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Wireless News Aggregation

Friday — November 13, 2020 — Issue No. 934

Welcome Back To

The Wireless
Messaging News


This Week's Wireless News Headlines:

  • Archives When the pager made it possible to work from home
  • Apple makes bold claims about its M1 chip for Macs
  • Video: COVID Beeper
  • InsideTowers
    • Modulation and Propagation Webinar From Rohde & Schwarz on November 18
  • BloostonLaw Telecom Update
    • FCC Grants Transfer of Control of ITS Telecommunications, ITS Fiber to Blue Stream
    • ACAM Broadband Coalition Seeks Rulemaking to Expand ACAM
    • Connected Care Pilot Program Applications Accepted Thru Dec. 7
    • FCC Issues Guidance on Caller ID Authentication Exemption Certifications
    • FCC Preempts City Regulations on Rights-of-Way Fees
    • Cable Operator Notice Requirement Revisions Effective November 12
    • Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Simington Nomination
    • Comments on Proposed Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications Due November 20
    • $3000 Fine Proposed for Failure to Renew License
    • Former Chairman Tom Wheeler Sees Net Neutrality as “High Priority” in Biden Administration
    • Deadlines
    • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • This Week's Technical Video
    • Ham Basics: Sending Morse Code

Fable: The Back-Packer

A Canadian who worked in hotel management decided to go back-packing around the world.

With $15,000 in savings he set off and, after six months, found himself in Hong Kong.

There he was offered a job with a local paging company.

A week before he was due to leave Hong Kong, another paging company offered him the job of running their cellular business.

This was a success and the company offered him the job of running its cellular operation in the UK.

When he got there he advised the company to close down its network and build a new one.

The company agreed and, eight years later, the company was sold for £30 billion.

Moral: Follow your star.

Source: ElectronicsWeekly.com


Wireless Messaging News

  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Two-way Radio
  • Technology
  • Telemetry
  • Science
  • Paging
  • Wi-Fi
Wireless
wireless logo medium
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.


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.


CAN YOU HELP?

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How would you like to help support The Wireless Messaging News? Your support is needed. New advertising and donations have fallen off considerably.
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Advertiser Index

Easy Solutions  (Vaughan Bowden)
IWA Technical Services, Inc.  (Ira Wiesenfeld)
Leavitt Communications  (Phil Leavitt)
Media 1
Prism-IPX Systems  (Jim Nelson & John Bishop)
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC  (Ron Mercer)
SALCOM
Wex International Limited

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.)

Qty Item Notes
2 Late IFR 500As with new batteries
1 Motorola R 2001D  
4 Motorola R 2400 and 2410A  
5 Motorola R 2600 and R 2660 late S/Ns  
4 Motorola R 1200  
2 Motorola R 2200  
2 Stand-alone Efratom Rubidium Frequency Standards 10 MHz output
1 Telawave model 44 wattmeter Recently calibrated
1 IFR 1000S  
All sold with 7 day ROR (Right of Refusal), recent calibration, operation manual and accessories  
Factory carrying cases for each with calibration certificate  
Many parts and accessories  

Frank Moorman

fircls54@aol.com animated left arrow

(254) 596-1124


Passive Audio Amps For Smart Phones

Buy An Amp today

Oh come on they are cool.

These 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:

Owl’s Nest
2006 Kelty Road
Franktown, Colorado 80116

Tel: 303-954-8229
Location: Map
Social Media: Facebook
Twitter: @owlsnestfranktown
E-mail: Virginia Angus
Allan Angus

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.



Leavitt Communications

leavitt

50 years experience providing and supporting radio and paging customers worldwide. Call us anytime we can be useful!

 

COM

 

UNICATION

 


Minitor VI

Leavitt sells and supports most pager brands. We stock Unication G1, G5, Secure and some Elegant pagers. Call or e-mail for price and availability.

Philip C. Leavitt, V.P.
Leavitt Communications
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
Web Site: www.leavittcom.com
Mobile phone: 847-494-0000
Telephone: 847-955-0511
Fax: 270-447-1909
Skype ID: pcleavitt

Archives When the pager made it possible to work from home

In 1991 the 'floating office' was becoming more feasible

CBC Archives · Posted: Nov 10, 2020 8:30 AM ET | Last Updated: November 10


In 1991, some workers are finding it easier to avoid the commute and do their jobs at home with a pager.

Work life was changing for some Canadians in 1991 to look a lot more like home life.

As the CBC's Jeffrey Kofman reported, working at home meant Bank of Montreal employee Alexandra Bell-Abrook had to make her own coffee at home instead of pouring it from a shared office pot.

But the trade-off was worth it, given that she spared herself an hour-long commute from Oakville, Ont., to downtown Toronto.

"I commute from my kitchen to my office," said Bell-Abrook. She was, Kofman said, a "tele-commuter."

The 'electronic cottage'


An ironclad rule for Bank of Montreal employees working outside the office was that they be available by pager from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CBC at Six/CBC Archives)

Kofman said that type of working life had been "prophesied" by "the gurus of future shock" a decade earlier.

"They called it the electronic cottage," he said.

A piercing beep sounded from a device in Bell-Abrook's hand as she sat in her office at home.

"With her pager at her side and her laptop computer wired into head office, Bell-Abrook is free to work wherever she wants to," said Kofman.

Bell-Abrook was one of "two dozen" managers at the Bank of Montreal who had "jumped" at the chance to work from home.

"I can structure my time myself, and I enjoy that flexibility," she said, noting she still had to report to her manager.

Rush hour no more


Wayne Blanchard, who traveled from his Oshawa home to work in bank offices around the city, checks his pager. (CBC at Six/CBC Archives)

Wayne Blanchard, too, worked from his home outside Toronto. He still had to come into Toronto for meetings at offices around town, but he could schedule them so that he avoided driving at rush hour.

He said the company's demonstration of "faith" that he could accomplish his work outside the limitations of office hours was good for morale.

"There's only so many pay increases you can get to satisfy an individual," he said.

The "floating office," as the Bank of Montreal called it, was wherever the employee happened to be — as long as he or she could be reached on a pager during office hours.

Bell-Abrook and her colleagues still had an office to go to, but without individual desks.

"Now there's just a communal area where they can drop in to meet with colleagues or pick up mail," said Kofman.

He said there was a plus for the bank, too.

"Shrinking the midtown office will save the bank $120,000 in office rent this year."

Source: CBC.ca  

WEX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Hong Kong
ONE SOURCE FOR ALL YOUR REQUIREMENTS OF PAGERS
FOR IN-HOUSE AND WIDE AREA NETWORK PAGING

POCSAG ALPHANUMERIC PAGERS TO SUIT EVERY REQUIREMENT

 

     

W8008 Thinnest IP67 Rated Alphanumeric Pager 4 Line/8 Line, OLED Display, Now with Magnetic Charger

W8001 (4 Line/8 Line IP67 Alphanumeric Pager)

W2028 (2 Line/4 Line Alphanumeric Pager)
  • Available in VHF, UHF & 900 MHz Full Range Frequency Bands
  • We are OEM for Major Brand names in USA and Europe
  • We also Design and Manufacture POCSAG Decoder Boards
  • We can Design and Manufacture to customer specifications
  • Factory located in Shenzhen, China
  • Pagers have FCC, RoHs, C-Tick, CE-EMC, IC Approvals

Visit our websites for more details www.wex.com.hk

For ESPAÑOL, PORTUGUÊS AND DEUTSCH versions, please go to:
www.pagermaker.com

For Trade inquiries contact:
Eric Dilip Kumar
eric@wex.com.hk


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


IMPORTANT

“Is Paging Going Away?” by Jim Nelson

  • Click here for English.
  • Click here for German. (Berlin Revision: November 8, 2016)
  • Click here for French.

Here is an English PDF edit of this paper formatted with page breaks and suitable for printing.

Volunteers needed for translations into other languages.


Board of Advisors

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

Frank McNeill
Founder & CEO
Communications Specialists
Jim Nelson
President & CEO
Prism Systems International
Kevin D. McFarland, MSCIS
Sr. Application Systems Analyst
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center
Paul Lauttamus, President
Lauttamus Communications & Security
R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Wireless Consultant
Barry Kanne
Paging Industry Veteran
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Allan Angus
Consulting Engineer

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.


CAN YOU HELP?

Can You Help The Newsletter?

animated left arrow

You can help support The Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above. It is not necessary to be a member of PayPal to use this service.


Reader Support

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ $1.50 a copy and they hardly ever mention paging or wireless messaging, unless in a negative way. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially?

A donation of $50.00 would certainly help cover a one-year period. If you are wiling and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above.

 


  • LIVE response possible to any program with Media 1 Live app from Android or Apple stores, summed up immediately for producer on web site media1live.com
  • Propose LIVE broadcast on INTERNET with live response to reach youth with low cost quality education, seeking persons interested.
  • Contact: ewtexas@att.net

SALCOM

 

SEA AIR AND LAND COMMUNICATIONS LTD
10 Vanadium Place, Addington
Christchurch 8024, New Zealand
Ph: +64 (0)3 379 2298
Web Page: www.salcom.com
Free: 0508 Salcom (NZ Only)
E-mail: sales@salcom.com

 


PRISM IPX Systems


Easy Solutions

easy solutions

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.
  • We are not in the Technical Services business . . . We are in the Customer Satisfaction business.

Experts in Paging Infrastructure

  • Glenayre, Motorola, Unipage, etc.
  • Excellent Service Contracts
  • Full Service—Beyond Factory Support
  • Making systems More Reliable and MORE PROFITABLE for over 30 years.

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.

Easy Solutions
3220 San Simeon Way
Plano, Texas 75023

Vaughan Bowden
Telephone: 972-898-1119
Telephone: 214 785-8255
Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com
E-mail: vaughan@easysolutions4you.com


GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTURE

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.


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.

Input Protocols: Serial and IP
TAP TNPP SNPP
HTTP WCTP SMTP
POTS (DTMF) DID (DTMF)  
 
Output Protocols: Serial and IP
TAP TNPP SNPP
HTTP HTTPS SMPP
WCTP WCTPS SMTP
FLEX (optional PURC control)   POCSAG (optional PURC control)

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


NEWS

Apple makes bold claims about its M1 chip for Macs

Apple's first chip for the Mac is the M1, and Apple says it blows other laptop chips away.

By Jason Cross Staff Writer, Macworld | NOV 10, 2020 11:52 AM PST


The switch from Intel processors to Apple Silicon is now underway, and Apple on Tuesday during its “One more thing” event unveiled three Macs with Apple’s new M1 processors: A new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini.

Apple has unveiled its first Macs with Apple silicon, and they’re powered by an all new Mac-specific chip: the M1. It’s based on the same fundamental design of the A14 (found in the iPhone 12), but scaled up to laptop-grade performance levels with more cores, more memory, and higher thermal limits.

The result, Apple says, is a shocking increase in performance and power efficiency. Here’s what you need to know about the M1 system-on-chip.

Eight core CPU and GPU

Where the A14 has a six-core CPU—four high-efficiency cores and two high-performance cores—the M1 expands that by adding another pair of high-performance cores for a total of eight.

We’ve already seen how fast these cores are in A14 performance benchmarks, and with the higher thermal and power limits of a laptop, they should have even more room to breathe.


Apple doubled its high-performance CPU cores to four, and still has four high-efficiency cores, too.

Apple has also expanded the GPU from four cores in the A14 to eight in the M1. Apple says it’s the fastest integrated graphics in any laptop anywhere.

Apple isn’t big on benchmarks, but does make grand claims like “up to two times faster than the latest laptop chip.” Apple says the MacBook Air with the M1 chip is faster than 98 percent of all PC laptops. Not just “thin and light” laptops or “laptops in its class,” but all PC laptops.

A complete system-on-chip

Macs used to use several separate chips for CPU/GPU, I/O, RAM, and Thunderbolt control—this along with the T2 chip for security (and other functions). With the M1, all of those chips are combined into a single system-on-chip.


Some of the separate chips now combined into the M1 system-on-chip.

That’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you can say goodbye to expandable memory and most other upgrade options. Perhaps future Apple-designed Mac chips will allow for standard memory DIMMs, but the M1 features a single chunk of memory that can’t be expanded beyond either 8GB or 16GB.

On the other hand, fewer chips means that the system logic board gets a lot smaller, making it possible to produce smaller products, cram in more battery, and more efficiently cool the system.

You also get the Neural Engine, with 16 cores (just as in the A14). That’s 11 teraflops of machine learning acceleration in a thin and light laptop. This is a huge leap forward for developers that write ML apps.

Better performance

Apple doesn’t promote its products with industry standard benchmarks—we’ll have to wait for independent reviews for that.

But it claims the M1 delivers twice as much CPU performance as the “latest laptop chip” (which is not specifically identified) in the MacBook Air’s 10-watt power envelope. It also delivers double the graphics performance at that power, according to Apple.


The top-line specs for Apple’s GPU are quite impressive, for integrated graphics.

Apple’s claims are pretty extreme: The MacBook Air with the M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x the CPU performance and 5x the graphics performance of the last Air. Even in the bigger more powerful 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple says it can deliver 2.8 times the CPU performance and 5x faster graphics. Even if those claims are way off the mark, we should be looking at a big speed improvement compared to prior Macs.

Apple’s specs for its GPU are impressive. At 2.6 teraflops and 41 gigapixels per second, it would easily outclass Intel’s Iris Plus G7 and may even compare favorably in some ways to laptops with Intel’s new Xe discrete graphics solution. It’s more impressive on paper than even AMD’s excellent Vega graphics in its latest Renoir mobile APUs.

Of course, Apple will compete not just with thin-and-light laptops using Intel processors, but new PC laptop chips on the way from AMD, and thin-and-light Windows laptops that use discrete graphics.

Such incredible performance claims bear verification, and we’re somewhat incredulous. Such massive leaps in performance almost always come with a mountain of caveats, and we encourage readers to wait for independent verification before buying all of Apple’s claims. Still, even if Apple’s claims are off by double, we’re looking at a shockingly competitive platform.

Power efficiency

This increase in performance and new capabilities come not at a cost in power, but with less power use.

Apple claims M1 delivers the same peak CPU performance using only a quarter of the power as the “latest laptop chips.” The company does not specifically identify that, only saying that the comparisons were made using the new 13-inch MacBook Pro against “latest‑generation high‑performance notebooks commercially available at the time of testing.”


Apple claims to absolutely demolish conventional laptop chips in power efficiency and performance.

When it comes to graphics, the company claims the same peak performance is achievable with only one third the power. And for both CPU and GPU performance, Apple says its chips deliver double the performance of the latest laptop chips within a 10-watt power envelope.

We’ll have to wait for independent testing to verify those claims, but Apple seems confident enough in its power efficiency to remove the fan entirely from the new MacBook Air. And both the new M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deliver dramatically increased battery life—we’re talking hours more—using the same-sized batteries as the versions with Intel chips.

Source: Macworld  

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 Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

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

ron mercer
Telephone: 631-786-9359
www.wirelessplanners.com left arrow
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com left arrow


Source: YouTube  


Consulting Alliance

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 left arrow 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


WHAT IS 5G? 5G is the next generation of wireless networks and promises a mobile experience that's 10x to 100x faster than today's 4G networks. We say the word promise because we're in the early days of 5G. When more smartphones and networks support 5G tech, it will have far-reaching consequences for consumers, from the cars we drive (or that drive us) to the food we eat to the safety of our roads to the ways we shop to the entertainment we share with family and friends. And that doesn't include things we haven't yet imagined because we've never had the capability to unlock those new scenarios. Today, 5G may seem confusing even as it's widely hyped. We're here to help you sort fact from fiction, weed through the acronyms and jargon, and figure out when and how 5G can change the way you live. And we'll keep you from getting caught up in hyperbole — and empty promises. [ source ]

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


Leavitt Communications

We can supply alphanumeric display, numeric display, and voice pagers.

We also offer NEW and refurbished Alphamate 250s, refurbished Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate refurbished, and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts, and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging! Outstanding service is our goal.

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

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

LEAVITT COMMUNICATIONS
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
www.leavittcom.com


Inside Towers Newsletter

Friday, November 12, 2020 Volume 8 | Issue 221

Modulation and Propagation Webinar From Rohde & Schwarz on November 18

Rohde & Schwarz Product Management Engineer. Paul Denisowski will conduct a webinar on November 18 entitled, “Introduction to HF: Modulation and Propagation.” The webinar, sponsored by AOC Granite State, will begin at 12 p.m. EST and last for one hour. To register, click here.

This presentation covers two important aspects of HF (high frequency) communications: the modulation types most commonly used for HF communications as well as the fundamentals of HF propagation. Modulation types covered in this presentation include both double-sideband AM and single-sideband as well as narrowband FM. For digital modes, the use of amplitude shift keying (ASK) and frequency shift keying (FSK) are also discussed.

Denisowski has over 20 years of both lab and field experience in test and measurement with Rohde & Schwarz. He has authored numerous whitepapers, presentations, videos and webinars on a wide variety of topics, including interference hunting, direction finding, EMC, amplifiers, and general radio frequency applications. Paul holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University and was a visiting lecturer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Paul is also an active amateur radio operator (KO4LZ) and holds DXCC, WAS, and VUCC.

The presentation concludes with a short summary and a question and answer session.


Source: Inside Towers newsletter Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers Jim Fryer.
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BloostonLaw Newsletter


  BloostonLaw Telecom Update Vol. 23, No. 47 November 11, 2020  

Selected portions [sometimes more — sometimes less — sometimes the whole updates] 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's partners. The firm's contact information is included at the end of this section of the newsletter.

FCC Grants Transfer of Control of ITS Telecommunications, ITS Fiber to Blue Stream

On November 6, the FCC granted a section 214 application filed by Postco, Inc. transferring control of its subsidiaries, ITS Fiber and ITS Telecommunications Systems, to Blue Stream Communications. BloostonLaw assisted Postco in the preparation of the granted application.

Carriers seeking authorization to transfer control may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Headlines


ACAM Broadband Coalition Seeks Rulemaking to Expand ACAM

On November 2, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by the ACAM Broadband Coalition (the “Coalition”), in which the Coalition proposes to provide to current ACAM plan companies that voluntarily agree to participate in the enhanced ACAM plan six years of additional support at current support levels in return for providing significantly faster broadband speeds to consumers more quickly than consumers otherwise would receive them. Comments are due December 2, 2020.

Specifically, under the Coalition’s proposal, companies currently participating in the ACAM program (either ACAM-I or ACAM-II) would be given thirty days from release of company-specific data detailing enhanced deployment obligations and speed requirements to elect whether to participate in the enhanced ACAM program. ACAM companies choosing to participate in the enhanced ACAM program would receive six additional years of support at current support levels. In exchange for this additional support, carriers would agree to the following enhancements:

A-CAM I

Initially, the 4/1 Mbps deployment category would be eliminated and all partially funded locations that are subject to the 4/1 Mbps speed standard would be moved to the 10/1 Mbps category; a certain percentage of locations currently in the 10/1 Mbps deployment category would be moved to the 25/3 Mbps deployment category. In future years, a certain percentage of fully funded locations in the 25/3 deployment category would be obligated to be served at speeds of 100/25 Mbps or higher. Depending upon the population density the carrier serves, the obligation to serve fully funded 25/3 Mbps category locations at 100/25 Mbps or higher would increase ten percent annually until fifty to seventy percent of fully funded locations are required to meet the 100/25 Mbps speed standard.

A-CAM II

Initially, the 4/1 Mbps deployment category would be eliminated and all partially funded locations that are subject to the 4/1 Mbps speed standard would move to the 25/3Mbps deployment. In future years, ten percent of fully funded locations in the 25/3 deployment category would be obligated to be served at speeds of 100/25 Mbps or higher. The obligation to serve fully funded 25/3 Mbps category locations at 100/25 Mbps or higher would increase ten percent annually until eighty percent of fully funded locations would be required to meet the 100/25 Mbps speed standard.

In either case, usage and latency requirements would remain the same, as well as the annual interim milestones. The 100/25 Mbps deployment obligations and accompanying annual milestones proposed in the Petition would supplement the existing ACAM plan lower speed deployment milestones. Likewise, the general oversight and compliance framework currently applicable to ACAM companies would be unchanged.

Carriers interested in commenting on the Petition may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Connected Care Pilot Program Applications Accepted Thru Dec. 7

On November 5, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the filing window for the Connected Care Pilot program will open on Friday, November 6, 2020, through December 7, 2020. The Pilot Program will make available up to $100 million over a three-year period for selected pilot projects for qualifying purchases necessary to provide connected care services through the Pilot Program, with a particular emphasis on providing connected care services to low-income and veteran patients.

The Pilot Program is open to eligible non-profit or public health care providers that are: post-secondary educational institutions offering health care instruction, teaching hospitals, and medical schools; community health centers or health centers providing health care to migrants; local health departments or agencies; community mental health centers; not-for-profit hospitals; rural health clinics; and skilled nursing facilities. For purposes of the Pilot Program, eligible health care providers and their patients may be located in rural or non-rural areas, and eligible non-rural health care providers are not required to be part of a majority rural consortium.

Pilot projects selected to participate in the program will receive universal service support to offset 85% of qualifying costs incurred in connection with the Pilot Program. The remaining 15% share of the costs of eligible services must be paid by the selected pilot project recipients, as well as all of the costs of any ineligible expenses associated with their respective projects. Health care providers whose pilot projects are selected to participate in the program also must seek competitive bids for the eligible services for which they intend to seek Pilot Program support.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Issues Guidance on Caller ID Authentication Exemption Certifications

On November 9, the FCC issued a Public Notice providing information to voice service providers planning to seek an exemption from the FCC’s caller ID authentication rules. The caller ID certification process will not go into effect until it receives approval by the Office of Management and Budget, but the FCC has indicated that it will issue a list of parties that will receive an exemption on or before December 30, 2020.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, there are two exemptions: one for IP networks, and one for non-IP networks:

  • To receive the exemption for its IP networks, a voice service provider must:
    • have “completed the network preparations necessary to deploy the STIR/SHAKEN protocols on its network including, but not limited to, by participating in test beds and lab testing, or completing commensurate network adjustments to enable the authentication and validation of calls on its network consistent with the STIR/SHAKEN framework”;
    • have “demonstrated its voluntary agreement to participate with other voice service providers in the STIR/SHAKEN framework by completing formal registration (including payment) and testing with the Policy Administrator”;
    • have “completed the necessary network upgrades to at last one network element (e.g., a single switch or session border controller) to enable the authentication and verification of caller ID information consistent with the STIR/SHAKEN standards”; and
    • “reasonably foresee[] that it will have completed all necessary network upgrades to its network infrastructure to be able to authenticate and verify caller ID information for all SIP calls exchanged with STIR/SHAKEN-enabled partners by June 30, 2021.”
  • To receive the exemption for its non-IP networks, a voice service provider must:
    • be “working to develop a non-IP authentication solution”; and
    • “reasonably foresee[] that it will have completed all necessary network upgrades to its infrastructure to be able to authenticate and verify caller ID information for all non-IP calls originating or terminating on its network as provided by a standardized caller ID authentication framework for non-IP networks.”

Each voice service provider that seeks to qualify for an exemption will be required to submit one certification that the company meets the stated criteria for the IP networks exemption, non-IP networks exemption, or both exemptions. Carriers seeking assistance in preparing and filing their certifications may contact the firm for more information.

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

FCC Preempts City Regulations on Rights-of-Way Fees

On November 9, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling by preempting a legal framework imposed by the cities of Cameron, Maryville, and St. Joseph, Missouri (collectively, the Cities) to the extent that it has been or may be used to require Missouri Network Alliance, LLC d/b/a Bluebird Network (Bluebird) to pay duplicative rights-of-way fees based solely on the passive ownership of the facilities it uses to provide telecommunications services (the Network) by Leasing MW, LLC (LMW).

Specifically, the FCC found that the Cities regulations imposed a material inhibition to the extent that they construe their ordinances in a manner that allows them to effectively double-charge Bluebird for its single use of the public rights-of-way simply because another entity owns the Network—an entity that does not have any physical connection to the public rights-of-way itself. The FCC found that LMW does not use, maintain, or control the Network; rather, it simply leases the Network to Bluebird to provide telecommunications services, which Bluebird does pursuant to existing rights-of-way agreements with the Cities. Nevertheless, the Cities sought to impose the same rights-of-way fees on LMW based on its passive ownership of the Network facilities, which would ultimately increase Bluebird’s rights-of-way costs by 100%.

According to the FCC, “such a dramatic increase in costs for Bluebird’s use of the Network would impose a financial burden that effectively prohibits Bluebird from providing its services in violation of section 253(a) of the Telecommunications Act.”

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

Law and Regulation


Cable Operator Notice Requirement Revisions Effective November 12

On November 11, the FCC published in the Federal Register its Report and Order in MB Docket Nos. 19–347, 17– 105, 10–71; FCC 20–135, adopted on September 30, 2020 and released on October 1, 2020. There, the FCC adopted revisions to the regulations governing the notices that cable operators must provide subscribers and local franchise authorities (LFAs) regarding rate and service changes. As a result, the revisions contained in this document are effective November 12.

Specifically, the Report and Order amends the rules to clarify that when service changes occur due to retransmission consent or program carriage negotiations that fail within the last 30 days of a contract, cable operators must provide notice to subscribers ‘‘as soon as possible,’’ rather than 30 days in advance. The document also eliminates the requirement that cable operators not subject to rate regulation provide 30 days’ advance notice to LFAs of rate or service changes. Finally, it eliminates the requirement that cable operators provide notice of any significant change to the information required in the certain annual notices, as well as adopts several non-substantive revisions that clarify the rules and eliminate redundant provisions.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy.

Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Simington Nomination

On November 10, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing to consider three presidential nominations, including Nathan Simington to be an FCC commissioner. In his testimony, Mr. Simington enumerated four principles that outline the view and approach that he would take if confirmed: regulatory stability; universal connectivity; public safety and national security; and serving the public interest.

The full written testimony of Mr. Simington can be found here.

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

Comments on Proposed Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications Due November 20

On November 9, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the NCE Application Limit PN was published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2020. As a result, comments must be submitted no later than November 20, 2020, and reply Comments must be submitted no later than November 30, 2020.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the NCE Application Limit PN sought comment on the FCC’s tentative conclusion that there should be a ten-application limit for any applicant in the 2021 NCE new station filing window, and further that no party should have an attributable interest in more than ten applications filed in the NCE window.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer.

$3000 Fine Proposed for Failure to Renew License

On November 5, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability to South Central Oklahoma Christian Broadcasting Inc. for failing to timely file a license renewal application for KOUI(FM), Louisville, Mississippi (the Station). According to the Notice, an application for renewal of the Station’s license should have been filed by December 2, 2019, the first full business day following the first day of the fourth full calendar month prior to the Station’s license expiration date of June 1, 2020. The Application was not filed until June 1, 2020, and South Central provided no explanation for the untimely filing of the Application.

Because the FCC found that the violation did not present “serious violations” warranting designation for evidentiary hearing, constitute a pattern of abuse, the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by granting the late Application.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy.

Industry


Former Chairman Tom Wheeler Sees Net Neutrality as “High Priority” in Biden Administration

In its Marketplace Tech podcast of November 10, Marketplace.org author Amy Scott interviewed former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. During the interview, the former Chairman indicated one major issue he expected the Biden administration’s FCC to tackle would likely be restoring the Obama-era net neutrality rules that were reversed in 2017:

“. . . the concept that is behind net neutrality is something that in this country literally traces back to the Pacific Telegraph Act of 1862, which said that you need to have first-come-first-serve nondiscriminatory access to this essential service called the telegraph. It was a concept that then got extended to the telephone as it replaced the telegraph. And now as the Internet has replaced the telephone as the most important network, we need to have the same kinds of concepts. And I think Biden’s return to net neutrality will return us to that kind of stability that we’ve had since 1862.”

Wheeler also indicated he saw the digital divide as another key issue, and that the Biden administration’s FCC needed to better balance its focus on urban areas and rural:

The Trump FCC defined closing that divide as “what do we do to help rural, red states,” and ignored the fact that there are more than three times as many Americans who don’t have access to [broadband] Internet in blue, urban areas because they can’t afford it. There needs to be a legitimate two-prong attack, and that is to spend money to build so that all Americans have access to the Internet And the second is to make sure that there is a program in place that will help low-income Americans pay for their Internet access.

The full podcast interview, which lasts about six minutes, can be heard here.

Deadlines


JANUARY 15: Form 855 HAC Compliance Certification. The next Hearing Aid Compatibility regulatory compliance certification, certifying compliance with the FCC’s HAC handset minimums as well as enhanced record retention and website posting requirements for the 2020 calendar year, will be due January 15, 2021, for all CMRS service providers that had operations during any portion of 2020. Companies that sold their wireless licenses during 2019 and that didn’t otherwise provide mobile wireless service (e.g., via resale) during the 2020 calendar year won’t have any obligation to file a HAC compliance certification for the 2020 calendar year. Under current FCC rules, Tier III service providers are required to offer at least 50% or ten (10) handsets that are rated M3- or better, and at least 33% or ten (10) handsets that are rated T3- or better. Beginning April 3, 2020, at least 66% of a Tier III provider’s handset must meet ratings of M3- or better and T3- or better.

BloostonLaw has prepared a 2020 HAC Regulatory Compliance Template to facilitate our clients’ compliance with the revised HAC rules. Contact Cary Mitchell if you would like to obtain a copy of the HAC Regulatory Compliance Template.

BloostonLaw Contact: Cary Mitchell.

JANUARY 31: FCC FORM 555, ANNUAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER CERTIFICATION FORM. All Lifeline Program service providers are required to file the FCC Form 555, except where the National Verifier, state Lifeline administrator, or other entity is responsible. Since January 31 falls on a weekend or holiday this year, Form 555 may be filed by February 1. The FCC Form 555 must be submitted to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) electronically via USAC’s E-File (One Portal). Carriers must also file a copy of their FCC Form 555 in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System, Docket 14-171, and with their state regulatory commission. The form reports the results of the annual recertification process and non-usage de-enrollments. Recertification results are reported month-by-month based on the subscribers’ anniversary date.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and John Prendergast.

Calendar At-a-Glance


November
Nov. 12 – Comments on Waiver of Full Power TV Station Rulemaking Freeze are due.
Nov. 13 – Replies to oppositions on E911 Petitions for Reconsideration are due.
Nov. 16 – Comments are due on New Application Fee Schedule.
Nov. 17 – Reply comments are due on Priority Services NPRM.
Nov. 20 – Comments are due on 3.45-3.55 GHz Licensing and Operating Framework are due.
Nov. 20 – Comments on Proposed Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications are due.
Nov. 23 – Comments on Waiver of Full Power TV Station Rulemaking Freeze are due.
Nov. 30 – Reply comments are due on New Application Fee Schedule.
Nov. 30 – Lifeline Income Documentation, De-Enrollment/Reverification Requirement waivers expire.
Nov. 30 – Reply comments on Proposed Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications are due.

December
Dec. 2 – Comments on ACAM Broadband Coalition Petition for Rulemaking are due.
Dec. 7 – Reply comments are due on 3.45-3.55 GHz Licensing and Operating Framework are due.

January
Jan. 15 – FCC Form 855 (HAC Certification).
Jan. 31 – FCC Form 555 (Lifeline Recertification) is due (subscribers without National/State verifier).


Law Offices Of
Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens,
Duffy & Prendergast, LLP

2120 L St. NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 659-0830
(202) 828-5568 (fax)

— CONTACTS —

Harold Mordkofsky, 202-828-5520, hma@bloostonlaw.com
Benjamin H. Dickens, Jr., 202-828-5510, bhd@bloostonlaw.com
Gerard J. Duffy, 202-828-5528, gjd@bloostonlaw.com
John A. Prendergast, 202-828-5540, jap@bloostonlaw.com
Richard D. Rubino, 202-828-5519, rdr@bloostonlaw.com
Mary J. Sisak, 202-828-5554, mjs@bloostonlaw.com
D. Cary Mitchell, 202-828-5538, cary@bloostonlaw.com
Salvatore Taillefer, Jr., 202-828-5562, sta@bloostonlaw.com

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm.


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