Welcome Back To

The Wireless
Messaging News

This Week's Wireless News Headlines:

• Messenger celebrates its 10th anniversary with new features and a plan to become the ‘connective tissue’ for real-time experiences
• Steve Jobs Summed Up Apple's Entire Strategy Using Just 6 Bullet Points. Each One Teaches an Amazing Lesson
• Too Smart for Your Own Good
  • How intelligent people can avoid being off-putting.
• The History of Single Sideband
• Inside Towers
  • FCC Proposes $5 Million Robocalling Fine
• BloostonLaw Telecom Update
  • REMINDER: FCC Form 477 Due September 1
  • FCC Issues Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Advisory
  • 3.45-3.55 GHz Band Auction Short-Form Application Status Announced; Upfront Payments Due Sept. 2
  • FCC Seeks to Refresh Record on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Use in the 5GHz Band
  • FCC Extends Comment Deadline on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements
  • Comments on Equipment Authorization Bans for Devices Deemed a Security Threat Due Sept. 20
  • FCC To Investigate T-Mobile Data Breach
  • FCC Proposes $5 Million Robocalling Fine
  • FirstNet Authority Board Approves FY22 Budget for Operations, Investment
  • NTIA Announces $2.5 Billion in Funding Requests
  • Deadlines
  • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • BloostonLaw Contacts
• Technician's Corner
  • Tower Shadowing
  • Section four — conclusion
• By Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
• THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO
  • “Broken Hearted Blues”
• By Tuba Skinny

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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Messenger celebrates its 10th anniversary with new features and a plan to become the ‘connective tissue’ for real-time experiences

Amanda Silberling @asilbwrites • 8:30 AM CDT • August 25, 2021

Image Credits: Messenger

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Messenger today announced a handful of new features: poll games, word effects, contact sharing and birthday gifting via Facebook Pay. But beyond the fun features, Facebook has been testing a way to add voice and video calls back into the Facebook app, rather than on Messenger.

“We are testing audio and video calls within the Facebook app messaging experience so people can make and receive calls regardless of which app they’re using,” a representative from Facebook told TechCrunch. “This will give people on Facebook easy ways to connect with their communities where they already are.”

Although earlier in Facebook history, the Messenger app had operated as a standalone experience, Facebook tells us that it’s now starting to see Messenger less as a separate entity — more of an underlying technology that can help to power many of the new experiences Facebook is now developing.

“We’ve been focused more on real-time experiences — Watch Together, Rooms, Live Audio Rooms — and we’ve started to think of Messenger as a connective tissue regardless of the surface,” a Facebook spokesperson told us. “This is a test, but the bigger vision is for us to unlock content and communities that may not be accessible in Messenger, and that the Facebook app is going to become more about shared real-time experiences,” they added.

Given the company’s move in recent months to integrate its underlying communication infrastructure, it should come to reason that Facebook would ultimately add more touchpoints for accessing its new Messenger-powered features inside the desktop app, as well. When asked for comment on this point, the spokesperson said the company didn’t have any details to share at this time. However, they noted that the test is a part of Facebook’s broader vision to enable more real-time experiences across Facebook’s services.

Facebook says that people who want a more “full-featured” messaging, audio and video calling experience” should continue to use Messenger.

Image Credits: Messenger

As for today’s crop of new features — including polls, word effects, contact sharing and others — the goal is to celebrate Messenger’s ability to keep people in touch with their family and friends.

To play the new poll games, users can tap “Polls” in their group chat and select the “Most Likely To” tab — then, they can choose from questions like “most likely to miss their flight?” or “most likely to give gifts on their own birthday?”, select names of chat participants to be included as potential answers, and send the poll.

Contact sharing will make it easier to share others’ Facebook contacts through Messenger, while birthday gifting lets users send birthday-themed payments on Messenger via Facebook Pay. There will also be other “birthday expression tools,” including a birthday song soundmoji, “Messenger is 10!” sticker pack, a new balloon background, a message effect and AR effect to celebrate Messenger’s double-digit milestone.

Image Credits: Messenger

Meanwhile, word effects let users manually input a phrase, and any time they send a message with that phrase, an accompanying emoji will float across the screen. In an example, Messenger showed the phrase “happy birthday” accompanied with a word effect of confetti emojis flooding the screen. (That one’s pretty tame, but this could be a remarkable application of the poop emoji.) The company only shared a “sneak peek” of this feature, as it’s not rolling out immediately.

In total, Facebook is announcing a total of 10 features, most of which will begin rolling out today.

Messenger has come a long way over the past decade.

Ten years ago, Facebook acqui-hired a small group messaging startup called Beluga, started by three former Google employees (apparently, a functional group thread was a white whale back then — simpler times). Several months later, the company unveiled Messenger, a standalone messaging app.

But three years into Messenger’s existence, it was no longer an optional add-on to the Facebook experience, but a mandatory download for anyone who wanted to keep up with their friends on the go. Facebook removed the option to send messages within its flagship app, directing users to use Messenger instead. Facebook’s reasoning behind this, the company told TechCrunch at the time, was that they wanted to eliminate the confusion of having two different mobile messaging systems. Just months earlier, Facebook had spent $19 billion to acquire WhatsApp and woo international users. Though removing Messenger from the Facebook app was controversial, the app reached 1.2 billion users three years later in 2017.

Today, Facebook has declared that it wants to evolve into a “metaverse” company, and on the same day as the antitrust filing last week, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a product that applies virtual reality in an impressively boring way: helping people attend work meetings. This metaverse would be enabled by technologies built by Facebook’s platform team, noted Vice President of Messenger Stan Chudnovsky. However, he added that people in the metaverse will still need platforms like Messenger.

“I don’t think messaging is going anywhere, even in the metaverse, because asynchronous communication is going to continue to exist,” Chudnovsky said. People will still need to send messages to those who aren’t currently available to chat, he explained. Plus, Chudnovsky believes this sort of communication will become even more popular with the launch of the metaverse, as the technology will help to serve as a bridge between your phone, real life and the metaverse.

“If anything is gonna happen it’s more, not less. Because messaging is that things that just continues to grow with every new platform leap,” he said.

Additional reporting: Sarah Perez

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

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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.

Steve Jobs Summed Up Apple's Entire Strategy Using Just 6 Bullet Points. Each One Teaches an Amazing Lesson

In a recently published meeting agenda, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs teaches a master class in how to write a strategic plan.

BY JUSTIN BARISO

Steve Jobs. Getty Images

On October 24, 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs sent a very important e-mail.

It contained the agenda for the company's upcoming "Top 100" retreat, a top secret and super exclusive off-site management meeting that was reserved for 100 of Apple's most influential employees.

The agenda, part of an e-mail which was recently published in connection with the ongoing Epic v. Apple lawsuit, is long and detailed, with tons of lessons for business leaders. But it's the first point on the agenda, entitled "2011 Strategy" and assigned to Jobs himself, that stands out most.

Jobs's agenda point consists of only six major bullet points, but each one teaches an amazing lesson.

The six points are as follows:

• Who are we?
• What do we do?
• Post PC era
• 2011: Holy War with Google
• 2011: Year of the Cloud
• 2015: New Campus

Let's break each of them down.

Be intentional

Jobs begins with two very important questions:

• Who are we?
• What do we do?

Upon first glance, these questions might surprise you. After all, Jobs had been back as CEO of Apple for over a decade at this point, and had conducted one of the greatest turnarounds ever.

But Jobs knew well how easy it is to fall from the top. Apple had experienced huge success in the past, only to lose itself in a flurry of products and initiatives.

To keep history from repeating itself, Jobs knew Apple needed to continually question who it was and what it did. It had to clearly identify company leadership, values, and focus — and make sure to align its goals with its desired culture and purpose.

Takeaway: Your company will change as time goes on. Keep questioning yourself, and make those changes intentional, not accidental.

Identify your strengths

The next bullet point, "Post PC era," did two important things. First, it early identified the consumer shift of purchasing more mobile devices.

Just as important, though, it highlighted Apple's strength in this nascent market.

"Apple is the first company to get here," Jobs wrote — which was entirely true, as the iPhone and iPad had proven revolutionary. Mobile products now accounted for 66 percent of the company's revenues, with the iPad alone having outsold the Mac within six months.

The key for future success, as Jobs outlined, would be to leverage this shift through continued improvement of mobile devices, communication, apps, and cloud services — a strategy that Apple is continuing to follow over a decade later and that has transformed it into a trillion-dollar company.

Takeaway: Identify what your company does well in the context of the overall market. Then, double down on doing those things better.

Learn from competitors

The next bullet point encapsulated Jobs's view of the competition:

2011: Holy War with Google

While it was true that the iPhone and iPad were revolutionary, Google had begun to surpass Apple in some ways — and Jobs knew it. Later in the agenda, he highlighted how Google's Android operating system excelled at deeply integrating Google's cloud services, admitting that Android was "way ahead of Apple" in cloud services for contacts, calendar, and mail.

The goal, then?

"Catch up to Android where we are behind . . . and leapfrog them."

Takeaway: Focus on your strengths, but ignore your weaknesses at your own peril.

Focus on one big thing

Jobs next clearly establishes the single most important priority for 2011, which he terms "the year of the cloud."

Apple "invented" the digital hub concept, writes Jobs, by using the PC as a hub for digital assets like contacts, calendars, photos, music, and videos. But the digital hub was shifting from the PC to the cloud, and Apple had to move fast.

"Google and Microsoft are further along on the technology," he wrote, "but [they] haven't quite figured it out yet . . . [We need to] tie all of our products together, so we further lock customers into our ecosystem."

Identifying and executing on this priority was pivotal in helping shape Apple's strategy for years to come, and in helping the company keep up with — and, in some ways, surpass — its competitors.

Takeaway: There are countless things you could be working on, a few things you should be working on, and only one thing that should be your top priority.

Figure it out, and make sure everyone is working to support it.

Look to the future

Jobs's final bullet point is only three words:

2015: New Campus

Of course, this was a reference to what eventually became "Apple Park," the company's 175-acre campus and futuristic office complex that now serves as the its corporate headquarters. This was one of the final projects pitched by Jobs, a workplace that would embody the spirit of Apple and inspire employees to continue to "think different."

Sadly, Jobs didn't live to see construction on Apple's new campus begin. However, he set the plans in motion and was heavily involved in the design of the campus, reportedly specifying even small details about building materials and other features.

And in April 2017, two years later than originally planned, Apple Park was opened to employees.

Takeaway: Focus on the here and now. But always, always plan for the future.

There it is.

A single agenda topic. Six major bullet points. Just enough words to form a few paragraphs, at most.

Yet, those few words contain a master class in business strategy:

1. Be intentional
2. Identify your strengths
3. Learn from competitors
4. Focus on one big thing
5. Look to the future

Take a page out of Steve Jobs's playbook and use those five steps to help plan your business strategy.

Inc.

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.

Can You Help The Newsletter?

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

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

Too Smart for Your Own Good

How intelligent people can avoid being off-putting.

Marty Nemko Ph.D. How To Do Life

Posted August 25, 2021 | Reviewed by Chloe Williams

KEY POINTS

• Intelligence brings with it the burden of how to express ideas without hurting others' self-esteem.
• Ways to offer ideas without making people feel inferior include phrasing suggestions as questions and reconsidering when it's worth sharing.
• Giving others credit, providing ideas in writing and recognizing that people are rarely brilliant in all domains can also help.

Many people wish they were more intelligent, but I’ve had clients whose very intelligence hurts them. Here’s a composite example:

I can’t understand it. I make suggestion after suggestion that’s smarter than what other people propose and at best, an idea gets adopted and I get but the most obligatory thank you. Worse, I was passed over a number of times for promotion in favor of someone who I swear is less intelligent, hard working, and ethical. But what made me contact you is that my employer has actually let me go now, and it’s not the first time. Help!

Are you aware of the danger of giving advice? Most people claim to want input, claim that they try to hire people smarter than they are. But in fact, many if not most people are more motivated to preserve their self-esteem. Every time you offer an idea, you may well make them feel less than. Ironically, the better your idea, the more inferior they feel and thus the more likely to distance themselves from you in favor of people who make them feel better about themselves.

Tips for offering ideas without being off-putting

In an ideal world, people would, like a self-teaching computer, immediately adopt a better idea. But humans are not computers and if we care to work with people and not just with information and data, we must adapt. That means defaulting to:

• Phrasing advice as a question and in a face-saving way, for example, “I’m wondering if an alternative approach might be X. What do you think?” And when they yes-but you, even if irrationally, the most you can usually do is to take one more crack at it, providing new information to justify a new decision. Again, it usually should be queried in a face-saving way, such as, “I can understand. What’s going through my head as a rationale for X is A. Any validity to that?”
• Realizing that no matter how tactful, every time you offer an idea, especially one that one-ups someone else’s idea, you pay a price. Case-by-case, consciously decide when it’s worth that price.
• Where possible, give someone else credit for at least part of the idea. Politicians and other leaders use a variant of that: "I couldn't have done it without my team."
• Providing your ideas in writing. That gives recipients time to diffuse their defensiveness. It's particularly wise to put your idea in writing when you have an idea during a meeting. Offering it in the meeting risks turning off a number of people. Of course, occasionally share your idea but less is more. Decide whether a particular idea should be brought up in the meeting or afterward by writing to one or more participants.
• When developing an idea, consider the people component: What stakeholder roadblocks need to be anticipated? The best technical solution can fail because people resist or don't understand why it's better.
• It’s also possible that you’re not as smart, at least as across-the-board smart, as you think you are. For example, I’ve had clients who are brilliantly analytical but when it comes to influencing people, their ideas are, let’s just say, not as brilliant. Few people are brilliant in all domains. Case-by-case, perhaps based on your track record in that domain, decide whether to and how hard to push your idea.

The takeaway

Intelligence requires, well, intelligence, so your pearls are dispensed so they yield maximum benefit with minimum risk.

Psychology Today

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

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

The History of Single Sideband

Posted date: August 20, 2021

Single sideband modulation revolutionized electronic communication, but where did the idea come from? Antique Wireless Association Curator Emeritus Ed Gable, K2MP, tells the surprising story of single sideband, its origins, the developers, companies and the hardware that brought it to the forefront of wireless communication. This presentation is the first of the AWA’s monthly “AWA Shares” series.

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

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

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

Some people use the title “consultant” when they don't have a real job. We actually do consulting work, and help others based on our many years of experience.

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

Remote AB Switches

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

ABX-1

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

ABX-3

Common Features:

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

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

FCC Proposes $5 Million Robocalling Fine

In a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the FCC proposed a $5,134,500 fine against lobbyists John Burkman and Jacob Alexander Wohl, and J.M. Burkman & Associates LLC, Burkman’s political consulting firm. The Commission says the men apparently made 1,141 unlawful robocalls to wireless phones without prior consent, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The Enforcement Bureau found that the calls were apparently pre-recorded and made to voters’ wireless phones.

In most cases, the TCPA prohibits making pre-recorded voice calls to wireless phones without the consent of those receiving the calls – regardless of the content. The robocalls in this case, made on August 26 and September 14, 2020, used messages telling potential voters that, if they vote by mail, their “personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts.”

The Commission began its investigation following consumer complaints and concerns raised by a non-profit organization. The Enforcement Bureau worked with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to identify two dialing service providers that confirmed the robocall campaigns and identified the clients who hired them for this service. The bureau used subpoenaed call records and call recordings to determine the calls apparently went to wireless phones and the message was pre-recorded.

Consumers told the agency about the calls and confirmed they had not provided prior consent. Subpoenas produced email exchanges between the dialing service vendors and Wohl and Burkman about the call campaigns – including choosing which zip codes to target and “the tape we want to go out.”

The calls identified Wohl and Burkman by name and used Burkman’s wireless phone number as the caller ID. Wohl and Burkman also both admitted under oath to their involvement in the creation and distribution of the robocalls, according to the FCC.

The parties will be able to respond to the NAL, and the Commission will consider their evidence and legal arguments before acting further to resolve the case.

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency is stepping up its efforts to combat illegal robocalls. “I appreciate the unanimous support of my colleagues in this effort. I also appreciate the work of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for their work with us to gather evidence and build a case. This kind of collaboration is vitally important in our work to combat illegal robocalls and I look forward to future collaboration like this with other law enforcement partners nationwide.”

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.

REMINDER: FCC Form 477 Due September 1

By September 1 each year, four types of entities are required to file the FCC’s Local Competition and Broadband Reporting Form, a.k.a. Form 477: facilities-based providers of broadband connections to end user locations; providers of wired or fixed wireless local telephone services; providers of interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service; and providers of mobile telephony services.

Carriers with questions about the Form 477 filing requirement may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

Headlines

FCC Issues Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Advisory

On August 20, the FCC issued a Public Notice reminding participating providers in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program of their obligation to apply the EBB discount to a customer’s account before the provider claims reimbursement for that discount and certifies as such when submitting reimbursement claims. The FCC also reminds EBB Program providers of program rules and requirements, adopted to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse in the EBB Program.

Specifically, the FCC stated that providers are prohibited from charging households for the amount of the Internet offering for which the provider is seeking reimbursement, and that circumventing this rule by charging customers for the full amount of the Internet service offering and then issuing delayed reimbursements to the customers violates EBB Program rules.

Participating providers must transmit the household’s information to the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) in order to successfully enroll the household in the EBB Program and also to seek reimbursement for any service and connected device support provided to that household. Reimbursement claims for the EBB Program are based on the number of Program subscribers enrolled with each provider in the NLAD as of the first day of each month (referred to as the “snapshot date”). To receive reimbursement, providers must submit certified reimbursement claims based on the Program subscribers captured on the snapshot date through the Lifeline Claims System by the 15th of each month, or the following business day in the event the 15th is a holiday or falls on a weekend.

The FCC also stated that the Consolidated Appropriations Act and EBB Program Report and Order include several rules and requirements designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the EBB Program, including the following:

• Household Eligibility. Participating providers are required to implement policies and procedures for ensuring that their EBB Program households are eligible to receive the Emergency Broadband Benefit. In doing so, a provider may not provide a consumer with an activated device that it represents enables use of Emergency Broadband Benefit-supported service, nor may it activate service that it represents to be Emergency Broadband Benefit-supported service, unless and until it has: (1) confirmed that the household is an eligible household pursuant to section III(B) of the EBB Program Order; (2) completed the eligibility determination and certification required by section III(B) of the EBB Program Order; and (3) completed any other necessary enrollment steps established in the EBB Program Order.
• Election Notice Certifications and Requirements. Broadband providers seeking to participate in the EBB Program must submit an election notice to USAC. In those election notices, providers are required to certify under penalty of perjury that the provider understands and complies with all of the Program’s statutory and regulatory obligations. In addition to the election notice, a non-ETC provider that is seeking approval to participate in the EBB Program must also certify that it will: (1) de-enroll from the EBB Program any household it has a reasonable basis to believe is no longer eligible to receive the benefit consistent with EBB Program requirements; (2) comply with the EBB Program’s document retention requirements and agree to make such documentation available to the FCC or USAC, upon request or any entities (for example, auditors) operating on their behalf; and (3) agree to the FCC’s enforcement and forfeiture authority.
• Reimbursement and Document Retention Requirements. Providers are only eligible to receive reimbursement for offerings that were available on and include the same terms as those available as of December 1, 2020. Associated equipment (i.e., equipment necessary for the transmission functions of Internet service offerings supported through the EBB Program, which households may choose to receive) must be billed monthly on the same terms and same manner as it would have been in an offering available on December 1, 2020 in order to be eligible for reimbursement. Providers are only eligible to receive a one-time reimbursement of up to $100 for providing one connected device (defined as a “laptop or desktop computer or tablet” and not a mobile phone) per household if the eligible household contributes more than $10 but less than $50. Participating providers are required to maintain records that document their compliance with the EBB Program requirements for the six full preceding calendar years and provide that documentation to the FCC or USAC upon request. Providers are required to retain all documentation related to eligibility and reimbursement claims for an EBB household for as long as the applicant receives the Emergency Broadband Benefit from that provider, but for no less than the six full calendar years following the termination of the EBB Program.
• Summary of EBB Program Audit Plan. Within one year of the date of the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the FCC’s Office of Inspector General must conduct an audit of the disbursements made to a representative sample of participating providers. • Summary of EBB Program Enforcement Measures. The FCC will apply its suspension and debarment rules currently applicable to the Universal Service Fund program to EBB Program participating providers. The FCC will also withhold EBB Program funds from participants found to be in violation of the EBB Program rules, if appropriate, and will seek to recoup improperly disbursed funds, in addition to appropriate enforcement penalties.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC previously released an advisory reminding EBB Program participating providers of their obligation to comply with the EBB Program rules, including ensuring that existing Lifeline customers give their informed affirmative consent to participate in the EBB Program and are able to choose not to apply their Emergency Broadband Benefit with their Lifeline provider without jeopardizing their existing Lifeline service.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

3.45-3.55 GHz Band Auction Short-Form Application Status Announced; Upfront Payments Due Sept. 2

On August 18, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the status of 42 short-form applications received for Auction 110. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, Auction 110 will offer new flexible‐use licenses in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band (3.45 GHz Service) throughout the contiguous United States. Bidding in Auction 110 is scheduled to begin on October 5.

Twenty-six applications were deemed complete. Each of these applicants will become a qualified bidder upon receipt by the FCC of the required upfront payment by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Thursday, September 2. In order to meet the FCC’s upfront payment deadline, an applicant’s payment must be credited to the FCC’s account by the deadline. Payments must be made by wire transfer in accordance with the instructions provided in the Auction 110 Procedures Public Notice. No other payment method is acceptable for this auction. Each applicant is reminded to provide its FCC Registration Number (FRN) on the FCC Remittance Advice Form (FCC Form 159) and to submit the same FRN with all future payments for Auction 110. At least one hour before placing the order for the wire transfer (but on the same business day), each applicant must submit a completed FCC Form 159 to the FCC.

Sixteen applications were deemed incomplete. Each applicant whose application for Auction 110 has been identified as incomplete must address each defect in its application during the resubmission window, which is now open. Any short-form application corrections must be made electronically using the FCC’s auction application system. Corrected applications must be submitted prior to 6:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 2.

Following FCC review of resubmitted short-form applications and the correlation of upfront payments and applications, a public notice listing all applicants qualified to bid in Auction 110 will be released. This same public notice will also include bidding schedules for the mock auction and the first day of bidding in the auction. Registration materials will be sent by overnight delivery to the contact person listed on each qualified bidder’s FCC Form 175. The package will include an RSA token issued by the FCC specifically assigned to each of the authorized bidders identified on the qualified bidder’s FCC Form 175. For security purposes, the RSA tokens, the Auction Bidder Line telephone number, and other auction-related materials will be sent only to the applicant’s contact person at the contact address listed on its application.

The rules prohibiting certain communications apply to each applicant that filed a short-form application (FCC Form 175) in Auction 110. Specifically, “all applicants are prohibited from cooperating or collaborating with respect to, communicating with or disclosing, to each other or any nationwide provider [of communications services] that is not an applicant, or, if the applicant is a nationwide provider, any non-nationwide provider that is not an applicant, in any manner the substance of their own, or each other’s, or any other applicants’ bids or bidding strategies (including post-auction market structure), or discussing or negotiating settlement agreements, until after the down payment deadline[.]” An “applicant” for purposes of this rule includes all “controlling interests” in the entity submitting the FCC Form 175, as well as all holders of interests amounting to 10% or more of the entity, and all officers and directors of that entity. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are the “nationwide providers” for purposes of this rule in Auction 110. This prohibition applies to all applicants regardless of whether such applicants become qualified bidders, intend to, and/or actually do bid in Auction 110.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Seeks to Refresh Record on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Use in the 5GHz Band

On August 20, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on a petition filed by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) on February 8, 2018 to address the growing need for access to licensed spectrum for Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators. Comment deadlines have not yet been established.

In its petition, AIA proposed that individual UAS operators, e.g., pilots-in-command (PICs), that meet certain qualifications or organizations that employ such operators be able to obtain a non-exclusive, nationwide FCC spectrum license that would authorize operators to use the band subject to a dynamic frequency assignment process. Under this proposed process, licensees could, upon request to a frequency coordinator, obtain operational access to a subset of frequencies in the band for a limited geographic area and duration tailored to a specific flight. AIA further proposed that operators be subject to flexible technical rules, but recommended in a supplement that operators of CNPC links in the 5030-5091 MHz band be required to follow the “relevant Federal Aviation Regulations []as prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration []for their particular types of operations.” AIA also recommended that the FCC prohibit any use of the 5030-5091 MHz band by UAS for “payload communications or other non-safety or non-route services.”

The FCC seeks updated and additional comment on all aspects of the AIA proposal as a licensing approach for UAS operations in the 5030-5091 MHz band, and in particular, the aspects discussed below.

• License eligibility. Whether, as proposed by AIA, the FCC should require that parties seeking a 5030-5091 MHz band spectrum license must certify they have the requisite FAA remote pilot certification, or, in the case of organizations, to certify that they will utilize only individuals with such qualifications for their UAS operations in the band.
• Dynamic frequency assignment. Whether a dynamic frequency assignment management system, which would automatically process requests from licensees for temporary assignment of bandwidth in the 5030-5091 MHz band in a specified geographic area or path covering the anticipated flight path, for a specified duration covering the anticipated flight duration, would be a workable approach.
• Technical requirements. Appropriate technical requirements and parameters, including: transmitter power and emissions in the 5030-5091 MHz band should conform to the requirements in RTCA DO-362 § 2.2.1.6; frequency accuracy of a 5030-5091 MHz CNPC transmitter, or of the local oscillator of a 5030-5091 MHz CNPC receiver, should not vary more than 0.2 parts per million (ppm) from the intended value, as stipulated in RTCA DO-362 § 2.2.1.4; and emission limits for Aeronautical Stations and Aircraft Stations indicated in Section 87.139(c) of the FCC’s rules be applicable to such stations that are capable of operating in the 5030-5091 MHz band to support UAS CNPC links, in addition to the emission limits imposed by RTCA DO-362 § 2.2.1.6.32.
• The scope of services to be permitted in the band. What types of UAS communications fall within the scope of this allocation, “relating to the safety and regularity of flight.”
• Alternative Approaches Supporting BLOS Use. Whether the spectrum assignment model proposed by AIA would provide sufficient scope and certainty to incentivize the deployment of network infrastructure that can support both line of sight (LOS) and beyond line of sight (BLOS) flights.

The FCC also invites comment on hybrid approaches to licensing the band. For example, the Commission seeks comment on whether to partition the band into two segments, one which adopts an approach like the AIA proposal, the other which issues exclusive geographic area licenses for network-based services.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

Law and Regulation

FCC Extends Comment Deadline on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements

On August 24, the FCC issued an Order granting a motion filed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) seeking an extension of time to file comments and reply comments on the Public Notice seeking comment on proposed technical requirements to implement the mobile challenge, verification, and crowd-sourcing processes required by the Broadband DATA Act. Comments are now due September 10, and reply comments are now due September 27.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, to implement the Broadband DATA Act’s requirements and obtain better mobile broadband availability data, the FCC is developing: (1) technical requirements for a challenge process that will enable consumers and other third parties to dispute service providers’ coverage data; (2) a process to verify service providers’ coverage data; and (3) a process to accept crowdsourced information from third parties.

The proposed requirements include the metrics to be collected for on-the-ground test data and a methodology for determining the threshold for what constitutes a cognizable challenge requiring a provider response. The Public Notice also provides tentative views and seeks comment on the types of data that likely will be probative in different circumstances for validating broadband availability data submitted by mobile service providers. The Public Notice proposes detailed processes and metrics for challengers to use to contest providers’ broadband coverage availability, for providers to follow when responding to an FCC verification request, and for state, local, and Tribal governmental entities and other third parties to follow when submitting verified broadband coverage data. The Public Notice seeks comment on the technical requirements for these complex issues to assure that the broadband availability data collected in the challenge and other data verification and crowd-source processes serves the important broadband data verification purposes envisioned in the Broadband DATA Act.

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

Comments on Equipment Authorization Bans for Devices Deemed a Security Threat Due Sept. 20

On August 19, the FCC published in the Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Notice of Inquiry (NOI) of June 17, in which it proposed to prohibit authorization of equipment that poses “an unacceptable risk to national security,” and seeks comment on possible changes to the competitive bidding rules for auctions to protect national security. As a result, comments are due September 20 and reply comments are due October 18.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the NPRM seeks comment on a proposal to prohibit all future authorizations of communications equipment that has been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security, as identified on the Covered List published by the FCC. The proposal would prohibit the authorization of equipment through either the FCC’s Certification or Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity equipment authorization processes. The proposal also seeks comment on whether to revise rules concerning equipment currently exempted from the equipment authorization requirements to no longer permit this exemption for equipment on the Covered List.

The FCC also seeks comment on whether it should revoke prior authorizations for any equipment on the Covered List and, if so, the procedures it should use to do so. Finally, with regard to the FCC’s competitive bidding rules, the FCC seeks comment on whether to require applicants who wish to participate in FCC auctions to provide additional certifications relating to national security.

The NOI seeks comment on other actions that could create incentives in the equipment authorization processes for improved trust through adoption of cybersecurity best practices in consumer devices.

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

FCC To Investigate T-Mobile Data Breach

On August 18, Reuters reported that the FCC will investigate a data breach disclosed by T-Mobile US, Inc. (T-Mobile) which appears to have impacted more than 47 million current, former and prospective customers. Specifically, as of August 20, T-Mobile reported that compromised data included:

• Information from approximately 7.8 million current T-Mobile postpaid customer accounts, including first and last names, date of birth, SSN, and driver’s license/ID information, phone numbers, as well as IMEI and IMSI information, the typical identifier numbers associated with a mobile phone, were also compromised.
• Another 5.3 million current postpaid customer accounts that had one or more associated customer names, addresses, date of births, phone numbers, IMEIs and IMSIs illegally accessed, but did not have any SSNs or driver’s license/ID information compromised.
• Information from about 40 million former or prospective T-Mobile customers, including first and last names, date of birth, SSN, and driver’s license/ID information.
• An additional 667,000 accounts of former T- Mobile customers that were accessed with customer names, phone numbers, addresses and dates of birth compromised, but did not have any SSNs or driver’s license/ID information compromised.
• Stolen data files including phone numbers, IMEI, and IMSI numbers, but not personally identifiable information.
• No indication that the data contained in any of the stolen files included any customer financial information, credit card information, debit or other payment information.
• Approximately 850,000 active T-Mobile prepaid customer names, phone numbers and account PINs were exposed.
• Up to 52,000 names related to current Metro by T-Mobile accounts may have been included. None of these data sets included any personally identifiable information. Further, none of the T-Mobile files stolen related to former Sprint prepaid or Boost customers.

“Telecommunications companies have a duty to protect their customers’ information. The FCC is aware of reports of a data breach affecting T-Mobile customers and we are investigating," an FCC spokesperson told Reuters.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, John Prendergast, and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Proposes $5 Million Robocalling Fine

On August 24, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing that it has proposed a $5,134,500 fine against John M. Burkman, Jacob Alexander Wohl, and J.M. Burkman & Associates LLC for apparently making 1,141 unlawful robocalls to wireless phones without prior express consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. This is the largest TCPA robocall fine ever proposed by the FCC.

According to the Press Release, following consumer complaints and concerns raised by non-profit organizations, the FCC’s investigation found that the calls in this case were apparently prerecorded and made to consumers’ wireless phones without the required prior consent. The robocalls in this case, made on August 26 and September 14, 2020, used messages telling potential voters that, if they vote by mail, their “personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts.”

The FCC worked with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to identify two dialing service providers that provided subpoena responses confirming the robocall campaigns and identifying the clients who had hired them for this service. The FCC used the subpoenaed call records and recordings of the calls to determine that the calls apparently went to wireless phones and the message was prerecorded. The consumers who agreed to speak with the FCC about the calls confirmed they had not provided prior consent to the callers. The subpoenas also produced email exchanges between the dialing service vendors and Wohl and Burkman about the call campaigns — including choosing which zip codes to target and “the tape we want to go out.”

The calls themselves identified Wohl and Burkman by name and used Burkman’s wireless phone number as the caller ID. Wohl and Burkman also both admitted under oath to their involvement in the creation and distribution of the robocalls, with Burkman stating in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, “That is our call, yes, yes” with confirmation from Wohl.

The proposed action contains only allegations that advise a party on how it has apparently violated the law and may set forth a proposed monetary penalty. Neither the allegations nor the proposed sanctions in the NAL are final FCC actions, and the parties will be given an opportunity to respond and the FCC will consider the party’s submission of evidence and legal arguments before acting further to resolve the matter.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Industry

FirstNet Authority Board Approves FY22 Budget for Operations, Investment

On August 18, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board approved a $253 million budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), with a focus on overseeing deployment of the nationwide public safety broadband network, supporting public safety engagement on their communications priorities, and directing investments in the network based on public safety’s feedback.

Specifically, during its quarterly meeting, the FirstNet Authority Board approved Resolution 110, which allocates $79.3 million for the FirstNet Authority’s operating budget in FY22 and provides an additional $79.3 million in reserves for operations. The budget also includes $94 million for investments in support of FirstNet network enhancements.

According to the press release, the FirstNet Authority delivered on two network investments last year: upgrades to the network core for initial 5G capabilities and expansion of FirstNet’s fleet of deployables with 15 new assets. As a result, FirstNet users now have access to AT&T’s 5G spectrum in a growing number of markets, and the new assets are helping to meet public safety’s increasing demand for deployables with nearly 1,000 requests for FirstNet deployables from January 2020 to date.

“This budget secures the organization’s ability to plan and invest in future capabilities and services that will continue to evolve the network,” said FirstNet Authority Board Chair Tip Osterthaler. “The FirstNet Authority remains steadfast in its mission to ensure FirstNet delivers what public safety asked for and needs — today and in the future.”

“FirstNet is the only network with a dedicated organization like the FirstNet Authority providing oversight of the network and ensuring public safety’s voice continues to drive the future of the network,” said FirstNet Authority CEO Edward Parkinson. “This streamlined budget allows us to continue important work, while also ensuring we are good stewards of our funds on behalf of public safety. FirstNet is truly public safety’s network, and we are proud to serve them as they work to keep communities safe.”

NTIA Announces $2.5 Billion in Funding Requests

On August 24, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it has received more than 230 applications for the Broadband Infrastructure Program, for a total of more than $2.5 billion in funding requests across 49 states and U.S. territories. NTIA has begun reviewing the applications as part of the $288 million grant program, which was funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act). Grants will be awarded to covered partnerships between a state, or political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the program’s 90-day application window closed on Tuesday, August 17.

• Priority will be given to applications with proposed projects that:
• Provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area;
• Provide broadband service to rural areas;
• Are most cost-effective in providing broadband service; or
• Provide broadband service with a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 20 Mbps.

“The intense demand for this program across the country demonstrates the widespread need for better broadband connectivity in unserved communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “These investments are critical, but there is more to be done. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, recently passed by the Senate, will expand upon the groundwork being laid by this program to advance digital equity and get us one step closer to every American having access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable Internet”

Deadlines

AUGUST 29: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Copyright Statement of Accounts form plus royalty payment for the first half of year is due to be filed August 29 at the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office by cable TV service providers.

BloostonLaw Contact: Gerry Duffy.

SEPTEMBER 1: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION AND BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. Three types of entities must file this form.

1. Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End User Locations: Entities that are facilities-based providers of broadband connections — which are wired “lines” or wireless “channels” that enable the end user to receive information from and/or send information to the Internet at information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction — must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which the entity provides one or more such connections to end user locations. For the purposes of Form 477, an entity is a “facilities-based” provider of broadband connections to end user locations if it owns the portion of the physical facility that terminates at the end user location, if it obtains unbundled network elements (UNEs), special access lines, or other leased facilities that terminate at the end user location and provisions/equips them as broadband, or if it provisions/equips a broadband wireless channel to the end user location over licensed or unlicensed spectrum. Such entities include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers (LECs), cable system operators, fixed wireless service providers (including “wireless ISPs”), terrestrial and satellite mobile wireless service providers, MMDS providers, electric utilities, municipalities, and other entities. (Such entities do not include equipment suppliers unless the equipment supplier uses the equipment to provision a broadband connection that it offers to the public for sale. Such entities also do not include providers of fixed wireless services (e.g., “Wi-Fi” and other wireless ethernet, or wireless local area network, applications) that only enable local distribution and sharing of a premises broadband facility.)
2. Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Telephone Services: Incumbent and competitive LECs must complete and file the applicable portions of the form for each state in which they provide local exchange service to one or more end user customers (which may include “dial-up” ISPs).
3. Providers of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Service: Interconnected VoIP service is a service that enables real-time, two-way voice communications; requires a broadband connection from the user’s location; requires Internet-protocol compatible customer premises equipment; and permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network. Interconnected VoIP providers must complete and file the applicable portions of the form for each state in which they provide interconnected VoIP service to one or more subscribers, with the state determined for reporting purposes by the location of the subscriber’s broadband connection or the subscriber’s “Registered Location” as of the data-collection date. “Registered Location” is the most recent information obtained by an interconnected VoIP service provider that identifies the physical location of an end user.
4. Providers of Mobile Telephony Services: Facilities-based providers of mobile telephony services must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which they serve one or more mobile telephony subscribers. A mobile telephony service is a real-time, two-way switched voice service that is interconnected with the public switched network using an in-network switching facility that enables the provider to reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless handoff of subscriber calls. A mobile telephony service provider is considered “facilities-based” if it serves a subscriber using spectrum for which the entity holds a license that it manages, or for which it has obtained the right to use via lease or other arrangement with a Band Manager.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

SEPTEMBER 30: FCC FORM 396-C, MVPD EEO PROGRAM REPORTING FORM. Each year on September 30, multi-channel video program distributors (“MVPDs”) must file with the FCC an FCC Form 396-C, Multi-Channel Video Programming Distributor EEO Program Annual Report, for employment units with six or more full-time employees. Users must access the FCC’s electronic filing system via the Internet in order to submit the form; it will not be accepted if filed on paper unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver of the electronic filing requirement. Certain MVPDs also will be required to complete portions of the Supplemental Investigation Sheet (“SIS”) located at the end of the Form. These MVPDs are specifically identified in a Public Notice each year by the FCC.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

SEPTEMBER 30: FCC FORM 611-T, DESIGNATED ENTITY REPORT. Each year on September 30, entities that won licenses at auction with bid credits must file a combined 611-T Designated Entity report for any licenses still subject to the “unjust enrichment” rule, which requires licensees to maintain their eligibility for small business and rural service provider bid credits for the first five years of the license term.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

OCTOBER 15: 911 RELIABILITY CERTIFICATION. Covered 911 Service Providers, which are defined as entities that “[p]rovide[] 911, E911, or NG911 capabilities such as call routing, automatic location information (ALI), automatic number identification (ANI), or the functional equivalent of those capabilities, directly to a public safety answering point (PSAP), statewide default answering point, or appropriate local emergency authority,” or that “[o]perate[] one or more central offices that directly serve a PSAP,” are required certify that they have taken reasonable measures to provide reliable 911 service with respect to three substantive requirements:

1. 911 circuit diversity;
2. central office backup power; and
3. diverse network monitoring by October 15.

Certifications must be made through the FCC’s portal.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Mary Sisak and Sal Taillefer.

Calendar At-a-Glance

August
Aug. 27 – RDOF Letter of Credit and Bankruptcy Opinion Letters are due (letter extension, 6 P.M. ET).
Aug. 29 – Copyright Statement of Accounts is due.

September
Sep. 1 – FCC Form 477 due (Local Competition and Broadband Report).
Sept. 2 – Upfront payments and short-form application corrections for Auction 101 are due.
Sep. 7– Reply comments are due on Edison Electric Institute Pole Attachment Petition for Declaratory Ruling.
Sep. 7 – Comments are due on Broadcast Station Technical Rules NPRM.
Sep. 10 – Comments on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements are due.
Sep. 10 – Reply comments on Space Launch Industry Spectrum are due.
Sep. 20 – Reply comments are due on Broadcast Station Technical Rules NPRM.
Sep. 27 – ETRS Form Three is due.
Sep. 27 – Reply comments on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements are due.
Sep. 30 – FCC Form 396-C (MVPD EEO Program Annual Report).
Sep. 30 – FCC Form 611T Designated Entity Report due for Licenses subject to Unjust Enrichment rule

October
Oct. 8 – TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund Reimbursement Forms due for Phase 1-5 broadcasters.
Oct. 15 – 911 Reliability Certification
Oct. 21 – Notice of C-Band Operation for Earth Stations is due.

I had dinner with my good friend Ira Wiesenfeld last week. In the midst of our most enjoyable conversation, Ira told me one of his success stories; about how he solved a serious coverage issue on a public-safety two-way radio system. It was so interesting that I asked him if I could have a copy of the tutorial article he wrote (some years ago). I thought here in the Technician's Corner would be the perfect place for it.

So with Ira's permission, I have edited and updated his paper. It is a little too long to put it entirely in one issue, so I will include it here — as a series — in sections.

TOWER SHADOWING

Section Four — conclusion

By Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E. with additions and updates by Brad Dye

RF INTERFERENCE

If the range of a system that is less than the expected predictions have, it is usually due to RF Interference. The source of the interference might be from your own system, somebody else’s system, or from a myriad of electromagnetic energy sources that are beyond the scope of this article to explain. In short, many times the range is deficient, but the hardware in your system is working properly.

If you suspect interference, there are tests that can be performed to confirm that this is the case. If the tests do confirm that RF Interference does exist, then there are quite a few options that can be followed to correct these problems. Please note that not every interference problem can be corrected without somebody having to move one of the radio systems or the redesign of one of the associated components.

MOBILE AND PORTABLE UNIT PERFORMANCE

In some cases, the problem may or may not be caused by the infrastructure radio system. If you have quite a few mobile units and portable units not meeting factory specifications, you will think that your system does not work correctly, but, you have multiple mobile units and portable units not working making you think that it is the fixed equipment in trouble.

Mobile units need to have good antennas and installations. I had a Sheriff’s Department using “INMATE RADIO SERVICE COMPANY” (IRSC) which was the polite way of saying the prisoners who were convicted thieves and drug dealers were the cheap labor. The Sheriff was using these people to install the radios into the squad cars. The local radio shop that had formally been maintaining the old system had told the fleet service manger to be sure and use “ALL” of the silicon lubricant that came with each antenna and fill the antenna connection fitting with the silicon to keep the moisture out of the connection after he did not get the bid for the new system. I am sure that he was laughing all the way home over this prank. The silicon is used on the part of the mount to keep moisture out of the vehicle but is not supposed to have any contact with the antenna radiator that uses a pressure fit to make the RF connection to the antenna rod. The IRSC employees used every drop of the silicon into the mount, which made an insulator between the supplied NMO mount center conductor button and the antenna rod. The range of the new system was less than 1 mile for the sheriff’s squad cars, but over 30 miles for my car, my walkie-talkie, and the mobile units that were installed anywhere other than the sheriff’s dolly port.

To compound the problem, the radio dealer that did get the bid for the equipment had told IRSC that they did not need to solder the PL259 connectors that went into the back of the radios. There were shorts and opens in over half of the radios installed by IRSC and other shops that had listened to this dealer. You CANNOT take a shortcut on the installation and expect things to work as the engineer designed the system.

It took almost 6 months to correct all the fleet installation problems with the mobile units. It is much easier to just put the fleet equipment in properly than to chase installation problems.

When you trade in a squad car or other emergency services vehicle, you should buy a new antenna and cable. The $30 to $50 that you save will eventually cost you more than that when you have problems later down the road. Hopefully, nobody gets injured because of the decision of a bookkeeper or accounting manager. The radio is truly the lifeline for public safety personnel and used antennas on an installation should NEVER be allowed.

Just as mobile units have their problems, so can portable radios. The batteries should have sufficient energy to last though an entire shift. For police departments this might be 8 hours, or it could be 12 hours. For fire personnel, many of them operate 24 hours straight, and they might need more than one battery per shift. The batteries are only good for 500 recharge cycles, so most batteries should be replaced after two years of use. I have been at agencies that use their batteries for three to six years, yet they wonder why the radio system just does not work like it used to. Also, a portable radio worn on someone’s belt will have shadowing and antenna detuning. (See MRT Magazine November 2007 for further information on this problem.) [MRT Magazine is now IWCE's Urgent Communications so this article is probably not online anymore.]

Just because a radio system is not performing like it is supposed to or once did, the problem may not be in the fixed infrastructure equipment. Always consider the mobile and portable radios as a part of the “system”.

CONCLUSION

Tower shadowing can and does occur on many radio systems. The effects can be predicted and used to enhance the system performance if this factor is known and controlled. If your system is not performing as expected, this article has also explained some of the factors that could possibly be causing your system to not work as the engineer designed it. Whether you have commercial radio system, a public safety system, or even an amateur radio system, the effects of shadowing are real and can be overcome. If you do have tower shadowing, just make sure that it is in a direction where the shadow does not affect the system performance for the primary territory that you are trying to cover. [I] hope the above information has helped to clear up any confusions or misunderstandings of Radio System performance and or expectations.

Ira Wiesenfeld, Principal Engineer — Ira Wiesenfeld and Associates Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E., is a consulting engineer who has been involved with commercial radio systems since 1966. He has spent time working in the broadcast, two-way, mobile telephone, paging, microwave, military, and public safety radio systems, and has consulted with most of the major manufacturers in the radio industry. Ira is the author of Wiring for Wireless Sites, available from Delmar Thompson / Prompt Publishing (www.electronictech.com). Ira has a BSEE from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas; an FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License; is a Senior Certified Radio Technician from the Electronics Technicians Association - International; and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. He holds an Extra class Amateur radio license WA5GXP. He has lived in Dallas, Texas his entire life. Ira can be reached by e-mail at iwiesenfel@aol.com or on the web at https://www.iwa-radio.com The original publication of this article was in MRT Magazine: https://urgentcomm.com/2009/05/01/friend-and-foe/ (2009) on which this updated paper is based. (August 2021)

“Broken Hearted Blues”

August 20, 2021

Tuba Skinny “Broken Hearted Blues” Longwood Garden

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