Welcome Back To The Wireless Messaging News

REMINICING ABOUT MY EXPIERENCS IN RADIO

In my sixty-plus years in radio communications (amateur, military, and commercial), one of the the things that has fascinated me the most has been the study of frequencies. As a young SWL (short wave listener) it was hard for me to understand where all the “bands” were. The abbreviations VLF, LF, HF, VHF, UHF, and so on didn't help much for a young guy without any formal education in electronics or physics. [see this]

Eventually it all made sense when I realized that the layout was just like a very large slide rule, with audio on the left end, radio in the middle, and light on the right end.

Fortunately now-a-days there are very nice radio-spectrum charts available to help us visualize where the “bands” are located relative to each other.

Then came the more technical part—to learn about—frequency accuracy. My first radio receiver was a home-made crystal set. Due to an error of using the wrong size of wire in the coil, I could only receive three stations. One naturally, was the local AM broadcast station on the other side of town. The second, and most exciting to me, was a local ham radio operator who was the co-founder of that AM station. The third—now this is really strange—was a radio station in Del Rio, Texas. This at one time was the world's most powerful radio station and it wasn't even in Texas. It was just across the river in Mexico where the Mexican government permitted the higher power. The US wouldn't.

An interesting historical sketch about this is here.

Anyway on to my first real Short Wave Radio. It was a pre-WWII vintage Howard model 438.

Frequency readout was wildly approximate and frequency stability was really bad too. If fact it was so unstable that if you accidentally bumped the table where it was sitting, it it jump off-frequency to another station. Sort of like the modern radios do scanning, but not on purpose.

I have an SDR (software defined radio) whose tuning accuracy is about 0.015 Hz and stability is (short-term (ADEV) around 2×10^-12 or better (at one second) and ( long-term (MDEV)) well below 1×10^-13 (at one day).

When I was a young ham, I dreamed of the day when I might have a receiver that would read out to one kilocycle (before we used the term Hertz). Only the Collins equipment would do that back then but they were for people who drove Cadillacs. Now I have assembled one that reads out to one Hertz and is stable to within ±70 µHertz — and thanks to GPS — it will maintain this accuracy as long as the GPS satellites keep working. By the way that is microHertz (µHz) not milliHertz (mHz).

Details here, if you are interested in knowing more.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PAGING?

Well it has a lot to do with Paging. Without GPS satellite synchronization the modern simulcast paging system would not have been possible. The operating frequency of simulcast paging transmitters—mostly Glenayre and Motorola— was linked to a master oscillator that was in-turn locked onto a GPS satellite signal.

Not only keeping the paging transmitters on frequency but keeping them offset from the assigned frequency was important too. Other issues that most people never thought of were how to make a pager not miss a message when the user just got off of an airplane in another city and turned the pager back on.

All this talk about frequency stability and frequency accuracy leads to remind you about the advertisement immediately following from Frank Moorman. I have it on good authority that Frank is the top technical guy in the country for service monitors. If your radio shop is not equipped with a calibrated Service Monitor, you are doing yourself and your customers a disservice. Being “close enough” doesn't hack it in todays high-tech world.

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

Wireless Messaging

NO POLITICS HERE

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.

TIME TO HUDDLE UP

Let's get together and share ideas. Our competitors are not other paging companies, they are other technologies.

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.

Prism-IPX Systems is growing and they are looking for more good software developers with communications experience. Additional information is available on their web site. Click here.

We need your help. This is probably the only weekly news source about paging and wireless messaging.

Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale

Motorola Service Monitor

IFR Service Monitor

Efratom Rubidium Standard

(Images are typical units, not actual photos of items offered for sale here.)

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Advertiser Index

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

		Motorola SOLUTIONS
	WE ARE STILL STOCKING AND SELLING THE UNICATION ELEGANT PAGERS Contact us for price and availability please

COMPANY NEWS

BlackBerry turns 35: A look back at its big transformation

March 7, 2019

Rajeshni Naidu-Ghelani, BNN Bloomberg

It’s been 35 years since BlackBerry Ltd., formerly named Research In Motion (RIM), was founded by two university engineering students.

Since then, the smartphone pioneer and once-leading Canadian business has gone through major ups and downs in the fast-changing world of mobile technology.

From the height of the "CrackBerry" smartphone craze, to announcing in 2013 that it was weighing options including a sale, and its subsequent transformation under CEO John Chen, the Waterloo Ont.-based company no longer resembles what it started out as.

To mark BlackBerry’s anniversary over the last three and a half decades, here’s a look back at the company’s key milestones in its journey so far.

1984 – RIM is founded by University of Waterloo engineering student Mike Lazaridis and University of Windsor engineering student Douglas Fregin. Eight years later, Jim Balsillie joins RIM, and becomes co-CEO with Lazaridis.

1996 – RIM releases its first keyboard-based device – a two-way pager – called the Inter@ctive Pager, also known as the RIM 900. Two years later, an even slimmer version called RIM 950 is released.

1997 – RIM goes public and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Two years later, the company debuts on the Nasdaq, and receives regulatory approval in the U.S. to sell its first BlackBerry device – a pager with email called the 850.

2004 – Fast forward seven years later – after the first BlackBerry devices with voice-calling and colour screens hit the market – RIM turns 20 years old and tops one million subscribers on its devices. By the end of 2004, it has more than two million subscribers. Two years later, the first line of BlackBerry Pearl devices are released with digital cameras and multimedia features.

2007 – RIM becomes the most valuable company on the TSX with a market capitalization of more than $67 million. Its smartphone subscribers hit 10 million. That same year, Apple introduces the first iPhone.

2008 – RIM shares close below $50 on the TSX, falling from more than $240 over a year earlier. BlackBerry Storm, the company’s first touchscreen device, gets bad reviews, and hype surrounding Apple’s 3G iPhone model builds. A year later, BlackBerry launches its App World marketplace to compete with Apple’s App Store.

2010 - RIM passes 40 million users and ships its 100 millionth smartphone. It buys Ottawa-based QNX Software Systems, which later becomes a key part of its software business. A year later, RIM unveils the PlayBook tablet following the release of Apple’s first iPad. Critics pan the PlayBook, saying it lacks key features like the company’s popular BlackBerry Messenger app.

2012 – Lazaridis and Balsillie step down as co-CEOs, while Balsillie also resigns from BlackBerry’s board of directors. The company’s COO Thorsten Heins is named CEO, and within months he announces 5,000 job cuts. The critical BlackBerry 10 software update is also delayed. The company’s stock hits a low of $6.18 on the TSX in September

January 2013 – Heins launches the BlackBerry 10 operating system, along with the Z10 and Q10 smartphones, which are seen as the company’s last fighting chance in the smartphone market. R&B singer Alicia Keys is named BlackBerry’s creative director, and the company’s name is officially changed from RIM to BlackBerry. In May, Lazaridis steps down as vice-chairman, and leaves the board of directors.

August 2013 – BlackBerry announces it’s conducting a strategic review and says it’s considering a sale or joint venture. A month later, a consortium of investors led by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. bid $4.7 billion to take BlackBerry private. The deal collapses in November, and BlackBerry opts to raise $1 billion through a sale of convertible debt to investors. John Chen replaces Heins as the new CEO.

2014 – BlackBerry launches the Passport smartphone and the BlackBerry Classic – a phone with a keyboard that resembles its popular Bold 9900 model. A year later, the BlackBerry Leap and BlackBerry Priv – the company’s first Android smartphone – is introduced. The Priv is the first device not using BlackBerry’s own operating software.

2016 – In September, Chen announces that BlackBerry will stop making smartphones, and outsource all hardware development and manufacturing to outside partners.

BlackBerry CEO says QWERTY keyboard will live on, even after outsourcing move

BlackBerry chief executive John Chen told BNN’s Amber Kanwar in an interview that the company plans to license its signature QWERTY keyboard to manufacturers, even after outsourcing its internal hardware development. He also tells BNN he has never used the BlackBerry PlayBook.

2018 – BlackBerry buys Cylance Inc. for US$1.4 billion in an all-cash deal – the company’s biggest acquisition ever – as it seeks to boost its cybersecurity business.

2019 – Chen, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announce $310.5 million to expand the QNX operating system. The federal government pledges $40 million to the project on BlackBerry’s commitment to create 800 new jobs.

Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz

The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.

• Commercial Paging systems.
• Healthcare Paging systems.
• Public Safety Emergency Services Paging systems.
• Demand Response Energy Grid Management.

Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.

• Use as a stand-alone unit or in wide area network.
• Mix with other transmitter brands in an existing paging network.
• Adjustable from 20-250 watts.
• 110/240 VAC or 48VDC.
• Absolute Delay Correction.
• Remote Diagnostics.
• Configurable alarm thresholds.
• Integrated Isolator.
• Superb Reliability.
• Improved amplifier efficiency.
• Most reliable high-powered paging transmitter available.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 Email: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

Back To Paging

Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!

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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Providing Expert Support and Service Contracts for all Glenayre Paging Systems.

The GL3000 is the most prolific paging system in the world and Easy Solutions gladly welcomes you to join us in providing reliable support to the paging industry for many more decades in the future.

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.

• We treat our customers like family. We don’t just fix problems . . . We recommend and implement better cost-effective solutions.
• We are not just another vendor . . . We are a part of your team. All the advantages of high priced full-time employment without the cost.
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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.

GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTURE

Service Contracts

I would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging.

GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018.

If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation.

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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.

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CBC INVESTIGATES

City of Winnipeg manager in charge of police radios arrested after 2-year investigation

'You don’t want to know where these came from': Police allege he directed employees to use fraudulent software

Caroline Barghout
CBC News
Posted: Feb 25, 2019 3:00 AM CT
Last Updated: February 25

A manager with the City of Winnipeg's radio shop was surprised to learn he was the subject of a police probe. In early February, Ed Richardson told CBC News he was never contacted by investigators about any allegations. Days later, he was placed on administrative leave, more than two years after the police investigation began. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

Winnipeg police have arrested a manager with the city for allegedly updating police radios with fraudulent software he got from a person considered to be a security threat by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBC News has learned.

Back in 2011, Ed Richardson allegedly obtained millions of dollars worth of illegal software and instructed city employees to use it, police said in a January 2018 sworn affidavit, submitted to the Provincial Court of Manitoba when officers were seeking permission to search the man's e-mails.

Until his arrest last Thursday, Richardson was the manager of the City of Winnipeg radio shop, responsible for repairing and maintaining radios used by the Winnipeg Police Service and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

The allegations stem from a time when the police service used fully encrypted Motorola radios, which allowed officers to talk in secret, as the only way to unlock the audio and listen to the conversations was with an encryption key. (Prior to 2010, anyone who wanted to eavesdrop on police calls could potentially do so through websites that provided access to police scanners.)

The Winnipeg Police Service began using fully encrypted Motorola radios to communicate in 2010, which allowed officers to talk in secret, as the radios require an encryption key to unlock the audio. (Motorola Solutions)

In the affidavit, police said the Motorola radios needed frequent updating, which could only be done if the city purchased a "refresh key" or license from the company to unlock the proprietary software. Motorola charged about $94 per update per radio, the document said, and a radio shop employee told police Richardson didn't like that.

"[The employee] does not believe his actions were for personal gain; he believes that Richardson likes the idea of not giving more money to Motorola," the affidavit said.

The employee came forward with information in 2017. At the time, the WPS and WFPS were in the process of launching a new emergency radio system for first responders — a project Richardson was leading.

"[The employee] is concerned that Richardson's lack of integrity may put the security of this new radio system in jeopardy," the affidavit said.

Winnipeg police seized a USB reader and a device called an iButton, pictured at left, from the City of Winnipeg radio shop in April 2017 as part of the investigation. (Manitoba Provincial Court)

According to the affidavit, the employee told police that in 2011, Richardson gave him a device known as an iButton that was preloaded with more than 65,000 refresh keys and told him "you don't want to know where these came from."

The employee said they "clearly" didn't come from Motorola, the court document stated.

If the fraudulent refresh keys had been legitimately purchased, it would have cost the city millions, police allege. It's estimated the keys were used over 200 times and cost Motorola nearly $19,000 in lost revenue.

U.S. Homeland Security investigating

In the affidavit, police said they suspect Richardson got the unauthorized software from a Winnipeg ham radio enthusiast who was under investigation south of the border.

In September 2016, a special agent from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) traveled to Winnipeg to brief local law enforcement about an investigation into the activities of the Winnipeg man, the court document said.

The agent said the man reprogrammed Motorola radios for clients around the world and was capable of encrypting them. "This allows the criminal element to communicate without fear of interception by government or law enforcement," the court documents said.

"A significant number of these encrypted radios have been seized from the Mexican drug cartel members." Motorola examined some of those seized radios and believed that the techniques used to "hack" them were consistent with the method used by the Winnipeg man, the affidavit said.

"There is a Chinese method of achieving the same result but it is quite different," the document read. The Winnipeg man was detained by DHS agents in May 2016 while on his way back to Canada from a radio convention in Dayton, Ohio, the affidavit said. Agents seized his electronics, including a laptop, and tools needed to encrypt Motorola radios. They also seized an iButton. "There is no legitimate way that [the man] could be in possession of this device and [it] would have had to been supplied to him nefariously." Police said in the affidavit they believe Richardson gave the man the iButton.

Richardson awarded for his work

In spring 2017, the WPS and WFPS transitioned from Motorola radios to Harris equipment — a project spearheaded by Richardson that took four years to complete.

As the city was bragging about an award Richardson won for the project, he was under police investigation.

Ed Richardson was awarded 'technologist of the year' in December 2018 from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials in Canada. He was recognized for his work on a project to upgrade the emergency radio systems for first responders — all while he was the subject of a two-year police investigation. (City of Winnipeg)

"Ed was instrumental in providing leadership to our project team," Glen Cottick, the city's senior manager of business technology services, said in a Dec. 12, 2018 statement announcing the award.

Twelve months earlier, Cottick had been served a court order to provide police with Richardson's emails that were stored on the city's servers. (Cottick was not under investigation; it's his job to make sure the city complies with court orders.)

When CBC News contacted Richardson earlier this month, he said he was surprised to learn he had been under investigation for more than two years. No one from the Winnipeg Police Service had ever questioned him about any allegations, he said.

Richardson declined an interview request, citing concerns it could compromise the case, but said he was going to get in touch with officers to see if he could talk. Richardson also said he was aware police were at one point looking into the radio enthusiast, who he knows through the broader radio community, but said he wasn't sure if that investigation was still ongoing.

Days later, Richardson was placed on administrative leave. According to a co-worker, employees were told not to contact him, but were not given a reason why.

A city spokesperson would not comment on Richardson's leave, saying "it is a human resources matter."

When CBC News contacted the city again after Richardson's arrest, a spokesperson declined to answer questions, saying it was a "human resources and police matter."

A Winnipeg police spokesperson said its investigation is now complete and Richardson is expected to be formally charged during a court appearance next month, when he will face a number of criminal code offenses, including fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, possession of a device to obtain unauthorized use of a computer and possession of a device to obtain telecommunication service.

There is no allegation the fraudulent software put the security of police radios at risk.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

No other arrests are expected, police said.

CBC News Manitoba City of Winnipeg manager in charge of police radios arrested after 2-year investigation WATCH 00:00 02:54 Winnipeg police have arrested a manager with the city for allegedly updating police radios with fraudulent software he got from a person considered to be a security threat by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBC News has learned. 2:54

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caroline Barghout Reporter, CBC Manitoba

Caroline began her career co-hosting an Internet radio talk show in Toronto and then worked at various stations in Oshawa, Sudbury and Toronto before landing in Winnipeg in 2007. Since joining CBC Manitoba as a reporter in 2013, she has won an award for her work on crowded jails and her investigation into Tina Fontaine's death led to changes in the child welfare system. Email: caroline.barghout@cbc.ca

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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  

Click on the image above for more info about advertising here.

INTERNET Protocol Terminal

The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages.

An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.

Additional/Optional Features

• Database of up to 5000 subscribers.
• 4 serial ports on board.
• Up to 8 phone lines (DID or POTS).
• Can be configured for auto-fail-over to hot swap standby.
• 1RU rack mount unit appliance—no moving parts.
• Easily secure legacy system messages leaving site for HIPAA compliance.
• Only purchase the protocols/options you need.
• Add Paging Encryption for HIPAA compliance on site.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

Paging Data Receiver PDR-4

The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors.

Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.

• Option—decode capcode list or all messages.
• Large capcode capacity.
• Serial, USB and Ethernet output.
• POCSAG or FLEX page decoding, special SA protocols.
• Receivers for paging bands in VHF, UHF, 900 MHz.
• Message activated Alarm Output.
• 8 programmable relay outputs.
• Send notifications of a system problem.

• Synthesized Receiver Tuning.
• Selectivity better than 60 dB.
• Frequencies 148-174, 450-470, 929-932 MHz.
• Image Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Spurious Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Channel Spacing 12.5 or 25 kHz.
• Power 5VDC.
• Receiving Sensitivity 5µV at 1200 bps.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

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

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.

“If you would know the road ahead, ask someone who has traveled it.”
— Chinese Proverb

Remote AB Switches

ABX-1 switches are often used at remote transmitter sites to convert from old, outdated and unsupported controllers to the new modern Prism-IPX ipBSC base station controllers. Remotely switch to new controllers with GUI commands.

ABX-1

ABX-3 switches are widely used for enabling or disabling remote equipment and switching I/O connections between redundant messaging systems.

ABX-3

Common Features:

• RJ45 for A, B and Common connectors.
• Manual push button or use Prism IP commands to switch one or more relays.
• Single or Dual Port Control card for IP or Serial connection.
• Form C relay—control local connection.
• Power Loss Indicator.
• Rear Panel Connector for controlling the switch externally.
• Power Source: 5VDC for ABX-1; 12VDC for ABX-3.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

Huawei Calls Suit Against U.S. a ‘Last Resort’

Chinese telecom Huawei sued the U.S. government in response to the effort to limit its access to Western markets. The company filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas, home to Huawei's U.S. headquarters in Plano.

Huawei wants the court to order the U.S. government to drop its ban on the military, federal government and their contractors, from using Huawei technology. The ban also prevents government agencies from contracting with companies that use Huawei equipment. Huawei’s chief legal officer Song Liuping told the Associated Press, the ban is “based on numerous false, unproven and untested propositions.”

The U.S. has repeatedly expressed concerns that the telecom has to cooperate with the Chinese government and uses its technology to spy on Americans. “Huawei has an excellent security record and program. No contrary evidence has been offered,” said Liuping.

“We are compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort,” the company’s chairman, Guo Ping, said at a news conference, according to the AP.

In response to the lawsuit, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), told CNBC, “Congress has a responsibility to secure our nation. There is a real concern the [products] could compromise our national security.”

Hoyer believes the court will find in Congress’ favor. “From Congress’ standpoint, that was a policy that made sense,” he said.

The suit comes as Huawei sued Canada last week for arresting its CFO at the behest of the United States in December. CFO Meng Wanzhou is accused of misleading international banks about Huawei’s business affairs in Iran that violated U.S. sanctions. She’s under house arrest in Canada while she fights extradition to the U.S.

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.

Form 499-A, Access to Advanced Services Certifications Due April 1

The Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, known as FCC Form 499-A, is due on April 1. The filing, which applies to every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications, and certain other entities that provide interstate telecommunications for a fee, requires the reporting of revenue information from January 1 through December 31 of the prior year, along with certain other information.

Also due April 1 is the Annual Access to Advanced Services Certification. This filing, which applies to all providers of telecommunications services and telecommunications carriers subject to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, requires the filer to certify that it has procedures in place to meet the relevant record-keeping requirements and actually keeps the required records.

BloostonLaw has an extensive experience with both filings and has a compliance manual available for the Accessibility filing.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

Headlines

FCC Authorizes Support for First Wave of Connect America Phase II Auction Winners

On February 27, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that it is ready to authorize Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) support for 962 winning bids. Authorized bidders must submit acceptable irrevocable stand-by letter(s) of credit and Bankruptcy Code opinion letter(s) from their legal counsel for each state where they have winning bids that are ready to be authorized prior to 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 13.

A list of the authorized bidders and their authorized bids can be found here. Commission staff is reviewing information that is submitted with long-form applications on a rolling basis. Accordingly, a long-form applicant that was not included in this Public Notice but that has submitted all of the required information will be included in a future Public Notice once Commission staff finalizes its review of the long-form application.

Any long-form applicant that fails to file the required documents for any of the winning bids by the deadline will be in default on such bid(s) and subject to forfeiture.

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

FCC Releases Clock Phase Bidding System Guide for Auction 102

On February 27, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the availability of the user guide and data file format specifications, along with sample data files, for the clock phase bidding system for the Auction of 24 GHz Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service licenses (Auction 102). The user guide is available in electronic form in the Education section of the Auction 102 website at www.fcc.gov/auction/102 and will remain available and accessible on the Auction 102 website for reference.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Sal Taillefer.

Comment on Broadcast Ownership Rules Due April 29

On February 28, the FCC published in the Federal Register its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiating the 2018 quadrennial review of its media ownership rules. Comments are due April 29, and reply comments are due May 29.

Specifically, the three rules currently subject to review are the Local Radio Ownership Rule, the Local Television Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network Rule. The NPRM seeks comment on whether, given the current state of the media marketplace, the Commission should retain, modify, or eliminate any of these rules. The Local Radio Ownership Rule limits the total number of radio stations an entity may own within a local market and the number of radio stations an entity may own in that market within the same service (i.e., AM or FM). The Local Television Ownership Rule limits the number of full-power television stations an entity may own within the same local market. The Dual Network Rule prohibits ownership of multiple television stations affiliated with two or more of the major broadcast networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

The NPRM also seeks comment on several proposals offered as potential pro-diversity initiatives.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Richard Rubino and John Prendergast.

Comment on Truth in Caller ID Rules Due April 3

On March 4, the FCC published in the Federal Register its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on revisions to implement recent statutory amendments designed to expand and clarify the existing prohibition on the use of misleading and inaccurate caller ID information. Comments are due April 3 and reply comments are due May 3.

Specifically, the FCC proposes to implement the anti-spoofing provisions of RAY BAUM'S Act by extending the rules adopted to implement the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 to cover short message service (SMS) and multimedia message service (MMS) text messages, calls originating from outside the United States to recipients within the United States, and additional types of voice calls, such as one-way interconnected VoIP calls.

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

Law & Regulation

Democrats Reveal New Net Neutrality Bill

On March 6, a group of senators and representatives, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announced the Save the Internet Act, a new, reportedly bi-partisan piece of legislation aimed at codifying the previous protections eliminated by Ajit Pai’s FCC last year.

Interestingly, the bill does not provide for specific rules; rather, it simply repeals the FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order of December 2017 Order, and reinstates the 2015 Open Internet Order. Among other things, the Open Internet Order provided for:

• Bright Line Rules: no blocking, no throttling, no paid prioritization.
• A Standard for Future Conduct: ISPs cannot “unreasonably interfere with or unreasonably disadvantage” the ability of consumers to select, access, and use the lawful content, applications, services, or devices of their choosing; or of edge providers to make lawful content, applications, services, or devices available to consumers.
• Interconnection: the Commission can hear complaints and take appropriate enforcement action if it determines the interconnection activities of ISPs are not just and reasonable.
• Title II Regulation: Prohibition of “unjust and unreasonable practices” (Sections 201 and 202); Investigation of consumer complaints under section 208 and related enforcement provisions (Sections 206, 207, 209, 216 and 217); Protection for consumer privacy (Section 222); Fair access to poles and conduits (Section 224); Protection for people with disabilities (Sections 225 and 255); and Universal service fund support for broadband service in the future (partial application of Section 254).

The fact that the bill was described as bi-partisan suggested that it would not include limitations on paid prioritization, which has been a sticking point for Republican lawmakers, who view it as unnecessarily inhibiting market forces. It is also a bit of a surprise that the bill merely [portion missing here].

Tina Pelkey, spokeswoman for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, issued the following statement:

“The FCC’s return in 2017 to the bipartisan, light-touch approach to Internet regulation has been a success. This time-tested framework has preserved the free and open Internet. It has promoted transparency in order to better inform consumer choice. It has unleashed private investment, resulting in more fiber being deployed in 2018 than any year before and download speeds increasing by an astounding 36%. And it has proven wrong the many hysterical predictions of doom from 2017, most notably the fantasy that market-based regulation would bring about ‘the end of the Internet as we know it.’ The Internet in America today is free and vibrant, and the main thing it needs to be saved from is heavy-handed regulation from the 1930s.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said: “The FCC was on the wrong side of the law, the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the American public when it rolled back net neutrality. The FCC’s deeply unpopular decision is being challenged in the courts, in statehouses, and in Congress. I applaud the effort announced today to reinstate open Internet rules at the FCC. I’ll keep raising a ruckus to support net neutrality and I’m glad so many others are too.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

600 MHz Band Licensee Filing Obligations in Connection with TV Band White Space Administration

As a reminder for 600 MHz licensees and operators, Section 27.1320 of the Commission’s Rules requires that they notify one of the white space database administrators of the areas where they have commenced operation in order to receive interference protection from white space operators. Pursuant to Section 15.713(j)(10) of the Commission’s rules, the electronic registration must include the following eight (8) information items:

1. Name of 600 MHz band licensee;
2. Name and address of the contact person;
3. An email address for the contact person (optional);
4. A phone number for the contact person;
5. Area within a part 27 600 MHz band licensee's Partial Economic Areas (PEA), as defined in § 27.6 of this chapter, where it has commenced operation. This area must be delineated by a minimum of eight and a maximum of 120 geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude in NAD 83, accurate to ±50 m);
6. Date of commencement of operations;
7. Identification of the frequencies on which the part 27 600 MHz band licensee has commenced operations;
8. Call sign.

Carriers with questions about this 600 MHz operating requirement or interest in assistance in preparing an appropriate notification to the white space database administrator should contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

Industry

Trump Reelection Team Reportedly Backs Government Managed Wholesale of 5G Spectrum

According to a recent article in Politico, President Donald Trump's reelection team is backing a plan — which has been “embraced” by Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale and adviser Newt Gingrich — that would essentially involve the government taking 5G spectrum and making it available to companies on a wholesale basis. The idea is that no company could use exclusive control over spectrum to block competition; carriers could buy capacity, but so could other companies.

“A 5G wholesale market would drive down costs and provide access to millions of Americans who are currently underserved,” Kayleigh McEnany, national press secretary for Trump’s 2020 campaign, told POLITICO. “This is in line with President Trump’s agenda to benefit all Americans, regardless of geography.”

According to an Axios article, the news sparked “widespread confusion” inside the Trump administration. “Lots of policy folks were caught off guard,” a senior Trump administration official told Axios. “And the industry thought it [the plan Parscale just endorsed] was dead.”

Deadlines

MARCH 8: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION & BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. This annual form is due March 1 and September 1 annually, but the deadline for March this year was extended to March 8. 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 and Gerry Duffy.

APRIL 1: FCC FORM 499-A, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. This form must be filed by all contributors to the Universal Service Fund (USF) sup-port mechanisms, the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the cost recovery mechanism for the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP). Contributors include every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications, and certain other entities that provide interstate telecommunications for a fee. Even common carriers that qualify for the de minimis exemption must file Form 499-A. Entities whose universal service contributions will be less than $10,000 qualify for the de minimis exemption. De minimis entities do not have to file the quarterly report (FCC Form 499-Q), which was due February 1, and will again be due May 1. Form 499-Q relates to universal and LNP mechanisms. Form 499-A relates to all of these mechanisms and, hence, applies to all providers of interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications services. Form 499-A contains revenue information for January 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year. And Form 499-Q contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. (Note: the revised 499-A and 499-Q forms are now available.) Block 2-B of the Form 499-A requires each carrier to designate an agent in the District of Columbia upon whom all notices, process, orders, and decisions by the FCC may be served on behalf of that carrier in proceedings before the Commission. Carriers receiving this newsletter may specify our law firm as their D.C. agent for service of process using the information in our masthead. There is no charge for this service.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Ben Dickens, and Gerry Duffy.

APRIL 1: ANNUAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED SERVICES CERTIFICATION. All providers of telecommunications services and telecommunications carriers subject to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act are required to file with the FCC an annual certification that:

1. states the company has procedures in place to meet the record-keeping requirements of Part 14 of the Rules;
2. states that the company has in fact kept records for the previous calendar year;
3. contains contact information for the individual or individuals handling customer complaints under Part 14;
4. contains contact information for the company’s designated agent; and
5. is supported by an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury signed by an officer of the company.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, Mary Sisak, Sal Taillefer.

MAY 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 recent 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 (Form 499-A) that was due April 1.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

MAY 31: FCC FORM 395, EMPLOYMENT REPORT. Common carriers, including wireless carriers, with 16 or more full-time employees must file their annual Common Carrier Employment Reports (FCC Form 395) by May 31. This report tracks carrier compliance with rules requiring recruitment of minority employees. Further, the FCC requires all common carriers to report any employment discrimination complaints they received during the past year. That information is also due on May 31. The FCC encourages carriers to complete the discrimination report requirement by filling out Section V of Form 395, rather than submitting a separate report.

BloostonLaw Contact: Richard Rubino.

Calendar At-a-Glance

March
Mar. 8 – Comments are due on USF Overlap Auction NPRM.
Mar. 8 – FCC Form 477 (Local Competition & Broadband Reporting) is due.
Mar. 11 – Reply comments are due on Cable Rate Regulation Revision FNPRM.
Mar. 13 – Deadline for CAF Phase II Winners to Submit Letter of Credit, Attorney Letter.
Mar. 18 – Comments are due on Satellite Services Rules NPRM.
Mar. 18 – Comments are due on elimination of E-Rate amortization requirement for category one.
Mar. 25 – Comments are due on DBS Satellite System Licensing NPRM.
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.

April
Apr. 1 – FCC Form 499-A (Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Apr. 1 – Annual Accessibility Certification is due.
Apr. 3 – Comments are due on Truth in Caller ID Rules.
Apr. 8 – Reply comments are due on USF Overlap Auction NPRM.
Apr. 16 – Reply comments are due on Satellite Services Rules NPRM.
Apr. 22 – Reply comments are due on DBS Satellite System Licensing NPRM.
Apr. 29 – Comments are due on Broadcast Ownership Rules.

May
May 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
May 3 – Reply comments on Truth in Caller ID Rules are due.
May 29 – Reply comments on Broadcast Ownership Rules are due.
May 31 – FCC Form 395 (Annual Employment Report) is due.

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“Restless Heart - Why Does It Have to Be (Wrong or Right) (Home Free Cover)”

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