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Welcome Back To The Wireless |
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This Week's Wireless News Headlines
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NO POLITICS HERE
This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.
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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HELP SUPPORT THE NEWSLETTER
There is not a lot of news about Paging these days but when anything significant comes out, you will probably see it here. I also cover text messaging to other devices and various articles about related technology. |
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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale
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Zoom update delivers more emoji reactions and new annotation featuresEmoji reactions now available with different skin tonesBy Jon Porter@JonPorty Apr 21, 2021, 12:03pm EDT This week’s Zoom update includes a couple of quality of life improvements for anyone using its annotation or emoji reaction features, the company has announced. Meeting participants can now use any emoji that was previously available in Zoom chat to react during a meeting, up from the six meager options that were available previously. These include emoji with different skin colors. Hosts can also restrict emoji reactions to the standard six, if they prefer, and for larger accounts the full emoji set must be manually enabled by admins or account owners. The service’s annotation feature is also being enhanced. Anyone who’s used Zoom’s annotation feature to draw text on the presentation screen will know how annoying it quickly becomes when you have to erase each scribble before you can move on. Now, a new “Vanishing Pen” tool on Windows, macOS, and Linux allows annotations to automatically disappear within “a couple of seconds.” If you’re drawing annotations on an Android or iOS tablet, there’s a new auto-shape feature to turn them into straight lines, rectangles, and ovals. Combined, these should keep Zoom presentations looking neater. A year ago, as Zoom exploded in popularity, it was hard to talk about the service without mentioning the privacy and security issues that were plaguing it at the time. Its encryption wasn’t actually end-to-end, and its default settings led to a wave of so-called “Zoombombings.” But in the year since, the company has rolled out fix after fix for its biggest issues, and now here we are talking about new emoji reaction features. What a way to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the company’s founding.
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| Source: | The Verge |
| Leavitt Communications |
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Public Warning Messages will alert the public to emergencies or disasters near their location April 20, 2021 RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City-Pennington County Emergency Management uses warning messages to alert us to emergencies or natural disasters as quickly as possible.
There are a number of different ways emergency management alerts the public when there is a disaster including banner alerts across TV’s, messages on the radio, sirens, and Public Warning Messages. This service is free and will send a message to your preferred method of communication.
Once an alert is sent out you will have 1 minute to respond to the message before the system will send another alert to the next device you listed when you signed up. This will repeat every 5 minutes until you respond back indicating you saw the message.
There are currently 3,700 people signed up for Public Warning Messages. But if you are not signed up for the service or if you are visiting the area there will still be a way to be alerted.
A link to sign up can be found here. |
| Source: | News Center 1 |
Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.
Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
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The Wireless Messaging News
The Board of Advisor members are people with whom I have developed a special rapport, and have met personally. They are not obligated to support the newsletter in any way, except with advice, and maybe an occasional letter to the editor.
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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.
Newspapers generally cost 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. |
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Apple Executive Says AirTags Designed to Track Items, Not Children or PetsThursday April 22, 2021 6:42 am PDT by Sami Fathi Following the announcement of AirTags this week, Apple's VP of worldwide iPhone product marketing, Kaiann Drance, and Apple's senior director of sensing and connectivity, Ron Huang, spoke with Fast Company about the Tile-like tracker and its design and privacy.
Speaking about the design of AirTag, Drance says Apple wanted to create a simple yet unique design for the tracker, keeping in mind it wanted to create something that "no one else in the industry’s ever done before." One of the biggest selling points for AirTag is its user privacy. Apple is stressing that AirTag uses encrypted networks, and Apple or other third parties can't read their location. Huang says that even if someone happens to find your lost AirTag, they will not be able to pair it with their iPhone and continue to use it. Both executives stressed during the interview that AirTag uses Apple's Find My network, which hosts almost a billion Apple devices, keeping the whole experience secure and private.
Earlier in March, Apple introduced a new safety feature in its Find My app within the iOS 14.5 beta that will notify users if the iPhone detects an unknown tracking device, such as AirTag, being used to track them. The purpose of the feature is to prevent incidents in which someone may slip an AirTag into a user's backpack and use it to stalk them. In the case that it does happen, users will receive a notification stating "AirTag Found Moving With You," and will then have the ability to disable it physically. Speaking about the safety feature, Drance says that users should contact local law enforcement if they feel their safety is at risk.
Apple is marketing AirTag as a smart and capable way to track items. Questions have arisen, however, if AirTag can be used to track children and pets. When asked, Apple's VP of iPhone product marketing says the company designed AirTag to track items, not children. The executive suggests parents use an Apple Watch with Family Setup to locate their children. In the case of tracking pets, Drance says they need to be in range.
Both executives also spoke about AirTags to YouTuber Rene Ritchie. AirTag will be available to pre-order on Friday, April 23 for $29, or in a pack of four for $99. They'll begin shipping on April 30. Check out some first impressions and hands-on reviews of AirTags. |
| Source: | MacRumors |
| PRISM IPX Systems |
With PRISM IPX Systems, Your message is delivered Secure & Encrypted
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| 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.
Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or Easy Solutions |
GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTUREI would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging. GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018. If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation. Click on the image above for more info about advertising here. |
INTERNET Protocol Terminal
The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages. An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.
Additional/Optional Features
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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Apple’s M1 iPad Pros Make It Even Harder to Justify an Android TabletBy Ryan Whitwam on April 21, 2021 at 8:25 am
Apple has unveiled new iPad Pros as expected. While they look the same on the outside, the inside has gotten a major upgrade. These devices are the first iOS devices to run the new M1 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which debuted in Apple’s macOS laptops last year. The previous iPad’s A-series ARM chip already outclassed Android tablets, but now Apple’s tablets could be in a completely different category. The new tablets still come in 11 and 12.9-inch sizes. The smaller tablet has an improved version of the LCD panel from the last iPad, but the 12.9-inch comes with a new “Liquid Retina XDR display.” That’s Apple’s way of saying it’s got a mini-LED screen, a first for the company. It has 1,000 nits of sustained brightness and 1,600 nits at peak brightness. That’s high even for a phone form factor, but it’s a huge leap for tablets. Samsung’s OLED-based Tab S7 reaches a mere 484 nits at peak brightness. The array of 10,000 mini LEDs enables 2,596 local dimming zones and a 1 million to one contrast ratio. Both new tablets have the M1 chip, which is an ARM-based design created by Apple. It has eight custom CPU cores and eight GPU cores. Apple says the graphics performance, in particular, is 40 percent improved over the old tablets. Overall system performance is about 50 percent higher, according to Apple. Apple used this same chip in its refreshed MacBooks several months ago, and the performance on those machines running macOS has been impressive. Intel has even tried to downplay the importance of the M1 with some transparently self-serving benchmarks.
This chip could put Apple’s tablets even more in the lead. Most Android device makers have stopped releasing tablets — even Google isn’t making anything in the slate form factor anymore. Samsung has been able to limp along with its Qualcomm-based Tab S and Tab A devices, but there’s no Android equivalent of the M1, which is much more powerful than even the best Qualcomm chips. There’s no technical reason Apple couldn’t make an iPad run macOS in addition to iPadOS. It probably won’t do that, but it could. Meanwhile, Google barely bothers optimizing Android for large tablet displays. You have to be deeply mired in the Android ecosystem to buy an Android tablet over an iPad after this. The USB-C port got some attention as well with support for Thunderbolt and USB4. That means the tablet can power a 6K external display and transfer data at up to 40 Gbps. Charging speed is still on the slow side, though, at 20W with the included adapter. Yes, Apple is still including the plug. Pre-orders for both models will kick off on April 30th. The 11-inch starts at $799 and the 12.9 is $999. There are more expensive versions with 5G connectivity as well, but the 11 and 12.9-inchers start at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. |
| Source: | ExtremeTech |
Paging Data Receiver PDR-4 The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors. Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Wireless Network Planners
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Watch out Zoom, Google Meet just became your new favorite video chatGoogle Meet just added some cool new features to make virtual meetings more bearable
BY MAT GALLAGHER Google Meet has just added a bunch of new features designed to make meetings better for all of us still working remotely. Last March, we were plunged into lockdown and the world of video conferencing. We became overly familiar with the differences between Zoom, Teams, Google Meet and Webex, and consistently forgot to unmute ourselves before talking. Google made its Meet platform free for all users in April 2020, in response to the huge demand (and competition). While it might have lacked some of the advanced options of Zoom and was a challenge to log in for some non-Gmail users, I always found it one of the more reliable options. While changes have been made to the Google Meet platform since then, such as the addition of live captions, this sees the biggest update so far. The changes, which include useful functions for when sharing your screen or featuring multiple speakers, feel considered and helpful – if not initially groundbreaking. We’ve all seen people appear silhouetted on screen due to bad lighting or cut out due to poor connections. These features will help here. Plus, if you want to make it look like you’re calling from a live forest, you can now do that too. When sharing your screen on Meet, it defaults to make your screen large and all other participants small. Now though, you can reduce the size of your shared screen to the same as the other tiles, allowing you to see people’s faces better. You also have the option to highlight multiple windows, to make the main speaker and shared screen live, for instance. Or have a few speakers made large at once. It’s easy to focus on the image of yourself when talking, so Google Meet now allows you to move and minimize your tile, even allowing you to hide your image completely. If you’re using Google Meet on the move through your phone’s data allowance, you can select the new Data Saver option to reduce the amount of bandwidth a call takes up. I imagine this will also be useful for poor connections too. One mobile feature that is transferring to the desktop version of Google Meet is its image enhancement. This will help address poor lighting conditions by enhancing the brightness, allowing you to be seen clearly. Those paid subscribers on Google Workplace can also take advantage of Autozoom. This uses Google AI to keep you centered and filling the frame by zooming and panning to adjust the image on the screen. And finally, in addition to being able to replace your background with an image, Google Meet now allows you to replace it with a video – though this is currently limited to a choice of three presets (classroom, forest and party). So no adding your own creations, just yet. All of these changes will start to roll out over the next few weeks. |
| Source: | T3.com |
Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects. Click here 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
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Remote AB Switches ABX-1 switches are often used at remote transmitter sites to convert from old, outdated and unsupported controllers to the new modern Prism-IPX ipBSC base station controllers. Remotely switch to new controllers with GUI commands. ABX-1
ABX-3 switches are widely used for enabling or disabling remote equipment and switching I/O connections between redundant messaging systems. ABX-3
Common Features:
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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| Leavitt Communications |
FCC Issues Enforcement Advisory: Radio Users Again Reminded Not to Use Radios in Crimes04/20/2021
On April 20, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued a new Enforcement Advisory, repeating the admonishments contained in a January Advisory that no licensee or user of the Amateur or Personal Radio Services may use any radio equipment in connection with unlawful activities of any nature. The Commission specifically cautioned that individuals found to have used radios in connection with any illegal activity are “subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and in some cases, criminal prosecution.” In addition, licensees should be aware that illegal operation in any service or band, including completely outside the amateur allocations, could potentially disqualify a person from holding any FCC license in any service, not just the Amateur Service. Any amateur observing a suspicious infraction that might be of illegal or criminal nature should report it to their local law enforcement office or the FBI. |
| Source: | ARRL |
| Inside Towers Newsletter |
FCC Fines Phone Company More Than $4 MillionBy Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
The FCC Thursday approved a fine of more than $4 million against Tele Circuit Network Corporation, a telephone company that the agency alleges lied to elderly and infirmed consumers to persuade them to change carriers, and then placed unauthorized charges to their bills. According to the Commission, in some cases, the victims were left without telephone service for a long time while the company refused to reinstate service until the extra money was paid. After receiving complaints, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau investigated. The forfeiture order reaffirms much of the original proposed fine from 2018. It claims Tele Circuit Network Corporation engaged in “slamming,” switching consumers from their preferred carrier without permission, and “cramming,” placing unauthorized charges on those consumers’ bills. During yesterday’s vote, FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel called the company’s actions “an especially ugly scam” and said its representatives had a “really deceptive sales pitch.” “Today, we hold this company accountable for its mistreatment of consumers,” said Rosenworcel. “To anyone else using our nation’s phone systems to perpetuate this kind of scam, take note because our efforts won’t stop here.” The agency said during its investigation, Tele Circuit “failed to fully respond to formal inquiries from the Commission.” |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers Jim Fryer. Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
FCC Announces June 30 Deadline for Robocall Mitigation FilingsOn April 20, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the immediate opening of the Robocall Mitigation Database and establishing a June 30, 2021 deadline for voice service providers to submit required information in the Database. BloostonLaw is available to assist carriers in preparing and submitting their filings. See the article below for more information BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer. HeadlinesFCC Issues Order on 2021 Access Tariff FilingsOn April 16, the FCC issued an Order establishing procedures for the 2021 filing of annual access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans (TRPs) for incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) subject to price cap regulation, as well as rate-of-return incumbent LECs subject to sections 61.38 and 61.39 of the FCC’s rules. Of special note this year, the Order highlights the requirements for tariffs to reflect the ongoing transition of 8YY traffic to bill-and-keep over a three-year period. Per the Order, the following deadlines are established:
In addition, the Order grants a limited waiver of section 51.909(a)(4) of the FCC’s rules to the National Exchange Carrier Association for purposes of the 2021-22 annual access tariff filing period. Carriers seeking assistance with their tariff filings may contact the firm for more information. BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Mary Sisak. FCC Announces June 30 Deadline for Robocall Mitigation FilingsOn April 20, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the immediate opening of the Robocall Mitigation Database and establishing a June 30, 2021 deadline for voice service providers to submit required information in the Database. As a result, intermediate providers and terminating voice service providers will be prohibited from accepting traffic from voice service providers not listed in the Robocall Mitigation Database beginning September 28, 2021. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, in its Second STIR/SHAKEN Order, the FCC (1) required all voice service providers to certify that their traffic is either fully, partially, or not yet signed with STIR/SHAKEN; (2) required voice service providers that certify that some or all of the calls they originate are subject to a robocall mitigation program to submit additional information with their certifications, including the type of extension or extensions received under section 64.6304 of the Commission’s rules, specific reasonable steps taken under a program to avoid originating illegal robocalls, and a commitment to respond to traceback requests and to cooperate with investigating and stopping illegal robocalls; and (3) required that all certifications must be signed by an officer. According to the FCC, a robocall mitigation program is sufficient if it includes “detailed practices that can reasonably be expected to significantly reduce the origination of illegal robocalls.” The requisite certification will include:
BloostonLaw is available to assist carriers in preparing and filing their certifications. The STIR/SHAKEN framework allows voice service providers to verify that the caller ID information transmitted with a particular call matches the caller’s number, through the use of digital certificates transmitted with the call. Specifically, the STIR/SHAKEN technical authentication and verification processes rely on public key cryptography to securely transmit the information that the originating voice service provider knows about the identity of the caller and its relationship to the phone number it is using throughout the entire length of the call path, allowing the terminating voice service provider to verify the information on the other end. The encrypted caller ID information is contained within a unique header to the message used to initiate a SIP call (the SIP INVITE message), called an “Identity” header. BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer. Chairwoman Rosenworcel to Re-establish 5G Security Advisory CommitteeOn April 15, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing per Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that the Commission will re-establish the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), with a primary focus on improving 5G network security. In addition, following security breaches that have impacted the communications sector, the Press Release indicates the Acting Chairwoman will ask the Committee to review software and cloud services vulnerabilities and to develop mitigation strategies. CSRIC is a federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to the Commission to improve the security, reliability, and interoperability of the nation’s communications systems. It will be re-established on or before June 30, 2021 for a period of two years. This will be the FCC’s eighth charter of CSRIC, with an expected first meeting in September of 2021. The Commission is seeking nominations for membership and a chairperson for CSRIC VIII. CSRIC VII concluded its work in March of 2021. “I am committed to working with our federal partners and the private sector to increase the security and resiliency of our nation’s communications networks,” said Rosenworcel. “That is why I am refocusing and revitalizing the FCC’s Communications, Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council for the challenges of today and tomorrow. The damage from recent supply chain attacks, like the SolarWinds software breach, demonstrates our need for a coordinated, multifaceted, and strategic approach to protecting our networks from all threats.” BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Opens April 29On April 15, the FCC announced that it will begin accepting applications for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 12:00 PM ET. The filing window will last seven calendar days and close on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:00 PM ET. Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program is a $249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act. The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program supports the efforts of health care providers to continue serving their patients by providing reimbursement for telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. “For over a year, health care providers have fought on the front lines of this pandemic and have had to rapidly innovate to support the health and well-being of all Americans. Telehealth has been at the forefront of this effort and I’m pleased to announce that additional support is just around the corner,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Today the FCC announced it will open the application process for the second half of COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding later this month. The FCC is dedicated to moving quickly to review and approve applications for this funding to support health care providers and patients across the country.” BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. Law and RegulationFCC Extends Comments on 12.2-12.7 GHz Band Flexible Use to May 7On April 16, the FCC published in the Federal Register a Public Notice extending the comment and reply comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking input on the feasibility of allowing flexible-use services in the 12.2–12.7 GHz band (12 GHz band) while protecting incumbents from harmful interference. Comments are now due May 7, and reply comments are now due June 7. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC seeks comment on whether it is possible to add mobile service throughout the 12 GHz band without causing harmful interference to incumbent licensees. Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on whether there are technical parameters that would allow additional terrestrial shared used of the band, methods for assigning flexible use rights in the band, and potential sharing mechanisms for the band if coexistence among the incumbent services and new flexible use service is technically feasible. The 12 GHz band is currently licensed to Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) operators, non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite systems, and fixed service providers, all on a co-primary basis. The Commission has authorized several NGSO constellations in recent years to operate using this spectrum, in coordination with one-way, fixed Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS). NGSO and MVDDS services must operate on a non-harmful interference basis with respect to DBS. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell. Carrier Agrees to $216,000 Civil Penalty Over Failure to File Form 499, CPNI CertificationsOn April 17, the FCC entered into a Consent Decree with and Lunex Telecom, Inc. (Lunex), terminating the agency’s investigation into whether Lunex violated certain provisions of the Communications Act regarding the filing of Form 499 and CPNI certifications. As a result, Lunex will implement a compliance plan, and pay a $216,000 civil penalty. As part of the Consent Decree, Lunex admitted that it did not timely file a total of 41 required Form 499 Worksheets by the appropriate filing deadlines between April 2011 and November 2020. In addition, Lunex failed to timely file CPNI Certifications that were due by March 1 of each year from 2012 to 2020. BloostonLaw is available to assist companies with the filing of Forms 499-A, 499-Q, and the annual CPNI certification. BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer. FCC Waives Rules to Allow In-Cabin Car Monitoring to Safeguard ChildrenOn April 14, the FCC formally granted waiver requests by Brose North America, IEE Sensing, Infineon Technologies Americas, Tesla, Valeo North America, and Vayyar Imaging of its technical and service rules for unlicensed operation in the 57-71 GHz band. The limited waivers will allow these equipment manufacturers and automakers to supply and operate in-cabin radars in the 60 GHz spectrum band. The new in-cabin car radars are designed to monitor for children left in dangerous, hot cars and trigger alerts that could save lives. In a Press Release, the FCC noted that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children dying from heatstroke in cars, either because they were left there or became trapped, has increased in recent years. There were 52 and 53 such deaths in 2019 and 2018 respectively – with far more suffering significant and permanent injury. The majority of these deaths are due to someone forgetting a child in the car. In 2019, more than 20 leading automobile manufacturers committed to implementing rear seat reminder systems as standard equipment in their vehicles no later than the 2025 model year. “Technology is providing new ways for families to help keep their children safe,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “That’s why I’m proud that the FCC can play a role in protecting kids from the avoidable danger of deadly heatstroke. With summer fast approaching, these waivers are a first step toward implementing a more permanent policy framework for promoting innovations like these life-saving auto safety technologies.” BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer. Daines, Kelly Introduce Broadband Bill to Improve Federal Right-of-Way AccessOn April 14, U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the bipartisan “Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act,” which is intended to increase access to existing infrastructure and thereby allow easier and faster installation of broadband services. Specifically, the bill would:
“Broadband coverage is essential to rural states like Montana as we work to close the digital divide. It helps support jobs, connects folks in every corner of our state, and makes life easier for working families,” Daines said. “I’m glad to work across the aisle on this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help expedite broadband deployment across Montana by capitalizing on existing infrastructure.” “Broadband access is not just about staying connected, it’s how small businesses, hospitals, and students thrive in today’s economy,” Kelly said. “I’ve spoken to so many Arizonans, especially in rural areas, who have faced challenges because of poor Internet access, and that’s why I worked with Republicans and Democrats to introduce this legislation that will cut red tape and help broadband projects move faster in rural communities. Every Arizonan deserves reliable broadband access.” BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, John Prendergast, and Sal Taillefer. IndustryFCC Announces Emergency Broadband Benefit Webinar for Consumers and Outreach PartnersOn April 16, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that on April 27 starting at 3:00 p.m. EDT, it will host a public webinar to provide information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the EBB was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. It is a temporary program that provides a discount of up to $50 per month ($75 on Tribal lands) off a qualifying households Internet bill. For eligible households there is the potential for a discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a tablet, laptop or desktop computer from a participating provider so long as the eligible purchaser contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. According to the Public Notice, the webinar will provide an overview of the EBB program, eligibility information, and enrollment procedures. During the event, the FCC will provide an overview of the outreach tool kit materials that have been developed for partners and the public to use to create awareness about the temporary program. The webinar can be viewed live at fcc.gov/live. DeadlinesMAY 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. 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 Holiday 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-GlanceApril May May 1 – 64.1900 Geographic Rate Averaging Certification is due. June Jun. 1 – FCC Form 395 Employment Reports are due. July
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This entire process is end-to-end encrypted so that no one but the owner of the AirTag—not the owners of the crowdsourced devices picking up the AirTag’s location or even Apple itself—ever has access to the AirTag’s current or past location. And the Bluetooth identifiers that AirTags emit are not only randomized but “are rotated many times a day and never reused so that as you travel from place to place with the AirTag, you cannot be re-identified,” Huang says. 
