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The Wireless
Messaging News

This Week's Wireless News Headlines

• Zetron
  • Extending the REACH of Emergency Call Taking and Dispatch
• NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE VOICE THAT ANSWERS EMERGENCY CALLS
  • Posted By: Coltrane Carlson
• The FCC wants you to test your Internet speeds with its new app
  • The FCC Speed Test App could help the agency correct its data
• FCC Speed Test App FAQs
• Updated Radio Frequency Exposure Rules Become Effective on May 3
• HF OTH Radar transmissions too numerous to count
• [nonpartisan] Opinion: GPS is endangered by a misguided FCC decision made during the Trump administration
• Inside Towers
  • Sens. Daines, Kelly Introduce Bill to Increase Federal ROW Access
• BloostonLaw Telecom Update (4/24/21)
  • FCC Waives Rural Healthcare Telecom Rules for Rates Database Use
  • FCC Calls on Carriers to Ensure Free Robocall Blocking Tools are Available to Consumers
  • Comments on Accessibility Rules Due May 24
  • President Biden includes Rural Broadband, 5G Support in Discretionary Funding Request for FY2022
  • FCC Issues Cease and Desist Letters over Robocalling
  • FCC Encourages Public to Use Its Speed Test App
  • Deadlines
  • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • Blooston Law Contacts
• Music Video Of The Week
  • by Millie Meunier
• Indiana teen plays 5 instruments in now-viral school project: 'Never expected this to happen'

— THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO —

I am a fan of Bluegrass Music. Well . . . in addition to Jazz and Folk Music. My Classical

Education includes being spoon-fed that kind of music too — so it's sort of like being ambidextrous — I like both classical and popular music.

This week I found a great recording of Bluegrass music done by five young high-school girls. The more I watched it, the more I was impressed at how much they looked alike. After some more searching on the Internet I found out that it is only one girl playing five different instruments. Go figure. Please don't miss it — near the end of this issue.

NO POLITICS HERE

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

A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn’t fill up your incoming e-mail account.

There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world’s major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.

I regularly get readers’ comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.

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

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

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Extending the REACH of Emergency Call Taking and Dispatch

The Emergency Communications Center Landscape Has Changed

In my last post, “5 Ways COVID-19 is Reshaping Emergency Communications Centers,” I introduced a new Zetron white paper outlining some of the major operational shifts we’re seeing in the wake of a global pandemic that’s gone on longer and has had deeper and wider impacts than any of us could’ve ever imagined when it began.

While there have certainly been others, the white paper focuses on five specific changes, each having substantial short and long term logistical and operational impacts to the public safety professionals working in ECCs:

• More Enduring Remote Working Requirements
• Renewed Calls for Alternative Funding
• Increasing Demand for Partnerships
• Shifting Role Focus Towards Mission Intelligence
• Heightened Emphasis on Health and Safety

In this post I’ll focus particularly on the need for easier and more enduring remote working capabilities, and touch briefly on how Zetron has responded to the new demand.

The Need is Neither New or Fleeting

For many of those who are responsible for making sure every emergency call is handled and appropriate services are dispatched as needed, no matter what personal, public health, political or civic/social unrest may be occurring, the need to work at times from outside the main center is not necessarily a new development.

Many agencies regularly light up positions from back-up centers or even other public facilities on a temporary, emergency or ad hoc basis for a variety of reasons, such as when system/equipment upgrades are needed at the main center, facility transitions or moves occur, emergencies impact the main center’s availability or capabilities, and more.

So while the need to “go remote” isn’t new, the parameters of scale, scope, and terms for remote working requirements have inarguably been redefined in the wake of COVID-19. And given what we know now, there’s ample reason to believe that many of these new requirements will remain in place long after COVID-19 is eradicated.

New Reasons and Urgency

Over the past year we’ve talked to countless customers in ECCs, transportation, utilities, and other critical communications centers who’ve had to adapt to the “new normals” that are directly or indirectly contributing to team members needing to more prominently and/or permanently work from remote locations. And by remote, I mean way more “remote” and dispersed than simply being temporarily set up in a back-up center.

While they each seem fairly obvious on their own, collectively the factors prompting new work time and location flexibilities for communications centers have compounded the need.

Physical Distancing

A term previously used liberally only by those that are uber-protective of their personal space, may now very well be one of the most frequently uttered phrases on earth. Eliminating crowds in restaurants, ball parks, shopping centers, etc., happened quickly. But taking steps to similarly vacate emergency communications centers, where working spaces are often small and cramped with people pulling long shifts and in much closer proximity than six feet from their peers, obviously presented far different challenges.

Quarantining

Pick a reason. Not feeling well, exposed to someone not feeling well, traveled to someplace with lots of people not feeling well, or even a positive test in the household…directed- or self-quarantining is yet another new reality. Think people were sensitive about “stay home if you’re sick” policies in 2019? We hadn’t seen anything yet. But while a quarantine means temporarily not working in the center, it doesn’t mean someone isn’t capable of working for the center. In fact, most who aren’t actually sick are still more than able and need or want to work during quarantine. It simply can’t be while sitting next to their peers.

Dependent Care

Oh yeah, what if a child needs to quarantine, or attend school remotely? Talk about new realities. Covering dependent care during shifts by way of sick days or paid child care isn’t always an option, especially for extended stints. But while parents or caregivers may need to be home “in proximity” to keep things on the rails, they’re often perfectly capable of marrying that typically intermittent responsibility with also having a productive work shift, as long as they have access to the means (i.e., connections, equipment, systems, etc.) to do so from home.

Absence/On Call Management

Perhaps the most obvious factor is that many people have gotten sick of course, leaving them temporarily unable to work from any location, even if they wanted to. This has taxed and stretched many teams to exhausting new limits for managing overtime, extra shifts, and ability to make personnel more “on call” ready. All of which have put additional strain on the conventional centralized workplace model.

New Sanitation Standards

Maintaining back-to-back shifts in shared workstations has been an established practice in ECCs, but new cleaning and disinfecting standards add time, costs and headaches in order to keep people safe. This is especially true in shared work environments and creates yet another motivation for seeking unconventional full and/or part time remote working scenarios.

Remote Work Within REACH

OK, we get it, the need to enable remote work in ECCs, while not entirely new, has certainly reached new highs in terms of rationale and urgency. And it’s not likely to fade in parallel to the degree we all hope to see COVID-19 dissipate.

That’s why at Zetron, we were quick to identify the trends and subsequent need for critical communications centers (including ECCs) to adopt more malleable and enduring approaches to remote working during the pandemic.

Enter REACH Solutions

REACH is a bit unique to typical Zetron new solution introductions, simply because it’s not actually a “product” in our traditional sense. Rather, REACH is a technical solution that enables our existing Call Taking and Dispatch solutions to more easily be applied in remote working models. It’s intended to break down many of the legacy technical and logistical barriers and headaches to letting team members quickly and easily pack up and take home a workstation that’s fully operational and connected to the same systems being used for managing calls and dispatch in the center.

If you’d like more detailed information about our REACH Solutions for call taking and dispatch, I encourage you to download the information sheet or visit the product page.

By: Jim Shulkin

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

			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.

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE VOICE THAT ANSWERS EMERGENCY CALLS

Posted By: Coltrane Carlson April 12, 2021 @ 5:31 am

It’s National Telecommunicators Week and it’s a time to spotlight those who are on the other end when you make an emergency call.

Jean Tuhn is a 23-year veteran with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and has spent the last five years as a dispatcher. She says her responsibilities as a dispatcher include answering all emergency and non-emergency calls for service, along with paging out first responders, law enforcement, medical and fire departments if necessary, monitoring the county jail, entering arrest warrants, monitoring and issuing severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service, among other things during her 12-hour shifts.

Tuhn talks about what she likes the most about being a dispatcher.

“I enjoy the job because I get to help the public. They call in, everything from a problem to somebody just might need a telephone number. We’re here to assist the public, that’s the biggest joy. People call and will thank you for helping them and assisting them. That’s the biggest joy to me is just helping the public.”

Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams is appreciative of the work all of his dispatchers do.

“I think we’ve got some of the best dispatchers in the state. I just recently went through a stint where I had two of my full time dispatchers out for medical issues. The part time dispatchers were great and helped pick up the slack. I think we’ve got the best crew in the state right here in Greene County.”

The Greene County Dispatchers work with both the sheriff’s office and the Jefferson Police Department.

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

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

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

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The FCC wants you to test your Internet speeds with its new app

The FCC Speed Test App could help the agency correct its data

By Makena Kelly@kellymakena Apr 12, 2021, 12:01pm EDT

Image: Alex Castro / The Verge

The Federal Communications Commission has released a new speed test app to help measure Internet speeds across the country, available on both Android and iOS.

The FCC Speed Test App works similarly to existing speed-testing apps like Ookla’s and Fast by Netflix, automatically collecting and displaying data once users press the “start testing” button. According to the FCC, the data collected through the app will inform the agency’s efforts to collect more accurate broadband speed information and aid its broadband deployment efforts. The FCC’s Speed Test app allows users to test their speeds and share the data.

“To close the gap between digital haves and have-nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly dataset on broadband availability,” Acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement Monday. “Expanding the base of consumers who use the FCC Speed Test app will enable us to provide improved coverage information to the public and add to the measurement tools we’re developing to show where broadband is truly available throughout the United States.”

The app is part of the agency’s broader efforts to collect more accurate broadband speed data across the country. The FCC’s current coverage maps are built from self-reported data from Internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon. In doing so, the process has allowed ISPs to exaggerate their current coverage, drawing heated criticism from broadband access advocates.

Earlier this year, the FCC asked the public to fact-check ISP data by entering in their address in the current broadband maps and submitting a form here if the information described is incorrect.

[Here is the app.] [Or on the Apple App Store.]

FCC Speed Test App FAQs

Description and Purpose

Q: Why does the FCC have a Speed Test App?
A: The app provides data for the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America Program's mobile-performance measurement effort, an initiative to gather crowd-sourced data on cellular network performance across the United States. The FCC mobile performance testing software, developed in cooperation with SamKnows Inc., uses smartphone-based technology to collect broadband performance data, with the highest commitment to protecting participants' privacy. The anonymized data is freely available (MBA-Mobile Data) to consumers, academics, policymakers, and any other interested parties.

Q: What is the FCC mobile app called and where can I get it?
A: It is called the FCC Speed Test app, and is available in the Google Play Store for Android devices, published by the developer "FCCAPPs," or in the Apple App Store for iOS devices, published by the developer SamKnows. Search "FCC Speed Test" in either store.

Q: Aren't there other speed tests already available?
A: There are other speed test apps. The FCC Speed Test mobile application helps the FCC fulfill a Congressional requirement to collect and provide the American public with free, open, and transparent information on mobile broadband performance across the United States. Other speed tests may not disclose their collection methods publicly, may impose fees for broad access to the data they collect, and may not reveal measurement details.

Q: Why should I download the app?
A: As a volunteer contributing to this effort, you get information about the broadband performance of networks that you use. Additionally, like any crowd-sourced measurement effort, more volunteer participants will result in better quality data that is more statistically accurate and representative of the network performance that consumers experience. The aggregated and anonymized data will inform consumers and industry, and may lead to better mobile broadband performance for the nation. Through your efforts and those of other volunteers, the American public gets an accurate, unbiased, and open view of mobile broadband performance.

Q: Is the app free?
A: While the application itself is free, data transmitted by the app will count against any data usage limits for your service plan. To ensure that the amount of data used by the app is minimal, the app’s default setting limits its data usage to no more than 100 MB per month, which is a small fraction of many data plans. Users can change the data limit setting in the app.

Q: Why does the Android app include scheduled tests?
A: It helps to provide a more accurate view of typical network performance. Randomized tests distributed in an unbiased manner over various time periods and locales provide a more statistically valid approach to data collection. (You can disable scheduled background tests at your discretion or if they interfere with device performance.) * NOTE: Scheduled tests cannot be run on Apple devices due to iOS security features. As a result, the only option for such devices is manual on-demand testing.

Privacy

Q: What personal data is collected?
A: The FCC has taken significant measures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of volunteers for this program. No personally identifiable information is collected. We also use privacy measures developed and reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission and academic researchers to ensure that any data that could potentially identify specific smartphones (e.g., location and time stamps) is anonymized. The FCC is committed to ensuring that only network data is collected and made available to the public.

Q: So what information do you collect?
A: Data related to the radio characteristics of the handset, information about the handset type and operating system version, the GPS coordinates available from the handset at the time each test is run, the date and time of the observation, and the results of active tests are recorded on the handset. The files are transmitted to storage servers at periodic intervals after the completion of active test measurements.

Using the App

Q: What kind of devices can I use to run this application?
A: The application is designed to run on both the Android and iOS operating devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Q: How do I run the tests?
A: Open the app and click "Start testing."

Q: Can I do only one of the tests?
A: Toggle any of the blue on/off switches located on the main Test screen and you will be able to choose specific tests to perform. The "Latency," "Jitter," and "Packet loss" tests are all done at once and can only be switched on or off as a group.

Q: How can I limit the data used so I don't exceed my data plan?
A: Go to the settings and select "Mobile data" to choose how much data the app can use each month.

Q: I don't want the app to run any background tests. How do I disable them?
A: To disable background tests on an Android device, go to the "Test scheduler" under settings and toggle the "Allow periodic background test" switch. Please keep in mind that the program's success is highly dependent on the background tests to provide the public with the most-complete information about the performance of nation's mobile broadband infrastructure. Apple devices do not support background testing.

Q. How do I remove the app?
A. Users may uninstall the application at any time via their smartphone's normal application uninstallation procedure.

Results from Your Device

Q: How do I see specific results for my device?
A: Select "Charts" in the menu bar. There you will be able to see a daily summary of test results, separated by "Download," "Upload," "Latency," and "Packet Loss." In addition to a chart of your tests, you will also see a list summarizing your latest test results.

Q: How do I see the details of a specific test?
A: If you want to see the full results of a specific test, tap on any of the test results below the chart. Press the back arrow to return to the chart.

Q: How do I see averages for more than one week?
A: Select the arrow next to "Date range." A menu will let you choose different time periods ("Day," "Week," "Month," or "Year").

Q: What mobile connectivity does the app test?
A: The app will test the broadband performance of the connection (cellular or Wi-Fi) that is active when running a test. You can see which network connectivity was used in any given test by toggling open the "Your Internet connection" drop-down menu on archived results. Be sure to disable Wi-Fi before testing if you wish to test cellular performance. You can see tests over different networks by selecting the "Data source" drop-down menu under "Charts." From there, select "All," "Mobile," "Wi-Fi," or specific technologies or SSIDs of Wi-Fi networks you have connected to over tests you have run in the past. In the case of cellular networks, access to the Internet is entirely through the cellular network provider’s infrastructure and the performance tests reflect that infrastructure’s behavior. With Wi-Fi networks, the combined performance of both the Wi-Fi access point and fixed Internet service provider’s network contributes to the overall network performance assessment. Hence, the test results over Wi-Fi may not reflect the performance attainable on the fixed Internet service provider’s network.

Technical Support and Feedback

Q: I'm having difficulty, how can I get technical support?
A: For tech support for the app, please contact community@samknows.com.

Q: How can I share feedback about the app?
A: Your feedback is welcome and encouraged. Please review the app in the Google Play and Apple App Store, and also send your feedback to feedback-mba@fcc.gov.

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

Service Contracts

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

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

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

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

INTERNET Protocol Terminal

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

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

Additional/Optional Features

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

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

Updated Radio Frequency Exposure Rules Become Effective on May 3

04/12/2021

The FCC has announced that rule changes detailed in a lengthy 2019 Report and Order governing RF exposure standards go into effect on May 3, 2021. The new rules do not change existing RF exposure (RFE) limits but do require that stations in all services, including amateur radio, be evaluated against existing limits, unless they are exempted. For stations already in place, that evaluation must be completed by May 3, 2023. After May 3 of this year, any new station, or any existing station modified in a way that’s likely to change its RFE profile — such as different antenna or placement or greater power — will need to conduct an evaluation by the date of activation or change.

“In the RF Report and Order, the Commission anticipated that few parties would have to conduct reevaluations under the new rules and that such evaluations will be relatively straightforward,” the FCC said in an April 2 Public Notice. “It nevertheless adopted a 2-year period for parties to verify and ensure compliance under the new rules.”

The Amateur Service is no longer categorically excluded from certain aspects of the rules, as amended, and licensees can no longer avoid performing an exposure assessment simply because they are transmitting below a given power level.

“For most amateurs, the major difference is the removal of the categorical exclusion for amateur radio, which means that ham station owners must determine if they either qualify for an exemption or must perform a routine environmental evaluation,” said Greg Lapin, N9GL, chair of the ARRL RF Safety Committee and a member of the FCC Technological Advisory Council (TAC).

“Ham stations previously excluded from performing environmental evaluations will have until May 3, 2023, to perform these. After May 3, 2021, any new stations or those modified in a way that affects RF exposure must comply before being put into service,” Lapin said.

The December 2019 RF Report and Order changes the methods that many radio services use to determine and achieve compliance with FCC limits on human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields. The FCC also modified the process for determining whether a particular device or deployment is exempt from a more thorough analysis by replacing a service-specific list of transmitters, facilities, and operations for which evaluation is required with new streamlined formula-based criteria. The R&O also addressed how to perform evaluations where the exemption does not apply, and how to mitigate exposure.

Amateur radio licensees will have to determine whether any existing facilities previously excluded under the old rules now qualify for an exemption under the new rules. Most will, but some may not.

“For amateurs, the major difference is the removal of the categorical exclusion,” Lapin said, “which means that every ham will be required to perform some sort of calculation, either to determine if they qualify for an exemption or must perform a full-fledged exposure assessment. For hams who previously performed exposure assessments on their stations, there is nothing more to do.”

The ARRL Laboratory staff is available to help amateurs to make these determinations and, if needed, perform the necessary calculations to ensure their stations comply. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, who helped prepare ARRL’s RF Exposure and You book, explained it this way. “The FCC did not change any of the underlying rules applicable to amateur station evaluations,” he said. “The sections of the book on how to perform routine station evaluations are still valid and usable, especially the many charts of common antennas at different heights.” Hare said ARRL Lab staff also would be available to help amateurs understand the rules and evaluate their stations.”

RF Exposure and You is available for free download from ARRL. ARRL also has an RF Safety page on its website.

The ARRL RF Safety Committee is working with the FCC to update the FCC’s aids for following human exposure rules — OET Bulletin 65 and OET Bulletin 65 Supplement B for Radio Amateurs. In addition, ARRL is developing tools that all hams can use to perform exposure assessments.

Paging Data Receiver PDR-4

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

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

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

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

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

Wireless Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

R.H. (Ron) Mercer Consultant 217 First Street East Northport, NY 11731
Telephone: 631-786-9359
www.wirelessplanners.com
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

Page last updated on: Monday, April 12, 2021

HF OTH Radar transmissions too numerous to count

The IARU Region 1 Monitoring System newsletter reports in March the ubiquitous Over The Horizon Radars made up about 60% of all interference observations, 'one cannot even count them anymore'

"Presumably there are only a few stations transmitting on often changing frequencies. In contrast to the past, they are more and more burst systems which usually transmit for only a few seconds, then the frequency is changed. Only the OTHR "Contayner" and "Pluto" (UK base Cyprus) each transmit on a frequency for a longer period of time."

The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System (IARUMS) Region 1 March 2021 newsletter can be read at https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IARUMS-Newsletter-21-03.pdf

Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the Signal Identification Guide Wiki at https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

Monitor the short wave bands on-line with a web based SDR receiver at http://www.websdr.org/

IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) https://www.iarums-r1.org/

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects.

Click here for a summary of their qualifications and experience. Each one has unique abilities. We would be happy to help you with a project, and maybe save you some time and money.

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

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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

Opinion: GPS is endangered by a misguided FCC decision made during the Trump administration

(iStock)

Opinion by Diana Furchtgott-Roth

April 14, 2021 at 7:57 a.m. CDT

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, former deputy assistant secretary for research and development at the Transportation Department, is an adjunct professor of economics at George Washington University.

President Biden has proposed spending $2 trillion on infrastructure, including roads and bridges, climate change research, renewable energy, and electric vehicles and charging stations. All require reliable availability of the Global Positioning System, a constellation of 24 satellites whose signals enable drivers to find their way and emergency workers to get to accidents. Navigation systems in millions of cars depend on GPS.

But now the entire GPS system is endangered by a misguided decision the Federal Communications Commission made during the Trump administration. GPS is vulnerable to interference from ground-based transmissions, yet last April the FCC unanimously granted an application by Ligado Networks, based in Reston, Va., to offer a ground-based 5G service in spectrum, much of which is next to spectrum allocated for GPS.

Why is that likely to be a serious problem? Because Ligado’s signals will be 2 billion times as powerful as GPS signals. Just as an outdoor rock concert would drown out birdsong, the proposed Ligado 5G transmitters would overwhelm GPS signals. Ligado is authorized to begin work, but as a relatively small company unlikely to be able to tackle a nationwide deployment, it is expected to sell the spectrum to a giant wireless carrier, such as AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon.

Biden should ask his FCC to reconsider. Unencumbered GPS is vital for Americans’ daily lives and for the success of his infrastructure and climate agenda.

Ligado says it will use the newly allocated spectrum for faster 5G Internet service. However, its spectrum would add only a tiny portion to spectrum the FCC has already allocated for 5G — while reducing GPS’s reliability.

Ligado’s engineering studies show little harm from the proposed network, while federal government studies indicate major disruption to GPS. The FCC inexplicably sided with Ligado rather than with neutral government experts. The FCC chairman at the time, Ajit Pai, defended the decision, saying the commission had insisted on safeguards sufficient to avoid interference in making a decision that would “maintain our nation’s leadership in 5G.”

At the time, Trump administration heavyweights Attorney General William P. Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly supported Ligado in their personal capacities ahead of the FCC decision.

A month after the vote, in an extraordinary move, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration — on behalf of the executive branch, “particularly” the Defense and Transportation departments — asked the FCC to reconsider, citing “irreparable harms to federal government users of the Global Positioning System.” This remains the NTIA’s position, yet the FCC has not reconsidered its order.

Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), then-chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was so appalled that he required the National Academy of Sciences to perform an independent review of all the engineering studies connected with the matter. He said, “A few powerful people made a hasty decision over the weekend — in the middle of a national crisis, against the judgment of every other agency involved.”

The Defense Department had concerns, some of which were made public. In 2019, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper wrote, “All independent and scientifically valid testing and technical data shows the potential for widespread disruption and degradation of GPS services from the proposed Ligado system.”

As part of its approval, the FCC required Ligado to replace any federal equipment damaged through its operations. But Ligado was not required to pay for private-sector equipment, such as car navigation systems and surveying equipment. (Studies indicate that smartphones, happily, would not be affected.)

This is a nonpartisan issue: Both Democrats and Republicans agree on potential damage to national security and the economy. [emphasis added]

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), now chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in June last year at a hearing on FCC oversight that the commission “has sided against federal experts on weather forecasting, aviation, transportation safety and national security. … Nowhere is this development more obvious than the Ligado decision.”

It is obvious how an unreliable GPS could affect car navigation systems. Less obvious is its role in vital matters such as measuring climate change. GPS is central to scientists’ ability to monitor pressure, temperature and water vapor in the lower atmosphere; changes in snowfall; vegetation in the Amazon; and other indicators.

Matthew Siegfried, a Colorado School of Mines professor, spent nine Antarctica summers setting up GPS field stations to take satellite measures to study Antarctic snowfall. “GPS underlies all climate change science research now. It is a critical piece of infrastructure that we can’t manage without,” he told me by phone.

That’s just one of the countless ways that GPS has become ingrained in modern life. As the president works to move the country forward after the devastating pandemic year, he should urge the FCC to preserve GPS, a tool that will be essential in helping him to achieve his goals.

Sens. Daines, Kelly Introduce Bill to Increase Federal ROW Access

Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) Wednesday introduced the bipartisan “Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act” to increase access to existing infrastructure to enable easier and faster broadband deployment.

Daines said the measure capitalizes on existing infrastructure, and Kelly explained the legislation “will cut red tape and help broadband projects move faster in rural communities.”

The bill would:

• Make it easier for broadband companies to receive federal-right-of-way licenses allowing them to install broadband alongside existing infrastructure like federal highways.
• Ensure costs of federal-right-of-way licenses are fair market prices.
• Increase transparency into the federal right-of-way license awarding process.

Industry supports the measure. NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, said its member companies and their technician workers are on the front lines of deployment. “This bill will eliminate red tape and speed up the process of enabling connectivity to rural, unserved and underserved regions of the country,” said NATE President/CEO Todd Schlekeway.

“High costs are a large enough barrier to deploying broadband service to rural areas without adding costly, time consuming processes for gaining access to federal lands. This legislation will make it easier to deploy essential broadband service to some of the hardest to reach areas of our country,” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA — The Rural Broadband Association.

And USTelecom President/CEO Jonathan Spalter said “too often, our network innovators bump into red tape and outdated rules that can make construction slow, inefficient or nearly impossible.” He called the measure a common-sense approach. “This plan expedites access to federal rights-of-way and streamlines the building process in service of a universal, bipartisan goal: bring the power and promise of broadband connectivity — the 21st century’s indispensable resource — to every corner of the country.”

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 Waives Rural Healthcare Telecom Rules for Rates Database Use

On April 8, the FCC issued an Order waiving, on its own motion, the requirements that health care providers and service providers participating in the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program of the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program use the database of rates (Rates Database) to calculate urban and rural rates for funding years 2021 and 2022. The FCC also waived the RHC Program service delivery deadline, and section the invoice filing deadline, in addition to providing relief with respect to the deadline to respond to information requests from the Universal Administrative Service Company (USAC).

Carriers with questions about the FCC’s waivers may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer.

Headlines

FCC Calls on Carriers to Ensure Free Robocall Blocking Tools are Available to Consumers

On April 13, the FCC issued a Public Notice in anticipation of its second Call Blocking Report to Congress (and also sent letters to major phone companies and third-party developers of call blocking tools) to get updated information about their efforts to enable customers to block unwanted calls. Comments are due April 30.

Specifically, the FCC seeks “to learn more about the tools available to consumers, their effectiveness, and any potential impact on 911 services and public safety.” Key questions include:

• Whether the companies are offering call blocking tools to consumers at no charge.
• How the companies measure the effectiveness of blocking tools.
• What protections the companies have put in place to ensure that call blocking does not interfere with emergency services.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the first Call Blocking Report was released in June 2020.

“No one wants more unwanted robocalls in their life. I’m proud that we continue to find new ways to use all the tools at our disposal to make it clear to illegal robocallers that their days are numbered. We want them to know that we’re advocating on behalf of consumers everywhere to put an end to these calls,” said Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel in a statement.

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

Comments on Accessibility Rules Due May 24

On April 7, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on whether any updates are needed to the rules the Commission initially adopted as it implemented the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). Comments are due May 24, and reply comments are due June 21.

The CVAA was enacted more than 10 years ago to help “ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to fully utilize communications services and equipment and better access video programming.” The Commission adopted rules to fulfill these statutory objectives. Specifically, with respect to access to video programming, the Commission adopted rules supporting access to audio description, closed captioning of Internet-protocol (IP) delivered video programming, accessible emergency information, and accessible user interfaces (making functions such as captioning and audio description settings accessible and usable to individuals with disabilities), and video programming guides and menus.

Further, the Commission adopted rules regarding access to advanced communications services (defined as interconnected voice over IP (VoIP), non-interconnected VoIP services, electronic messaging services, and interoperable video conferencing services), the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, and accessible Internet browsers on mobile phones. Carriers filed the Annual Accessibility Record-keeping Certification on April 1 of each year to certify they are complying with the FCC’s rules.

BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer.

Law and Regulation

President Biden includes Rural Broadband, 5G Support in Discretionary Funding Request for FY2022

On April 9, Acting Director of the Executive Office of the President (an office within the Office of Management and Budget) sent the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations a letter including President Biden’s discretionary funding request for FY 2022. Of note, the proposal includes two items relevant to the telecommunications industry: an additional $65 million for the Rural e-Connectivity Program “Reconnect” for rural broadband, and $39 million for advanced communications research at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which would support the development and deployment of broadband and 5G technologies by identifying innovative approaches to spectrum sharing. The letter does not provide more specific details, but further information is expected in the coming weeks.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Issues Cease and Desist Letters over Robocalling

On April 13, the FCC sent cease and desist letters to R Squared Telecom, LLC and Phonetime Inc. dba Tellza indicating that the FCC has determined the companies were “apparently transmitting illegal robocall traffic on behalf of one or more of their clients.” The letters went on to instruct these companies to:

• Promptly investigate the transmissions identified in the letter;
• If necessary, “effectively mitigate” the identified unlawful traffic by determining the source of the traffic and preventing that source from continuing to originate such traffic;
• Implement effective safeguards to prevent customers from using your network as a platform to originate illegal calls;
• Inform the FCC and the Traceback Consortium within 48 hours of steps taken to mitigate the identified apparent illegal traffic; and
• Inform the FCC and the Traceback Consortium within 14 days of the steps the company is taking to prevent customers from using its network to transmit illegal robocalls.

The letter goes on to inform these companies that failing to take sufficient mitigating actions to prevent their networks from continuing to be used to transmit illegal robocalls may result in the FCC issuing a notice to all U.S.-based voice service providers that they may block ALL call traffic transmitting from the network in question, permanently.

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

Industry

FCC Encourages Public to Use Its Speed Test App

On April 12, the FCC issued a Press Release encouraging the public to download the FCC’s Speed Test app, which is currently used to collect speed test data as part of the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program. The network coverage and performance information gathered from the Speed Test data will help to inform the FCC’s efforts to collect more accurate and granular broadband deployment data. The app will also be used in the future for consumers to challenge provider-submitted maps when the Broadband Data Collection systems become available.

“To close the gap between digital haves and have nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly dataset on broadband availability. Expanding the base of consumers who use the FCC Speed Test app will enable us to provide improved coverage information to the public and add to the measurement tools we’re developing to show where broadband is truly available throughout the United States,” said Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

Deadlines

MAY 26: STUDY AREA BOUNDARY RECERTIFICATION. In addition to the obligation to submit updated information when study area boundaries change, all ILECs are required to recertify their study area boundary data every two years. The recertification is due this year by May 26. Where the state commission filed the study area boundary data for an ILEC, the state commission should submit the recertification. However, where the state commission did not submit data for the ILEC and the ILEC submitted the study area boundary data, then the ILEC should submit the recertification by May 26.

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

MAY 31: FCC FORM 395, EMPLOYMENT REPORT. Common carriers, including wireless carriers, with 16 or more full-time employees must file their annual Common Carrier Employment Reports (FCC Form 395) by May 31. This report tracks carrier compliance with rules requiring recruitment of minority employees. Further, the FCC requires all common carriers to report any employment discrimination complaints they received during the past year. That information is also due on 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. Clients who would like assistance in filing Form 395 should contact Richard Rubino.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

JUNE 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 Commission 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 of the Commission, 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 Commission’s rules.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer.

JULY 31: FCC FORM 507, LINE COUNT DATA (A-CAM AND ALASKA PLAN RECPIENTS). Sections 54.313(f)(5) and 54.903(a)(1) of the FCC’s rules requires all rate-of-return telecommunications carriers to provide line count information on FCC Form 507 to USAC, the universal service Administrator. Carriers receiving Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) must submit this information annually on March 31st of each year, and may update the data on a quarterly basis. Carriers that receive Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) I, A-CAM II, or Alaska Plan support are required to file by July 1st of each year. For 2020, the FCC has extended the A-CAM filing deadline until July 31.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy 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

April
Apr. 15 – First Reassigned Number Database Report due (carriers with >100,000 subscribers).
Apr. 19 –STIR/SHAKEN Certificate Revocation reply comments are due.
Apr. 19 – Comments are due on State of Lifeline Marketplace Report.
Apr. 19 – Comments on TRS Contribution Base are due.
Apr. 19 – New Fee Schedule Effective.
Apr. 25 – Reply comments are due on Emergency Connectivity Fund.
Apr. 26 – Comments are due on Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Apr. 26 – Comments are due on Preliminary Cost Catalog and Replacement List for Supply Chain Program.
Apr. 26 – Comments are due on Wireless Service Provider Safety Measures During Disasters Report.
Apr. 29 – Reply comments on Auction 110 Procedures are due.
Apr. 30 – Comments are due on Second Call Blocking Report.

May
May 1 – 64.1900 Geographic Rate Averaging Certification is due.
May 1 – Lifeline usage requirement waiver ends.
May 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
May 3 – Reply comments on TRS Contribution Base are due.
May 4 – Reply comments are due on State of Lifeline Marketplace Report.
May 7 – Comments are due on 12.2-12.7 GHz Band NPRM.
May 24 – Comments are due on Accessibility Rules.
May 26 – Biannual Study Area Boundary Recertifications are due.
May 31 – FCC Form 395 (Annual Employment Report) is due.

June
Jun. 1 – FCC Form 395 Employment Reports are due.
Jun. 1 – Applications for USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program are due.
Jun. 7 – Reply comments are due on 12.2-12.7 GHz Band NPRM.
Jun. 21 – Comments are due on Accessibility Rules.

July
Jul. 1 – FCC Form 481 (Carrier Annual Reporting Data Collection Form) is due.
Jul. 1 – FCC Form 690 (Mobility Fund Phase I Auction Winner Annual Report) is due.
Jul. 27 – Auction 109 – AM/FM Broadcast Auction begins.
Jul. 31 – Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Report is due.

“Foggy Mountain Breakdown”

May 30, 2020

FCTV Floyd Central Highlanders

Video and performance by Millie Meunier

You can find more videos like this on her personal YouTube page:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrCqmi3RemweSy6x6xJCyFA

Wikipedia

Indiana teen plays 5 instruments in now-viral school project:
'Never expected this to happen'

Updated: 10:48 AM EST Feb 24, 2021

A New Albany teen’s school project is going viral. [video here]

During her freshman year at Floyd Central High School, musician Millie Meunier, 15, produced a music video for her radio-TV class.

“The assignment was to make a feel-good video,” she said. “So I figured that making a happy bluegrass video was fitting for the assignment.”

It’s not just any bluegrass video. The beautifully edited music video features five instruments — all of which are played by the teen.

Meunier says it wasn’t until recently that the video racked up more than one million views on the school’s YouTube page. The song is a tribute to Earl Scruggs’ rendition of Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Meunier says she learned the tune by ear and wrote an accompaniment of background music for each instrument.

Meunier says she is getting uplifting feedback from viewers all over the world.

“A lot of them are kind of funny,” she said. “They think it’s a quintuplet family band, but really it’s just me playing all of the instruments so it’s kind of funny.”

Meunier started playing piano at age 5, the viola in fifth grade, the fiddle in seventh grade, and later taught herself the banjo, mandolin and guitar. She released an album during the coronavirus lockdown of 2020 and says she’s grateful people are starting to listen.

“It feels really good. I never expected this to happen and it’s so exciting because it feels like I’m finally getting out there and more people are seeing it so it’s pretty exciting,” Meunier says.

The video is recorded at Meunier’s family cabin in Starlight, Indiana. The teen says she hopes to return this summer to create another feel-good video.

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Brad Dye
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

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Amateur Radio
K9IQY

• ex KN9IQY, KN4BK, KM5NK, WB4JCF, ZP5TQ, WA4VXU, WA9RVL, /TI2, /9Y4, /6Y5, /KP4, HH2FJ
• Licensed FCC Amateur Radio operator since 1957
• Licensed FCC First-Class-Commercial Operator/Engineer since 1964