| Wireless News Aggregation |
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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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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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Swissphone expands its range of services in the field of “Critical Event Management” through the acquisition of instaSOLUTION AG, Pascal Jaggi becomes new CEOSwissphone Wireless AG acquires the Swiss company instaSOLUTION AG. At the same time, long-time CEO Angelo Saccoccia hands over the group management to Pascal Jaggi.As a market leader in the field of secure alerting, Swissphone Wireless AG (“Swissphone”) operates various service platforms, in the areas of lone worker protection, threat solutions and critical messaging. In order to strengthen its market position, Swissphone will take over instaSOLUTION AG on 15 July 2021, which operates a modern, cloud-based platform in various areas of critical event management with many well-known customers from industry and administration. In the future, Swissphone will serve existing and new customers with a comprehensive, modern, and highly available alarm management solution. The entire instaSOLUTION AG team, as well as the responsible software developers of the previous sister company, soXes GmbH will move to Swissphone to continue the growth course there. Philipp Schülin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swissphone: “We are extremely pleased about this reinforcement of the Swissphone Group with the team which includes, Christian Hasenfratz, Stefan Schmid and Patrick Büchler. instaSOLUTION AG fits perfectly into our mission to provide highly available alerting and communication solutions via stand-alone networks as well as cloud-based solutions. The competences as well as the customers and partners of the two companies complement each other in an ideal way to create added value for existing and new stakeholders.” At the same time, Pascal Jaggi will take over the overall management of the Swissphone Group as of 1 August 2021. He replaces Angelo Saccoccia, who is stepping down after six years as CEO. Philipp Schülin: “Angelo Saccoccia led Swissphone quickly and very successfully back on the path to success from 2015. In 2019, he found a succession plan for the founders by selling the group to Rigeto Unternehmerkapital GmbH and the members of the executive board. Swissphone also coped very well with the Covid pandemic under his leadership. He hands over the company with its subsidiaries in excellent condition. We regret his departure and thank him sincerely for his commitment. At the same time, we warmly welcome Pascal Jaggi as our new Group CEO and look forward to the accents he will set thanks to his sound and long-standing experience in the telecommunications industry.” Pascal Jaggi has held various management positions at Swisscom AG since 2011, most recently as Executive VP Operations & Engineering. He brings with him the best qualifications as a leader in ICT, digital and agile transformation. About instaSOLUTION AGinstaSOLUTION AG was founded in 2015 and offers modern and efficient communication and management solutions in the areas of alerting, crisis management, mobile collaboration, messaging and IoT. Thanks to the connection of people and systems and the linking of the physical and digital worlds, the company focuses on making the multitude of processes within organisations even more efficient, effective and transparent.
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| Source: | Swissphone Wireless AG |
| Leavitt Communications |
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Apple supplier launches non-invasive glucose monitor & health sensor techBy William Gallagher | Jul 14, 2021
A new "clinic-on-the-wrist" digital health system from Apple supplier Rockley Photonics backs up expectations that the Apple Watch will ultimately gain non-invasive glucose monitoring. Apple has reportedly been working on a glucose monitoring system for the Apple Watch for many years, with some rumors pointing to its inclusion in the forthcoming "Apple Watch Series 7". That hasn't been considered likely, based on the complexities of the technology, but a new release from Apple supplier Rockley Photonics may change that. The UK company, known to have a significant relationship with Apple, has announced what it describes as a "complete full-stack" wearable health system. "Rockley's sensor module and associated reference designs for consumer products integrate hardware and application firmware," said the company in a statement, "to enable wearable devices to monitor multiple biomarkers, including core body temperature, blood pressure, body hydration, alcohol, lactate, and glucose trends, among others."
As revealed by the company, the system will be used in "a sequence of in-house human studies" over the next few months. The system is approximately the size and shape of an Apple Watch — to the extent that publicity photos show it using an Apple Watch Sport Band. However, it's unlikely to be released to the public in this form — or directly by Rockley Photonics. Instead, this is a test platform that will adapted by other firms. "Our reference designs will significantly aid our customers and partners with the deployment of our technology and accelerate their own scalable, high-volume product delivery," continued the company. If Apple uses Rockley's technology in a future Apple Watch, it will work by generating "a large number of discrete laser outputs from a single silicon chip." This sensor "non-invasively probes beneath the skin" to gain health measurements. Rockley Photonics says that its system uses infrared spectrophotometers to detect and monitor a wider range of health issue than the green LED systems in most wrist devices. The company says that its system will allow it to "analyze blood, interstitial fluids, and various layers of the dermis for constituents and physical phenomena of interest." |
| Source: | Apple Insider |
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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CONNECTIVITY Biden restores Obama-era net neutrality rulesThe rules were repealed in 2017 by former chair Ajit PaiJULY 12, 2021 JORDAN MCDONALD
Earlier we gave you the high level on Biden's EO, now let's zoom in. Among the other 70-something initiatives included, Biden nestled a plan to restore the FCC’s net neutrality rules established under former President Obama in 2015.
So what? ISPs will no longer be able to selectively throttle or outright block access to online services and websites, like Comcast was discovered to be doing in 2007. They also can’t play favorites with those who pay them the most for access, so they have to keep speeds uniform for streaming giants and personal websites alike. Looking ahead...before any of this happens, President Biden has to nominate someone to fill the FCC’s last open seat—and that person also has to be approved by Congress. The spot's been vacant since Pai departed on January 20. Until it's filled, the FCC is gridlocked. |
| Source: | Morning Brew |
| 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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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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OUTDATED SPEED STANDARD FCC speed standard that Ajit Pai never updated is too slow, GAO report saysFCC raised its standard to 25/3Mbps in 2015 and hasn't changed it since.JON BRODKIN — 7/12/2021, 2:41 PM
The Federal Communications Commission broadband standard that was implemented under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler in 2015 and never updated by Ajit Pai is now "likely too slow," according to a government report issued last week. The Wheeler-led FCC in January 2015 updated the agency's broadband standard from 4Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream to 25Mbps downloads/3Mbps uploads. The increase was opposed by broadband-industry lobbyists and Republicans, including Ajit Pai, who was then a commissioner and later served as FCC chairman throughout the Trump administration. Pai never updated the 25Mbps/3Mbps standard in his four years as chair. In his last annual broadband-deployment report issued in January 2021, Pai concluded that "fixed services with speeds of 25/3Mbps continue to meet the statutory definition of advanced telecommunications capability." Consumer advocates have frequently called the 25Mbps/3Mbps outdated, and the nonpartisan US Government Accountability Office (GAO) agreed in a report based on a review of research and interviews with small businesses. "Much of the literature GAO reviewed suggests that FCC's current broadband minimum benchmark speeds—25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloading and 3Mbps for uploading—are likely too slow to meet many small business speed needs," the GAO said in a report issued Thursday. Small-business focusThe GAO report is focused on small businesses and said that FCC officials acknowledged that "they are not aware of any small business requirements that have been taken into consideration in determining the minimum speed benchmark." The GAO urged the FCC to analyze the broadband needs of small businesses, including by "solicit[ing] stakeholder input," and to incorporate the results into its next broadband benchmark. The "FCC agreed with this recommendation," the GAO said. The GAO pointed to a 2019 USDA report on rural broadband and agriculture, saying it found that "as technology advances and volumes of data needed to manage agriculture production grow, speeds in excess of 25/3Mbps with more equal download and upload speeds will likely be necessary." The GAO also said that "in 2017, BroadbandUSA—a National Telecommunications and Information Administration program—published a fact sheet stating that small businesses need a minimum of 50Mbps speeds in order to conduct tasks such as managing inventory, operating point-of-sale terminals, and coordinating shipping." "Eleven of the twelve small business owners we interviewed also highlighted advanced uses of broadband, and two gave examples of using higher broadband speeds," the GAO wrote. "One business owner we spoke to in California provides IT services to other small businesses, and he advises clients to get a 100/25Mbps connection, at minimum." Senators called for 100/100 benchmarkThe FCC's 25Mbps/3Mbps definition was developed with the needs of home-Internet users in mind and is used to analyze how many Americans have or lack access to high-speed broadband service. It has also been used to determine which parts of the country should get government funding for network deployment and to set the floor for speeds that ISPs are required to provide in exchange for public subsidies. Pai's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund set 25Mbps/3Mbps as the minimum, though it used several speed tiers and ended up allotting nearly all the money to ISPs that pledged speeds of at least 100Mbps/20Mbps. Four US senators—including one Republican—recently called on the FCC and other Biden administration agencies to use a standard of 100Mbps both upstream and downstream for new deployments. The GAO didn't recommend a specific standard, but it wrote in the full report's conclusion that the current one is likely not fast enough, particularly on the upload side. "Millions of small business owners continue to lack access to broadband that meets their needs. FCC's minimum speed benchmark of 25/3Mbps is likely not fast enough to meet the needs of many small businesses, particularly with regard to upload speeds," the GAO wrote. Speed standards have been a big topic lately as the Biden administration and Congress discuss how to spend $65 billion on broadband deployment. A symmetrical 100Mbps standard like the one proposed by the four senators would likely ensure that government-subsidized networks are built with fiber instead of technologies that have slower uploads, like cable and fixed wireless. Congress can set its own speed standards for funding purposes, so it doesn't necessarily have to use the FCC's current 25Mbps/3Mbps benchmark. Acting FCC chair said 25/3 standard is outdatedBoosting the speed standard would result in a higher number of Americans being classified as "unserved" in government data. FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has been supporting an upgrade to the agency's broadband-speed standard for years. "With so many of our nation's providers rolling out gigabit service, it's time for the FCC to adjust its baseline upward, too," she said last year, calling for a 100Mbps download standard and an upload standard that's higher than 3Mbps. This year, after Pai stuck with the 25Mbps/3Mbps standard, Rosenworcel said it "confounds logic" that the FCC issued a "report that says that broadband is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion." She said the pandemic has made it "painfully clear there are too many people in the United States who lack access to broadband," with "people sitting in parking lots using free Wi-Fi signals because they have no other way to get online" and "students who fall in the homework gap because the lack the high-speed service they need to participate in remote learning." FCC data, which is based on speeds that ISPs say they offer in each census block, shows much lower deployment rates in higher speed tiers, especially in rural areas. "According to FCC's 2021 Broadband Deployment Report, only about 67 percent of rural Americans have access to 100/10Mbps speeds, compared to about 83 percent at the current 25/3Mbps," the GAO report noted. FCC advisory groups urged higher speedsDespite Pai maintaining the 25Mbps/3Mbps standard, the FCC itself formed advisory groups that found higher speeds are likely necessary, the GAO wrote. One of those reports recommended higher upload speeds in particular because of needs in agriculture:
Rosenworcel is leading the FCC without a majority because Biden hasn't nominated a new commissioner to break the 2-2 deadlock between Democrats and Republicans. Biden's delay, coupled with the Senate confirmation process that often takes months after a nomination is announced publicly, means that the FCC likely won't tackle big agenda items like restoring net neutrality rules in 2021. Raising broadband speed standards has also generally required a partisan battle. But with the most recent FCC deployment report having been released in January 2021, the FCC may wait until early 2022 to issue a new report and raise the 25Mbps/3Mbps standard. By then, the FCC presumably will have a Democratic majority. |
| Source: | arsTECHNICA |
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 |
| Leavitt Communications |
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Preview: WhatsApp multi-device compatibility on the desktop appJosé Adorno - Jul. 12th 2021 6:40 am PT
WhatsApp has been testing multi-device compatibility for a while. Now, WABetaInfo was able to show how this is going to work on the desktop app. When multi-device compatibility for WhatsApp is available, users will be able to link up to four devices and one mobile phone. The big deal about this feature is that you’ll be able to use WhatsApp on your Mac even without an Internet connection on your phone.
Recently, in an interview with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, they said that “it’s been a big technical challenge to get all your messages and content to sync.” This is probably the way WhatsApp will finally release an iPad version, as has been rumored for about three years now. Currently, the multi-device compatibility is still under development but will soon be available for beta testers. WhatsApp is rolling out version 2.2126.11 of its web and desktop clients with a disappearing messages feature and a new archive tab. With the disappearing messages feature, users are able to send photos and videos that disappear after the other user sees them. Apart from that, when you archive a conversation and the person sends you a message again, it will stay in that tab. You can read more about it here. |
| Source: | 9TO5Mac |
| Inside Towers Newsletter |
Congress Pledges More Money, Streamlined Regs for Rural BroadbandBy J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor Another piece of legislation making money available for rural broadband, The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act (HR 4374), passed by voice vote Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. “It is impossible to overstate how important it is that we get every single resident of rural America connected to high speed and affordable broadband. This connectivity is a lifeline in so many ways for so many people,” said Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA), in his statement introducing the legislation. In its current iteration, the bipartisan legislation provides $300,000,000 annually from 2022 to 2030, to expand rural broadband service nationwide by increasing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) expiring loan and grant program, according to press reports. “I want to make one thing abundantly clear. This committee – the House Agriculture Committee – is taking the lead on this issue. We know what rural America needs and what they’re asking for, and it’s absolutely vital that House Agriculture be the guiding light on this issue,” Scott said. The legislation establishes the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program, which would fund loans, grants, and loan guarantees for the construction or improvement of Internet service in small towns and rural areas that are unserved or underserved. The measure currently gives priority to communities with 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. An additional $2.4 billion would be set aside for pilot projects to test various broadband technologies, according to reports. Earlier this week, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Assisting Broadband Connectivity Act, which would streamline the funding process and remove barriers for broadband connectivity in hard-to-serve rural areas. “This bipartisan bill makes commonsense updates to help areas connect all the pieces from both the state and federal level to get some of these expensive and urgent rural broadband projects done,” Grassley said. The Assisting Broadband Connectivity Act will make changes to the rural broadband programs at the USDA so areas aren’t automatically ineligible for federal funding because the project previously received state funding. This change will ease administrative burdens for those applying to provide broadband to rural America. However, this won’t change the requirements or due diligence for USDA Rural Utilities Service when they administer these programs, according to Grassley. “When we invest in broadband infrastructure, we invest in opportunity for all Americans,” Klobuchar said. “In 2021, we should be able to bring high-speed Internet to every family in America — regardless of their zip code. This legislation will help bridge the digital divide by ensuring states are able to access the funding they need to provide broadband service in rural and low-income communities.” This legislation will also provide more flexibility with funding and resources. States will be able to use federal funds, such as COVID aid for broadband, fulfilling their requirement in most applications to match federal dollars. This update will help rural America move forward by providing more coordination and funding availability for broadband projects. The funding in this measure is separate from the $65 billion in broadband funding proposed in the bipartisan infrastructure package currently being negotiated between Congress and the White House. |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer. Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
FCC To Require Electronic Filing of International Applications and ReportsOn July 13, the FCC adopted an Order that will require the electronic filing of all applications and reports in the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS). These new rules will extend electronic filing requirements to Section 325(c) Applications, Applications for International High Frequency Broadcast (IHF) Stations, and Dominant Carrier Section 63.10(c) Quarterly Reports. The Order also removes a duplicate paper filing requirement for satellite cost-recovery International Telecommunication Union (ITU) declarations. This requirement will be effective upon publication in the Federal Register, which will be preceded by approval of the Office of Management and Budget. This should give carriers ample notice of the effective date of the change. BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer. HeadlinesPresident Biden Signs Executive Order Calling for Net Neutrality Rules, Increased ISP CompetitionOn July 9, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on promoting competition in the American economy. Among other things, the Executive Order “encourages” the FCC to “consider” the following:
The President also affirmed that it is a policy of his Administration to enforce antitrust laws against “the rise of the dominant Internet platforms, especially as they stem from serial mergers, the acquisition of nascent competitors, the aggregation of data, unfair competition in attention markets, the surveillance of users, and the presence of network effects.” “The American information technology sector has long been an engine of innovation and growth, but today a small number of dominant Internet platforms use their power to exclude market entrants, to extract monopoly profits, and to gather intimate personal information that they can exploit for their own advantage,” wrote President Biden. “Too many small businesses across the economy depend on those platforms and a few online marketplaces for their survival. And too many local newspapers have shuttered or downsized, in part due to the Internet platforms’ dominance in advertising markets.” Predictably, the Democratic Commissioners were supportive of President Biden’s words, while the Republican Commissioners were less so. “Our economy thrives on competition. It is the reason the United States is home to some of the most dynamic companies in the world. I welcome this effort by the President to enhance competition in the American economy and in the nation’s communications sector,” said Acting Chair Rosenworcel. “Today’s Executive Order spotlights the values that should drive our work toward that goal: affordability, fairness, competition, innovation, and consumer choice … I applaud President Biden’s sustained focus on these important issues,” said Commissioner Starks. On the other hand, “I believe that the President’s vision for net neutrality would be better accomplished by a bipartisan effort in Congress,” said Commissioner Simington. Commissioner Carr was even more vociferous: “[The Executive Order] embraces a backwards-looking, Obama-era approach to Internet regulation—one that would give the lobbyists at Google, Facebook, and Amazon the regulatory protections and price controls they’ve long sought while doing nothing to address Silicon Valley’s threats to free speech and an open Internet.” BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast. FCC Modifies Supply Chain Reimbursement Program RulesOn July 13, the FCC adopted an Order that incorporates changes to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Specifically, key changes in the Order include:
The FCC created the Reimbursement Program in 2020 to reimburse providers of advanced communications services for costs reasonably incurred in removing, replacing, and disposing of communications and equipment that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast. FCC Proposes Updates to Short Range Radar Sensing Technology RulesOn July 13, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which it proposes updated rules for short-range radars in the 60 GHz spectrum band. Cutting edge radar sensing technology has been used to enable in-car radar-based technology to monitor for children left in dangerous, hot cars and touchless control of devices, including to promote accessibility for users with mobility or speech impairments. Comment and reply comment deadlines have not yet been established. Specifically, the NPRM proposes expanding the permissible uses for short-range radars in the 57 to 64 GHz band while promoting coexistence with other unlicensed users and not interfering with licensed and authorized users in the band. This item proposes allowing unlicensed field disturbance sensors like radar devices to operate in mobile environments at a higher power level than authorized today, modeled after successful waivers previously granted by the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology for Google’s gesture control device and to a number of parties for applications including hot car sensors. It also seeks comments on the use of sensing technology such as Listen-Before-Talk to allow transmission at the same power level as other unlicensed devices in this band. Under current FCC rules, unlicensed devices that operate in the 57 to 71 GHz band generally include devices such as wireless local area networking devices, outdoor fixed point-to-point communication links, and radar devices that are used in fixed applications or mobile short-range interactive motion sensor uses. Today’s action seeks to open the door for additional technological uses in the 57 to 64 GHz portion of that band while asking questions about the applicability in the broader 57 to 71 GHz band, and proposing rules and seeking comment on how best to ensure coexistence among new and existing users. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino. Law and RegulationMobile Legacy High Cost Usage Flexibility Certifications Due August 16On July 14, the FCC announced the opening of the window for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that spend less than one-third of their legacy high cost support in 2021 on 5G networks to file the required certification about their use of such support. Competitive ETCs to which this certification applies must file no later than August 16, 2021. In 2020, the FCC adopted a requirement that competitive ETCs spend an increasing percentage of their support on the deployment of 5G services as a new public interest obligation for the receipt of legacy high-cost support for mobile services –at least one-third of the support it receives for 2021, at least two-thirds of the support it receives for 2022, and all support it receives for 2023 and every year thereafter. Recognizing that competitive ETCs’ budgets and deployment plans for 2021 may have already been finalized at the time that these requirements were adopted, the FCC granted competitive ETCs the flexibility to spend less than the required one-third of their legacy support in 2021 on 5G and make up any shortfall by proportionally increasing the requirement to spend at least two-thirds of their legacy support in 2022 on 5G. To take advantage of this support usage flexibility, the FCC adopted the requirement that competitive ETCs electing to do so certify their use of legacy support. Carriers with questions about filing the certification may contact the firm for more information. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer. Comment Sought on Elimination or Revision of Certain Broadcast Technical RulesOn July 12, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking eliminate or update certain broadcast technical rules. Comment and reply comment deadline shave not yet bene established. Specifically, the FCC proposes the following rule changes:
Carriers interested in commenting on the FCC’s proposed revisions may contact the firm for more information. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell. IndustryGAO Finds Current Broadband Speeds Not Fast Enough for Small Business NeedsOn July 8, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the suitability of current broadband speeds to small business needs. According to the report, “[m]uch of the literature GAO reviewed suggests that FCC's current broadband minimum benchmark speeds—25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloading and 3 Mbps for uploading—are likely too slow to meet many small business speed needs.” As a result, the GAO officially recommended that “the Chair of FCC solicit input from stakeholders and conduct analysis of small businesses broadband speed needs and incorporate the results of this analysis into its determination of the benchmark for broadband.” Highlights include:
This report responds to a provision in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 as well as a request for GAO to examine broadband for small businesses. Among other objectives, this report examines (1) small business access to broadband and how federal broadband funding programs may serve small businesses; and (2) the extent to which FCC's broadband speed benchmark meets the needs of small businesses. DeadlinesJULY 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. AUGUST 1: FCC FORM 499-Q, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. All telecommunications common carriers that expect to contribute more than $10,000 to federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support mechanisms must file this quarterly form. The FCC has modified this form in light of its recent decision to establish interim measures for USF contribution assessments. The form contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. Form 499-Q relates only to USF contributions. It does not relate to the cost recovery mechanisms for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP), which are covered in the annual form (Form 499-A) that was due April 1. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy. AUGUST 1: FCC FORM 502, NUMBER UTILIZATION AND FORECAST REPORT: Any wireless or wireline carrier (including paging companies) that have received number blocks—including 100, 1,000, or 10,000 number blocks—from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), a Pooling Administrator, or from another carrier, must file Form 502 by August 1. Carriers porting numbers for the purpose of transferring an established customer’s service to another service provider must also report, but the carrier receiving numbers through porting does not. Resold services should also be treated like ported numbers, meaning the carrier transferring the resold service to another carrier is required to report those numbers but the carrier receiving such numbers should not report them. Reporting carriers file utilization and forecast reports semiannually on or before February 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending December 31, and on or before August 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending June 30. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy. AUGUST 1: LIVE 911 CALL DATA REPORTS – Non-Nationwide Providers that do not provide coverage in any of the Test Cities must collect and report aggregate data based on the largest county within its footprint to APCO, NENA, and NASNA on the location technologies used for live 911 calls in those areas. Clients should obtain spreadsheets with their company’s compliance data from their E911 service provider (e.g., Intrado / West). BloostonLaw Contact: Cary Mitchell. 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. Calendar At-a-GlanceJuly August September
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In reference to an intermittent coax connection one reader was having, I received the following from a group (softrock40@groups.io) that I subscribe to:
So here is the Wikipedia article: UHF connectorFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The UHF connector is a name for a threaded RF connector. The connector design was invented in the 1930s for use in the radio industry, and is a shielded form of the "banana plug". It is a widely used standard connector for HF transmission lines on full-sized radio equipment, with BNC connectors predominating for smaller, hand-held equipment. The name "UHF" is a source of confusion, since the name of the connectors did not change when the frequency ranges were renamed. The design was named during an era when "UHF" meant frequencies over 30 MHz. Today Ultra high frequency (UHF) instead refers to frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz and the range of frequencies formerly known as UHF is now called "VHF". Unlike modern connector designs that replaced it, no active specification or standard exists to govern the mechanical and electrical characteristics of the so-called "UHF" connector system making it effectively a deprecated design with no guarantee for suitability to an electrical or mechanical purpose. Evidence of inconsistency exists. Testing reveals post WWII connectors designs, such as N connector and BNC Connector are electrically superior to the 'UHF' connector for modern UHF frequencies. Other testing reveals one UHF connector sample shows negligible effect on frequencies up to 435 MHz. Other namesThe connector reliably carries signals at frequencies up to 100 MHz. The coupling shell has a 5⁄8 inch 24 tpi UNEF standard thread. The most popular cable plug and corresponding chassis-mount socket carry the old Signal Corps nomenclatures PL-259 (plug) and SO-239 (socket). These are also known as Navy type 49190 and 49194 respectively. A double-ended SO-239 connector is designated as an SO-238. PL-259, SO-239, PL-258, and several other related military references refer to one specific mechanical design collectively known as the UHF Connector. In some countries, for example in Israel, the term 'PL connector' is confusingly associated rather with the analog phone connector. The designations come from the Joint Electronics Type Designation System, its predecessor AN system, and the earlier SCR (Set, Complete, Radio) system. CharacteristicsMechanical By design, all connectors in the UHF connector family mate using the 5⁄8 inch 24 tpi threaded shell for the shield connection and an approximately 0.156 inch-diameter (4 mm) pin and socket for the inner conductor. Similar connectors (M connectors) with an incompatible 16 mm diameter, 1 mm metric thread have been produced, but these are not standard UHF connectors by definition. [Emphasis added.] Surge impedance UHF connectors have a non-constant surge impedance. For this reason, UHF connectors are generally usable through HF and the lower portion of what is now known as the VHF frequency range. Despite the name, the UHF connector is rarely used in commercial applications for today's UHF frequencies, as the non-constant surge impedance creates measurable electrical signal reflections above 100 MHz. Virtually all of the impedance bump and loss is in the UHF female. A typical SO-239 UHF female, properly hooded, has an impedance bump of about 35 Ohms. The length of the bump is typically 1⁄2 inch, where the female pin flares to fit over the male pin. This bump can be mitigated by using a honeycomb dielectric in the female pin area. Many VHF/UHF amateur operators use special UHF females that maintain a 50 Ohm surge impedance. Power Some samples of UHF connectors can handle RF peak power levels well over one kilowatt based on the voltage rating of 500 Volts peak. In practice, some UHF connector products will handle over 4 kV peak voltage. Manufacturers typically test UHF jumpers in the 3-5 kV range. UHF connectors are standard on HF amateur amplifiers rated at 1500+ Watts output. In practice, voltage limit is set by the air gap between center and shield. The center pin diameter and contact area is large enough that pin heating is not an issue. UHF connectors are generally limited by cable heating rather than connector failure. Environmental tolerance The UHF connector is not weatherproof. ApplicationsIn many applications, UHF connectors were replaced by designs that have a more uniform surge impedance over the length of the connector, such as the N connector and the BNC connector. UHF connectors are still widely used in amateur radio, Citizens Band radio, and marine VHF radio applications. Please note that this Wikipedia article was reproduced without all of its citations and footnotes. To read the original and more academic version click on the source below. |
| Source: | Wikipedia |
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“My Love Is . . .”Bernadette Seacrest — “My Love Is” @ Velvet Note, Alpharetta, GA — Saturday, May 15, 2021
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