communication on Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Private pilots Brian Machesney, K1LI, and Dave Bridgham, N1AHF, transported a planeload of Amateur Radio gear, relief equipment, and supplies as part of an effort to better prepare the small Caribbean island nation for future disasters. — Thanks to Brian Machesney, K1LI

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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
817-527-6322
sales@pssirl.com
www.pssirl.com

For Sale – Apollo Pilot XP A28 Alpha Numeric Pagers w/Charging Cradle

• $70 each, discount available for volume purchases
• Freq Range:450-458MHz & 462-470MHz
• Format: POCSAG, Wide or Narrow Band
• IP54 rating, protection from dust and water ingress
• Powered by a standard AAA rechargeable battery

Contact Information Shawn Pasienza shawnP@criticalalert.com (904) 203-1158

For Sale: Power-One 24VDC Linear Power Supplies $70 each Max output: 3.6 Amps Input: 100/120/220/230/240 VAC 50/60Hz

Exclusive: Intel's new smart glasses hands-on

The Verge Published on Feb 5, 2018 Intel's Vaunt smart glasses won't make you look like a Glasshole. Dieter Bohn got an exclusive look at Intel's latest gadget. By shining a low-powered laser into your retina, the glasses can get all sorts of information without pulling out your phone.

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.
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• 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.

Friday, February 9, 2018	Volume 6 | Issue 28

Super Bowl Parade Makes Carriers Run a “Philly Special”

As an estimated three million Eagles fans toasted the long-awaited arrival of the Lombardi Trophy down Broad Street in Philadelphia yesterday, the major carriers held their breath, according to Philly.com.

“The telcos and the city worked together quickly to boost capacity along the route,” Philadelphia city spokesman Mike Dunn told Philly.com. “While providers have boosted capacity, parade-goers should expect service to be challenged.”

The City of Brotherly Love has seen its share of big events over the past few years and has boosted its network accordingly with the visit of Pope Francis, the Democratic National Convention, and the National Football League draft. This event, however, was expected to put enormous and unprecedented loads on the city’s cellular network. The parade route stretched for five miles from the stadium in South Philadelphia to the Art Museum and its famous “Rocky” steps.

“We’re prepared,” Verizon spokesman David Weissmann told Philly.com. His plan was to make adjustments to the demands on capacity as the parade progressed to its final destination.

T-Mobile director Kerri Strike-Stahller was optimistic they could handle the overload as they increased capacity for the parade with a mobile cell site near City Hall, roughly at the halfway point of the progressive celebration.

AT&T said in 2017, it grew its capacity in Philadelphia by 35 percent and also expressed confidence in its ability to handle the crowd, Philly.com reported.

Comcast, which has been gingerly entering the wireless business, wouldn’t open its extensive WiFi network to the public along the parade route because it likely doesn’t have the capacity for the crowds. “While Xfinity continues to expand our WiFi network — we have more than 14,000 access points across Philadelphia — it’s difficult to predict the impact this kind of data use may have in such a concentrated area,” the company said on Wednesday.

Comcast recommended to cable customers that they venture a few blocks beyond the crowd, find a WiFi hotspot and upload videos and photos there, publishing a WiFi map to help ease the congestion.

---

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Volume 6 | Issue 26

Mexico is Short On Towers and Long On Demand

Don’t you wish you paid a little more attention in Spanish class? You just might want to brush the dust off of that particular text book because the burgeoning telecommunications market in Mexico needs over 50,000 towers constructed to keep up with demand for service. According to a report from Mexico News Daily, the country currently has approximately 27,000 towers but needs at least 80,000 to effectively support its mobile broadband network. “There are few countries in Latin America, and perhaps in the world, as complicated as Mexico in terms of telecommunications infrastructure, and while this industry is often described as a gold mine, in reality it is very far from that,” analysts from TowerXchange said.

Former telecom near-monopoly Telmex-América Móvil was restructured in 2015, forcing the company to divest its tower operating business and create a separate company, Telesites, which made room for competitors in the market for the first time. Currently, Telesites, Telxius, and American Tower are the main players in the telecom market, according to Mexico News Daily. Foreign firms own almost half of the towers in Mexico. American Tower has invested approximately $500 million in projects across the country, including 8,000 towers, some 50,000 concrete poles and over 2,100 miles of fiber optic cables.

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.

REMINDER: CPNI Reports are Due March 1

On February 7, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice reminding carriers and interconnected VoIP providers of their obligation to file, by March 1, 2018, their annual certification documenting compliance with the Commission’s CPNI rules.

CPNI includes sensitive personal information that carriers collect about their customers during the course of their business relationship (e.g., telephone numbers of calls made and received; the frequency, duration, and timing of such calls; and any services purchased by the consumer, such as call waiting and voicemail). The Commission’s rules seek to ensure that CPNI is adequately protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

BloostonLaw has developed a compliance manual for CPNI, which is available by contacting the firm. BloostonLaw is also available to assist in filing the associated certification.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

Headlines

FCC Releases CAF Phase II Documents; Applications Due March 30, Auction to Begin July 24

This week, the FCC released several items related to the Connect America Fund Phase II auction, including the Public Notice adopted at last month’s Open Meeting which included the application deadline and official start date of the Auction. Applications are due March 30, and the auction is scheduled to begin on July 24. A copy of the Public Notice can be found here.

The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force also released an updated guide that provides technical and mathematical detail regarding the proposed bidding, assignment, and support amount determination procedures for the auction. This guide provides examples and serves as a supplement to the bidding and bid processing procedures described in the CAF II Auction Procedures Public Notice. It is available under the “Education” tab of the Commission’s Phase II auction website (www.fcc.gov/connect-america-fund-phase-ii-auction), where it will remain available and accessible for reference.

The Wireline Competition Bureau also released a revised final list of census blocks eligible for auction, a revised list of the census block groups and associated annual reserve prices and location counts, and a revised map showing the eligible blocks within the census block groups. The list of census blocks can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/files/caf2auctionpublishblockfeb2018csv. The list of census block groups can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/files/caf2auctionpublishcbgfeb2018csv. The map can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/maps/caf2-auction-final-areas. The revised lists remove census block groups with a $0 reserve price and census blocks that overlap certain rate-of-return carrier study area boundaries. Based on this revised list, 30,033 census block groups, containing a total of 210,647 eligible census blocks, will be available for bidding in the auction.

The FCC also released the text of the Order on Reconsideration regarding CAF Phase II that it also adopted at the recent meeting. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw update, this Order addresses remaining issues raised by parties challenging the FCC’s orders implementing the Connect America Phase II auction. A copy of the Order on Reconsideration can be found here.

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

FCC Issues Tentative Agenda for February Open Meeting

On February 1, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the January Open Commission Meeting, which is currently scheduled to take place on February 22:

• Spectrum Horizons: a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on proposed rules that would apply to spectrum above 95 GHz for licensed services, unlicensed operations, and a new class of experimental licenses. (ET Docket No. 18-21; RM-11713; WT Docket No. 15-245; RM-11795)
• Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services: a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to provide guidelines and procedures to implement section 7 of the Communications Act, as amended, to improve Commission processes to promote the provision of new technologies and services to the public. (GN Docket No. 18-22)
• Mobility Fund Phase II Second Order on Reconsideration: an Order addressing the remaining issues raised by parties in petitions for reconsideration of the Mobility Fund Phase II Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (WC Docket No. 10-90; WT Docket No. 10-208)
• Broadcast EEO Mid-Term Reports: a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate the requirement in Section 73.2080(f)(2) of the Commission's rules that certain broadcast television and radio stations file the Broadcast Mid-Term Report (Form 397). (MB Docket Nos. 18-23; 17-105)
• Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules: a Report and Order that would eliminate specific Part 74, 76, and 78 rules that require certain broadcast and cable entities to maintain paper copies of Commission rules, while retaining provisions that require the subject entities to be familiar with the rules governing their operations. (MB Docket Nos. 17-231; 17-105)
• Part 64 Provision of Payphone Service: a Report and Order to (1) eliminate all payphone call tracking system audit and associated reporting requirements, (2) permit a company official, including but not limited to the chief financial officer, to certify that a completing carrier's quarterly compensation payments are accurate and complete, and (3) eliminate expired payphone compensation rules. (WC Docket Nos. 17-141; 16-132; CC Docket No. 96-128)

The Open Meeting will be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live and can be followed on social media with #OpenMtgFCC. Continuing with the FCC’s pilot program, public drafts of each item described above is linked within the description. One-page cover sheets are included in the public drafts to help summarize each item. These are not final drafts and may be different than what the FCC ultimately considers and adopts.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast.

Commissioners Clyburn and O’Rielly Post Rate-of-Return Expense Table

On January 31, FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael O’Rielly made a post on the FCC’s official blog which included “a list of expenses that should be categorically excluded from reimbursement.” According to the Commissioners, “this list is the bare minimum of what the Commission should accept as we seek to make the high-cost program more efficient. It addresses the most egregious activities and brings needed reform and clarity to the program.”

The Commissioners also recommended these exclusions for adoption within the Commission's other USF programs as well.

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

Law & Regulation

FCC to Testify at House Committee Budget Hearing

On February 7, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) announced a series of hearings related to President Trump’s federal budget request. One of the hearings, scheduled for February 16, will hear testimony from all five of the FCC’s Commissioners. The President’s request is expected to be released on February 12, 2018.

“I am pleased that so many members of the Trump Administration have worked closely with the Energy and Commerce Committee to schedule these important hearings. It is essential that Congress exercise our oversight responsibilities and we are eager to hear from the Administration on the President’s budget request and other key issues facing our nation,” said Chairman Walden.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.

Senate Passes Kari’s Law—To Ensure 911 from Multi-Line Telephone Systems

On Monday, the U.S. Senate passed the Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (H.R. 582), which is designed to ensure that every call to 911 directly connects the caller to the PSAP. This law arises out of an incident in 2013 in which Kari Rene Hunt-Dunn was attacked by her estranged husband in Marshall, Texas. Her daughter tried to call “911,” but the calls did not go through because the hotel’s phone system required the caller to dial “9” in order to get a dial tone before dialing “911.”

In praising this Congressional action, Chairman Pai stated that “[s]hortly after this terrible event, Kari’s father, Hank Hunt, channeled his grief into a determination to change this system. I’ve had the privilege of working with him since 2013 to do just that. Thanks to his courage and the tireless support of many others, we are one step closer to ensuring that 911 works every time, without anyone having to dial an access code.”

H.R. 582 will require all Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS) to have be configured so that users can directly dial “911” without the need for additional digits or a prefix form any phone. Additionally, under the proposed Act, an MLTS would have to be programmed to notify a designated point of contact any time a 911 call was initiated. MLTS systems serve several telephone users at a single site, such as office buildings, hotels, schools, colleges, etc. These systems typically require the dialing of a prefix or a single digit in order to obtain an outside line. Currently, users of the system must still dial a prefix or a digit in order to make a 911 call from an MLTS phone — which would now be prohibited.

This Bill next goes back to the House to consider changes that were made in the Senate version before it can go to the President’s desk for signature.

Under the version approved by the Senate, these changes would apply to MLTS systems that are manufactured, imported, offered for sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after two years after the date this Bill is signed by the President.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy

Deadlines

MARCH 1: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT FORM FOR CABLE COMPANIES. This form, plus royalty payment for the second half of calendar year 2011, is due March 1. The form covers the period July 1 to December 31, 2012, and is due to be mailed directly to cable TV operators by the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office. If you do not receive the form, please contact Gerry Duffy.

MARCH 1: CPNI ANNUAL CERTIFICATION. Carriers should modify (as necessary) and complete their “Annual Certification of CPNI Compliance” for 2017. The certification must be filed with the FCC by March 1. Note that the annual certification should include the following three required Exhibits: (a) a detailed Statement Explaining How The Company’s Operating Procedures Ensure Compliance With The FCC’S CPNI Rules to reflect the Company’s policies and information; (b) a Statement of Actions Taken Against Data Brokers; and (c) a Summary of Customer Complaints Regarding Unauthorized Release of CPNI. A company officer with personal knowledge that the company has established operating procedures adequate to ensure compliance with the rules must execute the Certification, place a copy of the Certification and accompanying Exhibits in the Company’s CPNI Compliance Records, and file the certification with the FCC in the correct fashion. Our clients can forward the original to BloostonLaw in time for the firm to make the filing with the FCC by March 1, if desired. BloostonLaw is prepared to help our clients meet this requirement, which we expect will be strictly enforced, by assisting with preparation of their certification filing; reviewing the filing to make sure that the required showings are made; filing the certification with the FCC, and obtaining a proof-of-filing copy for your records. Clients interested in obtaining BloostonLaw's CPNI compliance manual should contact Gerry Duffy (202-828-5528) or Mary Sisak (202-828-5554). Note: If you file the CPNI certification, you must also file the FCC Form 499-A Telecom Reporting Worksheet by April 1.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Mary Sisak.

MARCH 1: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION & BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. This annual form is due March 1 and September 1 annually. The FCC requires facilities-based wired, terrestrial fixed wireless, and satellite broadband service providers to report on FCC Form 477 the number of broadband subscribers they have in each census tract they serve. The Census Bureau changed the boundaries of some census tracts as part of the 2010 Census.

Specifically, three types of entities must file this form:

1. Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End User Locations: Entities that are facilities-based providers of broadband connections – which are wired “lines” or wireless “channels” that enable the end user to receive information from and/or send information to the Internet at information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction – must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which the entity provides one or more such connections to end user locations. For the purposes of Form 477, an entity is a “facilities-based” provider of broadband connections to end user locations if it owns the portion of the physical facility that terminates at the end user location, if it obtains unbundled network elements (UNEs), special access lines, or other leased facilities that terminate at the end user location and provisions/equips them as broadband, or if it provisions/equips a broadband wireless channel to the end user location over licensed or unlicensed spectrum. Such entities include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers (LECs), cable system operators, fixed wireless service providers (including “wireless ISPs”), terrestrial and satellite mobile wireless service providers, BRS providers, electric utilities, municipalities, and other entities. (Such entities do not include equipment suppliers unless the equipment supplier uses the equipment to provision a broadband connection that it offers to the public for sale. Such entities also do not include providers of fixed wireless services (e.g., “Wi-Fi” and other wireless ethernet, or wireless local area network, applications) that only enable local distribution and sharing of a premises broadband facility.)
2. Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Telephone Services: Incumbent and competitive LECs must complete and file the applicable portions of the form for each state in which they provide local exchange service to one or more end user customers (which may include “dial-up” ISPs).
3. Providers of Mobile Telephony Services: Facilities-based providers of mobile telephony services must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which they serve one or more mobile telephony subscribers. A mobile telephony service is a real-time, two-way switched voice service that is interconnected with the public switched network using an in-network switching facility that enables the provider to reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless handoff of subscriber calls. A mobile telephony service provider is considered “facilities-based” if it serves a subscriber using spectrum for which the entity holds a license that it manages, or for which it has obtained the right to use via lease or other arrangement with a Band Manager.

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

MARCH 31: STREAMLINED INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT CAPACITY REPORT. No later than March 31, 2018, all U.S. international carriers that owned or leased bare capacity on a submarine cable between the United States and any foreign point on December 31, 2017 and any person or entity that held a submarine cable landing license on December 31, 2017 must file a Circuit Capacity Report to provide information about the submarine cable capacity it holds. Additionally, cable landing licensees must file information on the Circuit Capacity Report about the amount of available and planned capacity on the submarine cable for which they have a license. Last year, the FCC eliminated the requirement for U.S. International Carriers that owned or leased bare capacity on a terrestrial or satellite facility to show its active common carrier circuits for the provision of service to an end-user or resale carrier, including active circuits used by itself or its affiliates.

Calendar At-a-Glance

February
Feb. 15 – Comments are due on MVPD communications proceeding.
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. Feb. 26 – Comments are due on national television audience reach cap review.

March Mar. 1 – Copyright Statement of Account Form for cable companies is due.
Mar. 1 – Annual CPNI Certification is due.
Mar. 1 – FCC Form 477 (Local Competition & Broadband Reporting) is due.
Mar. 2 – Reply comments are due on MVPD communications proceeding.
Mar. 2 – PRA comments due on FCC Form 183.
Mar. 5 – PRA Comments are due on pole attachment complaint process; network change notification revisions.
Mar. 27 – Reply comments are due on national television audience reach cap review.
Mar. 30 – Deadline for CAF Phase II Auction Applications.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 525 (Delayed Phasedown CETC Line Counts) is due.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 508 (ICLS Projected Annual Common Line Requirement) is due.
Mar. 31 – Streamlined International Circuit Capacity Report is due.

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.

Some people use the title “consultant” when they don't have a real job. We actually do consulting work, and help others based on our many years of experience.

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“If you would know the road ahead, ask someone who has traveled it.”
— 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
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

Texzon Technologies, LLC
Request for Part 5 Experimental License
ELS File No. 0924-EX-CN-2017

NARRATIVE STATEMENT

Pursuant to Sections 5.203 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 5.203 (2016), Texzon Technologies, LLC (“Texzon”) hereby respectfully requests experimental license from January 17, 2018 to January 17, 2020, to operate in the 1800 kHz spectrum band. This experimental license will allow Texzon to continue the experimental testing done under experimental special temporary authority (call sign: WL9XKQ). Texzon is developing systems for the excitation of terrestrial electromagnetic surface waves (Zenneck surface waves, not Norton ground waves) with the ultimate intent of more efficient broadcast signaling without the current issues associated with ionosphere skip interference. The equipment to be used is experimental and proprietary and is entirely of a prototype nature.

Testing will be done under the control of the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) held by:

Kenneth Corum
FRN: 0003674447
Granted 03-18-2009
File Number:0003778069
Serial Number: PG00026528

As well as under the control of Amateur licensee:

Michael Paul Taylor
FRN: 0024766438
General Class Amateur License call sign KG5IUC

A. Purpose of Operation and Need for STA:

Texzon is a startup technology company focused in the fields of energy storage and distribution. Texzon will be recording precise field strength measurements at the requested frequency ranges using low frequency spectrum analyzers and calibrated antennas. The purpose of the test is to determine the efficiency of design of the prototype and validate the science of the terrestrial EM surface wave for use in signaling. Importantly, Texzon believes such testing will be non-radiating – which will limit the interference effects to any other party in the spectrum bands under test. The system under test will be used to demonstrate the science and applications of Zenneck surface waves and is a precursor to a larger demonstration of this new signaling technology. The experimental license is needed to tune and test the demonstration apparatus.

B. Location of Proposed Operation:

Texzon proposes to conduct its experimental testing at its facilities in Texas. The approximate reference coordinates (in Datum: NAD83) of the fixed location is:

Approx. 32° 9' 24"N, 96° 56' 22"W

C. Technical Specifications:

1. Frequencies Desired

Texzon will be conducting the testing and tuning in the frequency range 1710-1900 kHz. To conduct a series of measurements over a frequency range, Texzon requests authorization to use a continuous wave (CW) transmission with a 3 dB bandwidth of less than 10 Hertz (Hz).

2. Effective Radiated Power

Texzon anticipates that the demonstrations will be non-radiating. To conduct the demonstrations, the RF power necessary to maintain the voltage to produce local fields required to launch a high velocity propagating surface wave will be utilized. The testing will not exceed 50 kW of RF input power to the surface wave launching probe at 1710 kHz. The intent is to produce a surface wave without producing any Norton ground wave radiation. Texzon believes that the EIRP will be limited to 1000 watts. Texzon will conduct other testing in the spectrum range from 1710 kHz to 1900 kHz but the input power will be less than 5 kW for those tests with EIRP limited to 100 watts or less for that testing.

3. Modulation and Emissions

Texzon proposes to utilize a continuous wave signal with less than 10 Hertz of bandwidth. The emission designator would be H10N0N.

4. Antenna Information

While the testing should be non-radiating, the surface wave launching probe will not exceed 35 feet above ground level for the 1800 kHz testing and tuning. No probes will be mounted in a fashion that will require approval under FAA and FCC rules and regulations.

5. Equipment To Be Used

Texzon expects to conduct its demonstration with a single test probe at the above referenced fixed location. The surface wave structure is entirely custom built and proprietary to Texzon Technologies. The transmitter used to produce and drive the signal is a Nautel NX 50 broadcast transmitter with modifications made. Texzon will limit the power, area of operation, and transmitting times to the minimum necessary to gather the needed scientific measurements of this new technology.

D. Protection Against Causing Interference:

Texzon has requested authority to operate in the 1800 kHz band. The 1800 kHz band is a primary Amateur Radio Service as well as a primary band for fixed, mobile, and radiolocation services. Texzon understands that it must accept any interference from any users of this band and that all operations by Texzon will be on a secondary basis. Texzon has established a point of contact identified below with “kill switch” authority should any interference occur to primary licensed services. Should interference occur, Texzon will take immediate steps to resolve the interference, including, if necessary, arranging for the discontinuance of operation.

E. Restrictions on Operation:

Texzon is not seeking authority to perform a market study under the requested experimental license. Moreover, no fees will be charged to entities using the equipment during this test. Entities will be advised in accordance with Section 2.803 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §2.803, that any unapproved devices which have not been authorized as required by the FCC are not being offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

F. Public Interest:

Texzon submits that issuance of an experimental license as requested is in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Grant of an STA will help Texzon to develop and test innovative equipment that will allow for more effective and efficient power management and distribution.

G. Contact Information:

Technical Contact and “Stop Buzzer/Kill Switch:”

Michael P. Taylor
Texzon Technologies, LLC
Telephone: 979-255-8502
mtaylor@texzont.com

FCC Legal Counsel/Contact:

Tom Dombrowsky
Senior Engineering Advisor
DLA Piper LLP
500 8th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Telephone: 202.799.4039
Thomas.Dombrowsky@dlapiper.com

Source: FCC.gov

Source: FCC.gov

Reference: http://www.texzontechnologies.com

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