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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.
| About Us |
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 Policy |
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
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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale
(Images are typical units, not actual photos of items offered for sale here.)
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Passive Audio Amps For Smart Phones
Buy An Amp todayThese are acoustic amplifiers for smartphones. They don't need electric power to operate and there are no moving parts. They work like a megaphone (speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, or loudhailer). Everyone that I have shown one to has said something like “Wow, I want one of those!” So I have built a few of them. Of course there are more “Hi-Fi” ways to listen to audio on your smartphone but who would want to plug an elegant smartphone into some cheap, plastic gadget? Or even use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which are a pain in the neck to set up, even on a smartphone. These have been made with hardwood bases and some of them are exotic hardwoods with interesting grain patterns. The horns are polished brass — made from mostly old horns that had rubber bulbs on the ends and were used in “times gone by” by taxis and even clowns in circuses. These horns have been re-purposed, reshaped, soldered, and polished. They horns are now on display and for sale at:
The two large horns — the trombone and the gramophone — are difficult to pack and ship to they are for local pickup only. The remainder can be sent to you. I have the cowboy horn and the rest are in stock at the Colorado coffee shop. Please call for pricing and availability or stop in for a demo and a great cup of espresso. P.S. Allan, Virginia and I worked together at WebLink Wireless in Dallas. |
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BLEEPING HELL Social distancing beeper will BLEEP if you’re closer than two metres to someone else Charlotte Edwards, Digital Technology and Science Reporter A SOCIAL distancing gadget that beeps whenever you're not keeping two metres from someone could help people return to work.The beeper has been invented by Pathfindr and aims to helps companies keep their workers safe
In the UK and the US, two metres apart is the recommended distance to stand in order to try and not spread Covid-19. Pathfindr, based in Norfolk in the UK, usually provides Internet-based technical solutions for companies. However, since the coronavirus pandemic broke out the company has received thousands of concerns about keeping workers safe in the office. This is why Pathfindr has now entirely switched its production to focus on beepers.
The company's chief technical officer, Ben Sturgess, told Sky News: "It's very simple to use. You wear it round your neck, on a belt or in your pocket, and it pings out a signal constantly at a rate of about two per second. "If there are any other devices nearby, it sends the message back, calculating how far that other person is away, and if you're within two metres it emits an audible beep." The company tried to harness Bluetooth technology at first but realised this was bouncing off objects and being blocked by people's bodies.
Sturgess added: "We are using technology called ultra wideband which is a much higher frequency. "The device measures how long a radio wave takes to travel at the speed of light from one device to another and back again."
Pathfindr managed to create a useable device in less than four weeks. Hundreds of units per week are already being sold but international demand is surging. The company is expecting many thousands of orders per week by next month. Companies enquiring about the device are said to include pharmaceutical companies in Europe and a martial arts clubs in New York. Pathfindr managing director, Matt Isherwood, told Sky News that the beepers could be useful for the hospitality industry.
He said: "Any customers would wear them whilst in the building to keep socially distant from other customers and staff, and then hand them back at the end of their visit to be sterilised and used again." Saxon Air, a British-based private charter airline company, is currently using the beepers.
Luke Frost, Saxon's safety manager, told Sky News: "Social distancing is so abnormal for all of us, and yet overnight there's an expectation we maintain that distance. "So we've been using the device to help remind everyone in our workspace to keep that two metre distance."
Construction workers are already being issued with similar wristband technology. The bands buzz when they get within two metres of a colleague, as bosses try to enforce social distancing on building sites. Civil engineering firm Keltbray is one of the first to trial the new system. In other news, the BBC is launching a new experimental tool that lets you watch TV with loved ones that aren't in your household. Google’s free Zoom rival lets you call 100 people with no time limit. And, coronavirus could soon be detected ‘within a minute’ by coughing onto your smartphone. |
| Source: | The Sun (UK) |
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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.
Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
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The Wireless Messaging News
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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| SALCOM |
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| PRISM IPX Systems |
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| Easy Solutions |
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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.
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
Easy Solutions |
GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTUREI 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.
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
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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EWA Elects New Board Members For Immediate Release Contact: Andrea Cumpston, Communications Director May 19, 2020 (Herndon, VA) – The Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) is pleased to announce the election of new members to its Board of Directors, which occurred during the first day of its Spring meeting on May 19. Newly elected EWA Directors are:
On the election, EWA President Mark Crosby made the following statement:
About the Enterprise Wireless Alliance The Enterprise Wireless Alliance is an FCC-certified frequency advisory committee and leading advocate for business enterprises that rely on wireless communications systems. EWA has 65 years of experience in meeting the needs of business enterprises that rely on wireless communications systems. EWA provides its members and clients with consulting services, frequency coordination, license preparation, spectrum management and associated services. Membership in EWA is open to users of wireless communications systems, vendors, system operators and service organizations. EWA is the developer of Cevo®, a powerful online frequency coordination solution, which simplifies the FCC license application process and allows users to select their own frequencies and is the creator of Cevo Go™ a mobile app that delivers certified frequencies in hours, not days. More information about membership and services is available at www.enterprisewireless.org. |
| Source: | The Enterprise Wireless Alliance |
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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.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Wireless Network Planners
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Everything You Need to Know About Slow Internet SpeedsOur crummy connections are the biggest tech headache in the pandemic. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what to do about them.
By Brian X. Chen Restricted to our homes for months now, many of us have been putting up with a persistent annoyance: a lousy Internet connection. When we are working, a video call with colleagues becomes pixelated, with delayed audio. When we are relaxing, movies and video games take ages to download. In the worst cases, the connection drops altogether. As people have hunkered down to contain the spread of the coronavirus, average Internet speeds all over the world have slowed. Some broadband providers are feeling crushed by the heavy traffic. And dated Internet equipment can create a bottleneck for our speeds. Even the most tech savvy are affected. Keerti Melkote, the founder of Aruba Networks, a division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise that offers Wi-Fi products for businesses, said that in recent weeks, his DSL service from AT&T had dropped periodically. He waited several days for a technician to arrive and is now contemplating subscribing to Comcast for a second Internet connection. “I had three or four days of calls, and I had to go find a particular spot in my house where I had better coverage,” Mr. Melkote said. At the beginning of the pandemic, my Internet also became unbearably slow and suffered several outages. So I asked experts to explain what’s causing our Internet problems — and the different remedies. First, diagnose the problem.What’s causing your slow speeds — your Internet provider or your equipment at home? Here’s a method to figuring that out.
Less than 15 megabits a second is pretty slow. Speeds of about 25 megabits a second are sufficient for streaming high-definition video; more than 40 megabits a second is ideal for streaming lots of video and playing video games. If it’s your router, here’s what to do.If you have pinpointed that the problem is your router, the bad news is that you may have to buy new equipment. The good news is that there are many approaches to improving your Wi-Fi connection. Start by asking yourself these questions:
If it’s your service provider, there’s not much to do.If you have determined that your Internet provider’s service is the root of the issue, your only option is to call your Internet service provider and ask for help. When you call, ask a support agent these questions:
As a last resort, you can turn to backups. Many modern phones come with a hot spot feature, which turns the device’s cellular connection into a miniature Wi-Fi network. (Apple and Google list steps on their websites on how to use the hot spot feature on iPhones and Androids.) Whatever you do, be patient. In these trying times, everything takes longer. As for me, I confirmed my slow speeds were related to my Internet provider, Monkeybrains. I called to report the issue, and after more than a month, a technician replaced the antenna on our roof. Now my speeds are even faster than before the pandemic, so it was well worth the wait. |
| Source: | The New York Times |
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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:
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
| Leavitt Communications |
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| Inside Towers Newsletter |
Adapting Mobile Devices to Private LTE/CBRS NetworksThe potential for many new dedicated secure and private LTE/CBRS networks is on the rise. An important question is: how will commercially available mobile devices connect on these networks?
Three elements are needed for a private LTE network:
The global inventory of LTE spectrum is becoming more and more accessible. Not too long ago, there were about 30 LTE bands; today, there are over 70 bands. In the U.S., the newly created Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the 3.5 GHz range delivers outstanding possibilities, value, and ecosystem (see Strategies for Securing CBRS 3.5 GHz Spectrum). At the same time, many Enterprise and industrial organizations already own LTE spectrum, or they can arrange to subordinate (lease) spectrum that is not in use from public wireless service providers. RAN equipment (radios, antennas, cables, power) is available from many large and small radio manufacturers alike. A fit-for-purpose dedicated EPC is critical for an LTE network to be Private. Per the 3GPP standard, the EPC is the intelligence of the LTE network, managing connections, services, QoS, and all the network traffic routing. Keep in mind that most private LTE networks will be supporting hundreds to tens of thousands of devices versus the millions of subscribers on a public cellular network. Hence, a private LTE EPC does not need to be as broad and complex. Consequently, private LTE network RAN and EPC can be scaled down from an expensive, extensive multi-rack configuration designed for large public networks, like those supplied by multinational carrier equipment vendors. “The comprehensive end-to-end industrial-grade private LTE RAN, SIM Profile, EPC and even private push-to-talk application needed for a private network, can be affordable secure, dedicated, and hosted on a single small server, or even on a private or public cloud service,” said Louis Lambert, Redline Communications’ SVP Marketing & Business Development at a recent Entelec Conference. The larger question relates to what fixed and mobile devices can be used on a private LTE/CBRS network. Many of the newer smartphones, tablets, and sensors used on public cellular communications are already capable of connecting to a private, dedicated CBRS LTE network. Device support in the CBRS band comes with programming the SIM card incorporated into every cellular phone. The SIM stores the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number for each public cellular carrier and its corresponding authentication code. These data allows users to connect to the public cellular network to which they subscribe but does not allow unauthorized user access. In earlier cell phone versions, the SIM card, which is smaller than a postage stamp, would be programmed by the cellular carrier for use on its network then inserted into a slot on the side of the phone. Once programmed, the same SIM technically could be swapped between more than one phone to work in the same network. Single SIM cell phones can be set for use in a private LTE/CBRS network, but the programming is hosted by the public carrier. As a result, users may incur roaming charges when they move off the public network and into the specified private network coverage area. Today’s newer devices not only support the CBRS band on the radio side but most of the new user equipment (UE) also offers two SIM cards. The SIM cards can be either embedded SIM (eSIM) integrated into the phone as well as a removable SIM. This dual SIM arrangement allows a mobile device to be recognized and operated both in a private LTE/CBRS network as well as on a public cellular carrier when the user moves outside the private LTE/CBRS network coverage area. This way, the private/public network identification, and authentication codes are kept separate with no roaming requirements. Enterprise or Industrial users can now build a Private LTE/CBRS network established in one or more sites with the same network ID. Dual-SIM operation allows users to move seamlessly between public and private networks just as we do today when we step in and out of WiFi hotspots. In the U.S., there are already over three dozen makes and models of dual SIM smartphones, mobile routers, fixed remotes, and sensors that are CBRS-ready with two SIM cards. By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor Reader Interactions |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter |
Courtesy of the editor of
Inside Towers
Jim Fryer.
Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
FCC Corrects Population Count for Certain Auction 105 LicensesOn May 18, the FCC issued a Public Notice correcting “anomalies” in the population figures for certain license areas. Specifically, the population has been changed in the updated file for all 91 license areas in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as for three areas in Alaska and one area in Virginia. According to the Public Notice, in all but a few of those cases (where the change in population was relatively small), the bidding units, upfront payment amounts, and minimum opening bid amounts have changed accordingly. The revised numbers are higher for some areas and lower for others. The updated file is available on the Auction 105 website at www.fcc.gov/auction/105 at the “Updated (May 18, 2020)” link under the “Attachment A Files” heading. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer. HeadlinesFCC Announces Tentative Agenda for June Open MeetingOn May 19, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the June Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2020:
The links in each of the descriptions above lead to draft versions of the document to be considered and a one-page summary prepared by FCC staff. It is important to note that the final item actually considered at the Open Meeting may differ from the draft. The Open Meeting will be webcast live at https://www.fcc.gov/general/live. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast. FCC To Consider RDOF Procedures Order at June Open MeetingAt its June 9, 2020 Open Meeting, the FCC will be considering a Public Notice establishing procedures for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which will allocate up to $20.4 billion through a two-phase competitive auction. According to the draft Public Notice, the auction would commence on October 29, 2020; the short-form filing window would open on July 1, 2020, and the short-form application deadline would be July 15, 2020. The Public Notice also adopts census block groups as the minimum geographic area in which areas eligible for support can be grouped for bidding in the auction; pre-auction short-form application procedures; post-auction long-form application procedures; and a simplified multi-round, descending clock auction format where bidders will indicate in each round whether they will bid to provide service to an area at a given performance tier and latency. The auction will end after the aggregate support amount of all bids is less than or equal to the total budget and there is no longer competition for support in any area. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer. FCC Adopts 900 MHz Band Transition OrderOn May 13, the FCC adopted a Report and Order realigning the 900 MHz band to make available six of the band’s ten megahertz for the deployment of broadband services and technologies on a county-by-county basis. To accomplish this transition, the FCC has chosen to primarily rely on a negotiation-based mechanism that uses private agreements between interested parties with knowledge of the existing spectral and operational environment. The Report and Order creates a regulatory framework for 900 MHz broadband licensing by establishing procedures for obtaining a broadband license and by adopting operational and technical rules to minimize harmful interference to narrowband operations. To further facilitate 900 MHz broadband opportunities while maintaining narrowband operations, the FCC also issued an Order of Proposed Modification regarding the 900 MHz nationwide ribbon license held by the Association of American Railroads. Finally, the FCC announced that it is partially lifting of the 900 MHz application freeze to allow applications for relocation under certain conditions. The 900 MHz band is currently designated for narrowband land mobile radio communications and primarily used by land transportation, utility, manufacturing, and petrochemical companies. BloostonLaw Contacts: Richard Rubino and John Prendergast. Chairman Pai Circulates T-Band Auction NPRM; Reiterates Call for Repeal of Auction MandateOn May 15, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai reiterated his call for Congressional repeal of the T-band auction mandate, a requirement of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the Spectrum Act), while simultaneously announcing he has circulated to his fellow Commissioners a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which would take the next statutorily required step to implement this mandate. The Chairman issued the following statement:
By way of background, Congress passed the Spectrum Act requiring the FCC to reallocate T-band spectrum used by public safety licensees and “begin a system of competitive bidding” for reallocated spectrum by 2021 (the T-band mandate). The FCC reported to Congress that, based on its record on the T-band, an auction is unlikely to yield sufficient revenue to cover the costs to move public safety users out of the band. Because the auction is mandated by law, the FCC has nevertheless circulated an NPRM that would, if adopted, take the next steps to begin a system of competitive bidding for the T-band if Congress fails to repeal the T-band mandate. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer. FCC Seeks Comment on Executive Branch Review ProcessOn May 19, the FCC published in the Federal Register a Request for Comments seeking to refresh the record in its proceeding to improve the timeliness and transparency of the process involving referral of certain applications with reportable foreign ownership to Executive Branch agencies. Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on the effect of the Executive Order 13913 on the Commission’s proposed rules and procedures in the existing proceeding. Comments are due June 18, 2020, and reply comments are due July 2, 2020. The Executive Order establishes the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector, and sets out procedures and time-frames for the Committee’s review of applications referred by the Commission. It sets out the following time frames for the Committee’s review of an application for a ‘‘license’’ or transfer of a license referred by the Commission: 120 days for an initial review and a 90-day secondary assessment of an application if the Committee determines that the risk to national security or law enforcement interests cannot be mitigated by standard mitigation measures. In the FCC’s original NPRM of 2016, the FCC sought comment on: (1) The types of applications to be referred to the Executive Branch; (2) the information that should be provided by an applicant with reportable foreign ownership in order to facilitate Executive Branch review; (3) certifications to be made by an applicant that it will comply with several mitigation measures; and (4) time frames for Executive Branch review of the applications. The Commission proposed a 90-day review period for applications referred to the Executive Branch, with a one-time additional 90- day extension for circumstances where the Executive Branch required additional review time beyond the initial period. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast. Law and RegulationPublic Disclosures Regarding Satellite Relocation Could Make C-band Auction More ComplexIn the recent 3.7 GHz Report and Order, the FCC reformed use of the satellite C-band (3.7-4.2 GHz) to clear the way for an auction of flexible use overlay licenses scheduled for this December. The Order relocates existing Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) operations to the upper 200 megahertz of the band (4.0-4.2 GHz), creates a 20-megahertz guard band (3.98-4.0 GHz) and makes 280 megahertz (3.7-3.98 GHz) available for licensing as 20 megahertz Partial Economic Area (PEA) blocks. These 280 megahertz of spectrum will be transitioned to flexible use no later than December 5, 2025. Under the Report and Order, eligible space station operators will be able to receive accelerated relocation payments totaling $9.7 billion if they commit to, and succeed in, clearing the spectrum early. To be eligible for Phase I payments, operators must clear 120 megahertz of spectrum (3.7-3.82 GHz) in 46 Partial Economic Areas by December 5, 2021. To be eligible for Phase II payments, they must clear the remaining 180 megahertz of spectrum (3.82-4.0 GHz) by December 5, 2023. New flexible-use licensees will be responsible for these accelerated relocation payments as well as for reasonable relocation costs (which are estimated at $3 billion to $5 billion). The FCC is creating a Relocation Payment Clearinghouse (RPC) to manage this process as well as oversee relocation funds available to incumbents. The FCC is also creating a Relocation Coordinator (RC) to ensure that all incumbent space station operators are relocating in a timely manner, and to be responsible for receiving notice from earth station operators or other satellite customers of any disputes related to comparability of facilities, workmanship, or preservation of service during the transition and notify the Commission of disputes and recommendations for resolution. Because information received by the RPC and RC during the 3.7 GHz Band Auction could have significant impact on bidding, the FCC will require the Relocation Coordinator to make real-time public disclosures of the content and timing of, and the parties to, communications, if any, from or to applicants in the auction. BloostonLaw Contact: John Prendergast. FCC Extends Relay Services WaiverOn May 14, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing that it has extended temporary waivers through June 30, 2020 for Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) providers to ensure relay services remain available during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have a speech disability. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, these waivers extend actions previously taken to grant TRS providers flexibility to deal with reduced staffing and increased call volumes, to enable more of their employees to provide services from their homes, and to expand the pool of contractors qualified to provide American Sign Language interpretation services for Video Relay Service. The Bureau today also temporarily waived two additional TRS rules to enable Internet Protocol Relay Service communications assistants to provide service from home workstations and to allow registered VRS users to make calls to the U.S. from abroad during the national emergency. “As the national emergency continues, with uncertainty about how long stay-at-home and social distancing restrictions will remain in effect in many jurisdictions, we feel it is vitally important that we take action to ensure robust, reliable TRS is available for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have speech disabilities,” said Patrick Webre, Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. “The waivers have been essential to ensuring uninterrupted service for hundreds of thousands of Americans during the current COVID-19 crisis.” BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer. FCC Extends Comment Deadline for Human RF Exposure ProceedingOn May 15, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that it has extended the comment and reply comment deadlines on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in its proceeding on human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (ET Docket No. 19-266), released on December 4, 2019 (NPRM). Comments are now due on June 17, 2020, and reply comments are now due July 20, 2020. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC sought comment on establishing rules formalizing its existing methods of determining compliance with the RF exposure standard for high-frequency devices. Specifically, the FCC proposed to formalize an additional limit for localized RF exposure and the associated methodology for compliance for portable devices operating at high frequencies (gigahertz (GHz) frequencies) on top of its already-existing limits that apply at these frequencies, and proposed to extend this to terahertz (THz) frequencies as well. The FCC also proposed to allow wireless power transfer (WPT) equipment under Part 15 and 18 of the Commission's rules and propose specific exposure limits for such operations. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell. Industry774 Providers Extend Keep Americans Connected PledgeOn May 14, the FCC announced that 774 broadband and telephone providers have taken the Keep Americans Connected Pledge and extended that commitment through June 30. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom update, Chairman Pai announced last month he was extending the Pledge, originally set to expire on May 12, to June 30. And since that announcement, the number of companies covered by the Pledge has reportedly increased rather than decreased, as more companies have signed onto the Pledge for the first time than declined to extend it. By taking the Pledge, each of these companies has committed through June 30 to (1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; (2) waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and (3) open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them. “I’m pleased that the overwhelming majority of companies taking the Pledge has agreed to extend that commitment through the end of June and that new companies have joined this effort,” said Chairman Pai. “This will help ensure that Americans can continue to communicate with loved ones, access education, and get healthcare remotely as they practice social distancing. I am grateful to all who are working to keep Americans connected and those who continue to go above and beyond to help consumers during this pandemic.” FCC Releases Mobility Fund Phase II 4G LTE Coverage MapsOn May 18, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the release of carrier-specific 4G LTE coverage maps derived from coverage data submitted pursuant to the Mobility Fund Phase II Challenge Process Order. Because AT&T objected to the release of its coverage maps, the FCC did not release AT&T’s maps at this time. The FCC also released a version of the Mobility Fund Phase II Investigation Staff Report with unredacted maps. The coverage maps and the report with unredacted maps are now publicly available on the Commission’s website. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC released a public notice proposing to release maps based upon these data and providing filers with an opportunity to object to the release of their data. As indicated in the public notice, the maps to be released show coverage aggregated across spectrum bands and show only 4G LTE coverage as reported for the Mobility Fund Phase II collection. The coverage maps neither show a carrier’s complete and current mobile broadband coverage nor do they reveal information about the spectrum bands over which a carrier reports to have deployed service meeting the Mobility Fund Phase II specifications. The data also do not include link budget or clutter information. According to the Public Notice, only one carrier, AT&T, objects to public release of its data. AT&T argues that releasing its Mobility Fund Phase II maps would be competitively harmful both due to the granularity of its data and because, according to AT&T, the maps it submitted comply with the Mobility Fund Phase II specification for 4G LTE coverage and thus show less coverage than its public-facing maps which reflect other areas where 4G LTE service is provided. As the only carrier objecting to release of its maps, the FCC found that AT&T’s objection is best addressed separately. The FCC was careful to note, however that it has made no determination that the data were confidential. Although Commission staff set up a process by which challengers could access Mobility Fund Phase II coverage data only after agreeing to keep such data confidential during the challenge process, the FCC itself never made any findings regarding the confidentiality or competitive sensitivity of the data. DeadlinesJUNE 1: 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. However, because the 31st is a Sunday this year, the filing will be due on June 1. 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 June 1. 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. JULY 1: FCC FORM 481 (CARRIER ANNUAL REPORTING DATA COLLECTION FORM). All eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) must report the information required by Section 54.313, which includes information on the ETC’s holding company, operating companies, ETC affiliates and any branding in response to section 54.313(a)(8); its CAF-ICC certification, if applicable; its financial information, if a privately held rate-of-return carrier; and its satellite backhaul certification, if applicable. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer. JULY 1: MOBILITY FUND PHASE I ANNUAL REPORT. Winning bidders in Auction 901 that are authorized to receive Mobility Fund Phase I support are required to submit to the FCC an annual report each year on July 1 for the five years following authorization. Each annual report must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, clearly referencing WT Docket No. 10-208; the Universal Service Administrator; and the relevant state commissions, relevant authority in a U.S. Territory, or Tribal governments, as appropriate. The information and certifications required to be included in the annual report are described in Section 54.1009 of the FCC’s rules. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer. JULY 31: CARRIER IDENTIFICATION CODE (CIC) REPORTS. Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Reports must be filed by the last business day of July (this year, July 31). These reports are required of all carriers who have been assigned a CIC code by NANPA. Failure to file could result in an effort by NANPA to reclaim it, although according to the Guidelines this process is initiated with a letter from NANPA regarding the apparent non-use of the CIC code. The assignee can then respond with an explanation. (Guidelines Section 6.2). The CIC Reporting Requirement is included in the CIC Assignment Guidelines, produced by ATIS. According to section 1.4 of that document: At the direction of the NANPA, the access providers and the entities who are assigned CICs will be requested to provide access and usage information to the NANPA, on a semi-annual basis to ensure effective management of the CIC resource. (Holders of codes may respond to the request at their own election). Access provider and entity reports shall be submitted to NANPA no later than January 31 for the period ending December 31, and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. It is also referenced in the NANPA Technical Requirements Document, which states at 7.18.6. CIC holders shall provide a usage report to the NANPA per the industry CIC guidelines … The NAS shall be capable of accepting CIC usage reports per guideline requirements on January 31 for the period ending December 31 and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. These reports may also be mailed and accepted by the NANPA in paper form. Finally, according to the NANPA website, if no local exchange carrier reports access or usage for a given CIC, NANPA is obliged to reclaim it. The semi-annual utilization and access reporting mechanism is described at length in the guidelines. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy. Calendar At-a-Glance
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