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Re. Rural Internet: As you know, I live in the country. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is burying new fiber cable in front of my house as I type this. The company is a competitor of my current ISP that is providing me with upgraded aDSL at 126 Mbps. This comes over a telephone line from the nearest main fiber cable, and so, it can be called “fiber to the neighborhood.”

The new service — when available — will be much faster. Up to 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps) — they claim. I probably don't need to switch unless the price for the same or better speed is less. Anyway, it's good to see the federal push for high speed Internet in rural areas has reached me.

Following Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference (WWDC) this week, all the news in this issue is about new Apple products. I receive no compensation for this — I am just a fan. I have been using Macintosh computers for over thirty years.

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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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale

Motorola Service Monitor

IFR Service Monitor

IFR 500A Service Monitor

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Apple Music: How to Enable Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio

Tuesday June 8, 2021 2:42 PM PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple has rolled out a new spatial audio feature for Apple Music subscribers that uses Dolby Atmos to create a richer, more immersive soundstage when listening to songs in the Apple Music catalog.

With Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos enabled, the subjective experience is that musical notes are coming from all around you. The steps below show you how to control the new audio feature on any iOS device with an Apple Music subscription.

• Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap Music.
• Under "Audio," tap Dolby Atmos.
• Select from Automatic, Always On, and Off.

Now that you've enabled Dolby Atmos, you'll be able to enjoy a more immersive audio experience. Apple Music will play Dolby Atmos tracks on all AirPods and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip, as will the built-in speakers of the newest iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Just make sure that you have Spatial Audio enabled on capable headphones.

You can check which tracks in Apple Music support the audio effect by looking for the logo in the app interface. Apple plans to add new Dolby Atmos tracks on a regular basis, and will offer up a curated selection of Dolby Atmos playlists. At launch, there are thousands of Dolby Atmos-enabled songs that are available to listen to.

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.

How Universal Control on macOS Monterey works

It’s simpler — and cleverer — than I expected

By Dieter Bohn@backlon Jun 8, 2021, 8:05am EDT

The best moment of this year’s WWDC keynote was a straightforward demo of a macOS feature, Universal Control. The idea is simple enough: it allows you to use the keyboard and trackpad on a Mac to directly control an iPad, and even makes it simple to drag and drop content between those devices.

What made the demo so impressive is how easy and seamless it all seemed. In a classic Apple move, there was no setup required at all. The segment happened so fast that it even seemed (incorrectly, as it turns out) like the Mac was able to physically locate the iPad in space so it knew where to put the mouse pointer.

After Zaprudering the clip and asking Apple a few questions, I now have a better understanding of what’s going on here. It turns out that the entire system is actually simpler than it first appears. It’s essentially a new way to use a bunch of technologies Apple had already developed. That’s not a knock on Universal Control — sometimes the best software features are a result of clever thinking instead of brute force technological improvements.

So here’s what’s happening in that demo.

First, you need to get the iPad and Mac relatively close to each other. Universal Control is built off the same Continuity and Handoff features that have long been a part of iOS and macOS. When the devices are close enough, their Bluetooth modules let each other know. Of course, all the devices here need to be on the same iCloud account for this to work.

Then, you start up Universal Control by dragging your mouse pointer all the way to the left or right edge of your Mac’s screen, then a little bit beyond that edge. When you do, the Mac will assume that you’re trying to drag the mouse over to another device, in this case the iPad.

So there’s no UWB location detection, just good old assumption. One note is that if you have lots of compatible devices, Monterey assumes that you’re dragging towards the last iPad or Mac you interacted with.

At this point, a Wi-Fi Direct connection is made and the iPad will show a small bar on the side with a little bump. It’s a sort of indicator that the iPad is aware you’re trying to drag a mouse into it. Keep dragging and pow, the bump breaks free into a circular mouse pointer. When the mouse is on the iPad screen, both it and the keyboard on your Mac control the iPad. Move it back to the Mac, and you control the Mac.

But there’s a clever little affordance built into that strange bar. There are a couple of arrows inside it, a hint that you can slide that bump up or down before it breaks free into the iPad itself. Doing that is how you line up the iPad’s screen with your Mac’s, so that dragging the mouse between the screens doesn’t result in a weird jump.

You go through the same process to set up a second device with Universal Control — it maxes out at three. If all this automatic setup sounds like a hassle, you can just go into system preferences and set a device as your preferred Universal Control buddy gadget.

However you set it up, you can drag and drop content between devices and it’ll use either Wi-Fi Direct or USB to transfer the files. Of course, if you’re dragging files into the iPad, make sure you have an app open (like Files) that can accept it.

That’s pretty much the long and the short of it. There are still some details to hash out, Apple tells me, and it isn’t available in the first developer preview. If you put your dock on the left or right edge of the screen, for example, it’s unclear if this whole setup will work.

What’s fascinating to me about this system — as I discuss in the video above — is that it’s only really possible because of a long series of software enhancements that have been built into the iPad over the years, including:

1. Continuity, Handoff, and AirDrop. Universal Control isn’t technically AirDrop, but it’s the same basic idea. All of these are the basic ways that Apple devices communicate directly with each other instead of through the cloud.
2. Multitasking. I’m not referring to split-screen, but the support for drag-and-drop that came along with the improved windowing options on the iPad.
3. Keyboard and mouse support. That’s an obvious pre-requisite, but it wasn’t always obvious that Apple would put mouse support into the iPad.
4. Sidecar. Sidecar’s the tool that lets you use an iPad as a second Mac monitor. I don’t think that Universal Control uses the same bits of software as Sidecar, but I do think that there were probably lessons there about latency that would prove useful here.

I had a hunch that there would be a similar story of evolution on the Mac side of this story. I figured that all the iPad and iOS technologies finding their way into the Mac with the last few releases played a part. Catalyst apps turned into native iPad apps for M1 Macs. Control Center, Shortcuts, and Focus mode all are iOS things that are also on the Mac.

Nice idea, but wrong. Apple tells me that the foundation on the Mac side is as simple as it seems, based on Continuity and Handoff.

I hope that Universal Control works as well in the real world as it did in this staged demo — and I know that’s no sure thing. But what I like about the feature is how it’s just a clever recombination of existing technologies that Apple had already built for other purposes.

Inside the Apple ecosystem, you expect that the trade you’re making for only using Apple devices is getting synergistic integrations like this. They’ve actually been rarer than I would have guessed the past few years. But as the Mac and the iPad start trading more and more features with each other, I expect we’ll see more of them going forward.

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

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Board of Advisors

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

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Here’s the full list of Macs compatible with macOS Monterey

Michael Potuck — Jun. 7th 2021 12:04 pm PT

Alongside unveiling macOS 12 Monterey with a variety of new features and changes, Apple detailed which machines the new software will be able to run it. Read on for the full list of Macs compatible with macOS Monterey.

Apple is making the first beta for macOS Monterey available to developers today, June 7, for public beta testers it’s coming in July, with the official release happening like usual in the fall.

New features include a totally redesigned Safari, Shortcuts coming to the Mac, FaceTime’s new SharePlay feature, Universal Control to seamlessly work across multiple Apple devices, the new Focus mode, Quick Notes, AirPlay to Mac, and more.

As always, it’s best to install the beta on a secondary Mac as performance and stability won’t be dialed in, especially with early builds.

Macs compatible with macOS Monterey

Here’s the full list of Macs compatible with macOS Monterey:

• 2015 and later MacBook
• Early 2015 and later MacBook Air
• Early 2015 and later MacBook Pro
• Late 2014 and later Mac mini
• Late 2015 and later iMac
• 2017 and later iMac Pro
• Late 2013 and later Mac Pro

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

Apple Maps' new UI is a boon for the navigationally challenged

So pretty! So functional! So detailed!

Andrew Tarantola @terrortola June 7th, 2021

Apple

As Americans slowly begin to emerge from our year-plus COVID quarantines, our navigational skills may not be quite as sharp as they were when lockdowns went into effect last March. During its WWDC 2021 keynote address on Monday, Apple announced a slew of new features for its Maps that will help even the most easily lost among us navigate the unfamiliar outside world with confidence.

To start, Maps is sporting a heavily upgraded UI that offers additional details like elevation as well as brighter road colors, more prominent labels, and hundreds of custom icons for area landmarks, like Coit Tower (above) or the Golden Gate Bridge. There's also a slick night-time mode that bathes everything in subdued blue hues.

Maps' depictions of roadways have also been improved with greater levels of detail and highlights to pedestrian infrastructure to help drivers better navigate complex intersections and freeway interchanges alike. These features are expected to roll out to CarPlay later this year.

Transit riders also have new features to crow about. If you ride the same bus to work every morning, you'll now be able to pin that route to the top of Maps for easier access. You'll be able to track your commute progress on your Apple Watch so you won't have to keep flashing your iPhone on the crosstown — your Watch will even buzz a notification when you reach your stop. And if you find yourself discombobulated when stepping out of an unfamiliar subway station, Maps can now pinpoint your location by capturing a couple images of the buildings and landmarks around you.

These features will roll out to a select number of North American and European cities by the end of 2021, with more locations arriving throughout next year.

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

watchOS 8 brings new health and messaging features to the Apple Watch this year

Apple walks through what to expect from the Watch's next major software update.

COREY GASKIN — 6/7/2021, 1:24 PM

On Monday, Apple detailed its plans for watchOS 8, the next major software update for the Apple Watch. The operating system will introduce improved texting and photo sharing, new HomeKit integrations, and some smaller updates to health and fitness features.

The Apple Watch's Breathe app gets new animations and adds "Reflect," which pushes mindfulness prompts that accompany a calming animation you can focus on as you reflect. These features are housed in the new Mindfulness app.

In Fitness, Apple is adding two new workouts: Tai Chi and Pilates. Apple Fitness+ gets another set of workouts focused on HIIT (high-intensity interval training); the service will also include Artist Spotlights, which suggests music to play during your workouts. watchOS8 will also provide respiratory-rate tracking for sleep, but not for workouts.

A new watch face option for portrait pictures lets you zoom in on the subject in a sort of parallax effect. A mosaic layout in the Apple Watch's Photos app allows you to more easily browse photos on your wrist. From there, you can tap to send photos in a text or email. Text selection and a cursor have also been added; you can replace or edit text, using the crown to move the cursor and your finger to tap and select. Emojis are also now more easily accessible.

New HomeKit integrations can send a notification when a package arrives or let you see who's at your door when the doorbell rings.

watchOS 8 beta will be available starting in July and will come to supported Apple Watch devices this fall.

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

Everything Apple Tried to Kill at WWDC 2021

Apple's newest features may mean doom for some other companies.

Andrew Liszewski, Senior Staff Reporter, June 7, 2021 — 5:50 PM

Illustration: Gizmodo

For as many original innovations Apple introduces to its various software platforms, there are just as many “new” features that appear to have been inspired by other tools, apps, and even operating systems, leaving loyal developers to wonder what’s going to happen to their own products now that they’re no longer needed.

If you carefully step through this crime scene investigation, we welcome you to Gizmodo’s eighth annual roundup of everything Apple is trying to kill.

Image: Apple

Zoom (and Other Video-Conferencing Apps)

It’s hard to imagine a tool (soaps and sanitizers aside) that was more useful during this past year’s pandemic than video calls and conferencing apps. We’ve all spent countless hours on Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet at work, and then many of us switched to Apple’s FaceTime for chatting with family at home. Its ease of use ensured Grandma and Grandpa could easily figure it out, but to date it’s been too simple for corporate use. With iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, FaceTime is about to become a genuine Zoom rival, with new audio isolation features allowing voices to be enhanced while drowning out background noise, and the ability to create and schedule links to FaceTime calls in advance. Most importantly, Windows and Android users can also participate in FaceTime calls through a web interface, so it’s no longer dependent on Apple hardware.

Screenshot: Apple

Citymapper

Navigating the public transit system in a city you’ve never been to before can be a daunting challenge. Not only do you have to figure out what trains or buses to get on, but when to get off them to get to your desired destination. It’s why apps like Citymapper, which functions like a satnav for subways, buses, and commuter trains, exist. But in iOS 15, Apple is incorporating similar functionality into Maps in its ongoing quest to convince iPhone users to not use Google Maps instead. You’ll not only see the progress of the vehicle you’re riding in updated in real-time, you’ll also get advanced warnings as to when you’ll need to hop off, and then directions to where you need to go once you’re back on the street.

Screenshot: Apple

Peloton Artist Series Workouts

Nothing can get you motivated for a workout like the perfect soundtrack and your favorite artist, which is what Peloton has capitalized on with its Artist Series collaborations: a series of workouts where the entire soundtrack is focused around a single musician as part of an official partnership. With Fitness+, Apple set its sights on Peloton’s success, and with the help the company’s massive music streaming service, it will soon introduce a new Artist Spotlight Series where workouts will feature entire playlists from a single artist. The first themed workouts will be based on the music catalogs of Lady Gaga, Keith Urban, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Lopez.

Screenshot: Apple

Multi-Device Keyboards and Mice

The iPhone and iPad have been compatible with wireless keyboards for years, making text entry easier and helping to turn both devices into genuine productivity tools. That led to the creation of multi-device keyboards and mice which could quickly switch between controlling various devices—like your laptop, phone, and tablet—through a simple toggle switch. With macOS Monterey, a new feature called Universal Control will make such accessories unnecessary for Apple users. A single mouse and keyboard (or trackpad) can be used to not only control multiple devices, but all at the same time, with the cursor jumping to a different device’s screen. The feature goes one step further and allows files to be easily dragged between Apple devices, streamlining how iOS and macOS devices share documents.

Senate OK’s Billions for U.S. Chip Manufacturing

After months of political jockeying and procedural hurdles, the Senate on Tuesday approved a roughly $190 billion science and technology bill to boost U.S. competitiveness with China. The bill invests several billion into U.S. semiconductor production and emerging technology industries like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The bill — titled the US Innovation and Competition Act or USICA — builds off a previous proposal from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the Endless Frontier Act. Endless Frontier was one of the first big bipartisan bills to come from the Biden administration. But over the last few months, the bill grew and much of the original funding was watered down as it moved through the Senate, reported The Verge.

In its current form, the bill provides $52 billion for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, as well as a 30 percent boost in funding for the National Science Foundation and $29 billion for a new directorate to focus on applied sciences. “Whoever wins the race to the technologies of the future will be the global economic leader,” Schumer tweeted. “We must invest in science, R&D, manufacturing, and innovation.”

The Semiconductor Industry Association — which represents companies such as Qualcomm, Intel, IBM and Micron — pushed for passage of the legislation, Inside Towers reported. “The U.S. has more of the semiconductor market than anyone else, and we lead in design, which is how we make new chips. Where we don’t lead is fabrication, and that has moved to Taiwan,” Jim Lewis, a senior vice president and director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Hill. “If we are serious about getting fabrication back in the United States … we have to use subsidies,” he said.

If passed, the measure would provide $100 billion in funding for a new science directorate at the National Science Foundation to promote research in emerging tech fields. It would distribute billions to regions across the country to build out new tech hubs and encourage tech companies to find homes outside of Silicon Valley and the coasts.

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to combat growing concerns over a global semiconductor shortage. The order called for a 100-day government review of supply chains to address shortfalls in acquiring chips. That review was published Tuesday, and the White House launched a task force to address supply chain disruptions, Inside Towers reported.

The package still needs to move through the House before President Biden can sign it into law. Schumer said he was “quite certain that we will get a really good product on the president’s desk.” It’s unclear how long that will take or if the bill will change further.

Selected portions [sometimes more — sometimes less — sometimes the whole updates] of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP — are reproduced in this section of The Wireless Messaging News with kind permission from the firm's partners. The firm's contact information is included at the end of this section of the newsletter.

FCC Announces 2021 Census Blocks Eligible for Voice-Only Lifeline

On June 1, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing those Census blocks where Lifeline support for voice-only service will continue at $5.25 per month from December 1, 2021 through November 30, 2022. These Census blocks can be found on the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) website here: https://www.usac.org/wp-content/uploads/lifeline/documents/Data/voice_CB_blocks.zip.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, in 2016 the FCC adopted a transition period to phase down support for voice-only Lifeline services before reimbursement for such services would decrease to $0 on December 1, 2021. However, the FCC also adopted an exception for qualifying voice-only services provided to Lifeline eligible subscribers in Census blocks where there is only one Lifeline provider. The FCC identifies these Census blocks by June 1 of each year.

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

Headlines

FCC Waives Budget Control Mechanism for 2021/2022 Tariff Year

On June 3, the FCC waived the application of the current budget control mechanism (“BCM”) for rate-of-return carriers that receive high-cost universal service support from legacy mechanisms. “We adopt instead a budget constraint of 0%, i.e. a full waiver of the budget constraint, for the July 2021 to June 2022 tariff year, and direct the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) to work with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund (Fund), to recalculate the budget control mechanism using 0% and make the revised information publicly available.”

According to the Order, the FCC waived the BCM due to “unique cash flow challenges related to the pandemic.” In particular, the FCC highlighted NTCA’s argument that “limiting increases in carrier support could cause cash flow concerns for carriers, particularly given that carriers have strived to keep customers connected even when bills were unpaid.”

In an effort to simplify things, the FCC also waived the requirement that the budget control mechanism be adjusted January 1 to take into account the rural growth factor for the HCLS cap. Using data from FCC Form 507, FCC staff estimates that applying the rural growth factor to HCLS for the first six months of 2022 in advance would result in a reduction in the budget control mechanism to approximately 7%.

Finally, the FCC is allowing carriers who are not able to reflect the effect of this waiver in their annual tariff filings (due this month) because of time constraints to file revised tariff filings with an effective date of no later than 45 days from June 3 (Sunday, July 18). To assist with the revised tariff filing process, the FCC also waived the tariff filing fee for the limited purpose of submitting such revised filings; the prohibition on making changes to rates that have not been in effect for at least 30 days or have not yet become effective; and any refund liability that carriers may otherwise incur if rates based on the pre-waiver budget control reduction factor are higher than rates based on the post-waiver budget control reduction factor between July 1, 2021, and the required effective date of the revised rates.

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

Auction 110 Procedures Public Notice Released; Auction to Begin October 5

On June 9, the FCC released the auction procedures Public Notice for Auction 110, the auction of flexible-use service licenses in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band for next-generation wireless services, following consideration of the comments of the Blooston Rural Carriers and others. The auction is scheduled to begin on October 5. Specifically, Auction 110 will offer 4,060 new flexible-use licenses for spectrum in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band throughout the contiguous United States. The 100 megahertz of spectrum in this band will be licensed on an unpaired basis and divided into ten 10-megahertz blocks in partial economic area (PEA)-based geographic areas located in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia (PEAs 1–41, 43–211, 213–263, 265– 297, 299–359, and 361–411). (BloostonLaw has filed a petition for reconsideration asking the FCC to auction a portion of these spectrum blocks in County-sized market areas, to give small and rural service providers a reasonable chance at obtaining licenses.) These 10-megahertz blocks are designated as A through J. All 3.45 GHz Service licenses will be issued for 15-year, renewable license terms, and certain licenses are subject to cooperative sharing requirements.

Licensees may hold up to four 10-megahertz blocks (out of a total of ten) in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band within any PEA at any given time for the first four years after the close of the auction. A licensee in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band may provide any services permitted under terrestrial fixed or mobile, except aeronautical mobile, allocations, so long as it complies with the relevant licensing, operating, and technical rules.

The following dates and deadlines apply to Auction 110:

For Auction 110, bidding credits will be available to eligible small businesses and consortia thereof, subject to the following caps:

• A bidder that qualifies as a “small business”— i.e., one with attributed average annual gross revenues that do not exceed $55 million for the preceding five years — is eligible to receive a 15% discount on its overall payment.
• A bidder that qualifies as a “very small business”— i.e., one with attributed average annual gross revenues that do not exceed $20 million for the preceding five years — is eligible to receive a 25% discount on its overall payment.

Small business bidding credits are not cumulative; an eligible applicant may receive either the 15% or the 25% bidding credit on its overall payment, but not both.

Bidding credits will also be available to rural service providers. To be eligible for a rural service provider bidding credit, an applicant must: (1) be a service provider that is in the business of providing commercial communications services and, together with its controlling interests, affiliates, and the affiliates of its controlling interests, has fewer than 250,000 combined wireless, wireline, broadband, and cable subscribers; and (2) serve predominantly rural areas. Rural areas are defined as counties with a population density of 100 or fewer persons per square mile.

The FCC adopted a $25 million cap on the total amount of bidding credit discounts that may be awarded to an eligible small business, and a $10 million cap on the total amount of bidding credit discounts that may be awarded to an eligible rural service provider. Additionally, to create parity among eligible small businesses and rural service providers competing against each other in smaller markets, no winning designated entity bidder may receive more than $10 million in bidding credit discounts in total for licenses won in PEAs with populations of 500,000 or less.

We strongly encourage clients who may be interested in acquiring prime mid-band spectrum rights for fixed and/or mobile to do their due diligence on likely equipment availability and cost and to begin their pre-auction planning and partnership/consortium discussions without delay. Attorneys from our law firm is available to assist in this process, as in previous auctions.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

First EBB Reimbursement Claims Due July 15

On June 8, the FCC waived the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) reimbursement rules requiring providers to file reimbursement claims by the 15th of the month after the uniform snapshot date. This waiver is limited to subscribers that were enrolled and received the EBB-supported service in May 2021. Accordingly, carriers have until July 15, 2021 to submit the first reimbursement claim for service provided in May 2021.

According to the Order, the record before the FCC demonstrated that participating providers have uniformly encountered difficulty to set up the processes and systems necessary to enroll customers in the EBB programs. Some providers, the FCC noted, are not Lifeline providers and do not have familiarity with the relevant USAC systems; and even those providers that are experienced with the Lifeline program have had to adjust their processes in certain ways to account for the differences between the EBB Program and Lifeline. As a result, the FCC stated that a number of providers have filed petitions for waiver seeking additional time to submit reimbursement claims for their EBB subscribers.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Law and Regulation

FCC Settles with Nationwide Carriers Over 911 Location Accuracy Implementation

On June 3, the FCC announced that it has reached settlement agreements with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon over an investigation into compliance with the rules requiring them to deploy dispatchable location or meet certain z-axis location accuracy requirements in the nation’s largest 25 markets by April 3, 2021, and to certify to such deployment by June 2, 2021. According to a Press Release, the settlements require each company to start providing wireless 911 callers’ z-axis location information to 911 call centers within seven days; to implement a compliance plan that includes specific testing, reporting, and public interest conditions; and to pay a $100,000 settlement amount.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, in April of 2021 the FCC initiated inquiries into whether AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon had met the location data requirements described above. The companies had sought an extension of these deadlines, indicating the deployment deadline could not be met based in part on challenges with testing z-axis solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is little information in the official consent decrees besides the information from the Press Release addressed above, and it appears that not every Commissioner was involved in the negotiations. According to a joint statement by Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington:

“In an emergency, every second counts. That’s why the FCC adopted rules in 2015 that can save lives by helping first responders quickly locate 911 callers. Through a series of decisions, the FCC required wireless carriers to identify the location of 911 callers within 3 vertical meters for 80% of all covered calls by April of this year. The full Commission determined that holding wireless carriers to this standard was technically feasible and would potentially save over 10,000 lives per year—including the lives of first responders going into harm’s way.

“So we were surprised and disappointed to learn through a news release that FCC leadership decided to relieve wireless carriers of their certification requirement. The FCC is letting wireless carriers off the hook in exchange for $100,000 and a promise to provide whatever vertical location information they may have—however inaccurate it may be. This agreement, negotiated without any input from our offices, is a bad deal for public safety.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Extends Reply Comment Deadline on 12 GHz Band to July 7

On June 3, the FCC issued an Order granting a request for a 30-day extension of the reply comment deadline of its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking input on the feasibility of allowing flexible-use services in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band (12 GHz band). As a result, reply comments are now due July 7.

The request for extension was filed by SpaceX Holdings, LLC (“SpaceX”), WorldVu Satellites Limited (“OneWeb”), Kepler Communications, Intelsat License LLC, and SES S.A. (the “12 GHz Alliance”), who argued additional time was necessary to adequately review and respond to “voluminous—nearly 300 pages in comments and exhibits between just [RS Access, LLC and DISH Network Corporation].” The request was opposed by the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition, whose participating members included INCOMPAS, DISH Network, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), RS Access, Open Technology Institute at New America, AtLink, Cambridge Broadband Networks Group Ltd. (CBNG), Center for Education Innovations (CEI), Etheric Networks, GeoLinks, Go Long Wireless, Granite Telecommunications, mmWave Tech, Resound Networks, Rise Broadband, Rural Wireless Association (RWA), Tel Net Worldwide, Tilson, VMware, WeLink, White Cloud Technologies, Xiber and X-Lab.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC seeks comment on whether it is possible to add mobile service throughout the 12 GHz band without causing harmful interference to incumbent licensees. Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on whether there are technical parameters that would allow additional terrestrial shared used of the band, methods for assigning flexible use rights in the band, and potential sharing mechanisms for the band if coexistence among the incumbent services and new flexible use service is technically feasible.

The 12 GHz band is currently licensed to Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) operators, non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite systems, and fixed service providers, all on a co-primary basis. The FCC has authorized several NGSO constellations in recent years to operate using this spectrum, in coordination with one-way, fixed Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS). NGSO and MVDDS services must operate on a non-harmful interference basis with respect to DBS.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell and John Prendergast.

Annual TRS Complaint Summary Reports Due July 1

On June 8, the FCC issued a Public Notice reminding reminds state telecommunications relay services (TRS) programs and TRS providers of (1) their annual obligation to submit summaries of their consumer complaint logs on or before Thursday, July 1, 2021, and (2) their ongoing obligations to file and maintain TRS consumer contact information, and to notify the FCC of any substantive program change.

State TRS programs and interstate and Internet-based TRS providers are required to collect and maintain a log of consumer complaints alleging violations of the federal TRS mandatory minimum standards. State TRS programs and interstate TRS providers are also required to log all complaints made to the state agency, as well as those made to the state’s TRS provider. State programs and all TRS providers must file annually with the FCC a summary of the complaint log for the previous year.

BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer.

Industry

ITS America and AASHTO Appeal 5.9 GHz Spectrum Band Order

On June 2, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) filed an appeal of the FCC’s November 2020 order allowing unlicensed devices in the 5.9 GHz spectrum band. According to a press release from ITS America, these entities took this action “to ensure Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies can continue to safely operate throughout the 5.9 GHz band.”

ITS America further stated that the lawsuit, which was filed in the D.C. Circuit Court, “seeks to reverse the Commission’s reallocation of 60 percent of the 5.9 GHz band to unlicensed, non-transportation uses, and preserve the full 75 MHz for transportation communications.”

“Safety has always been our top priority,” said Shailen Bhatt, President & CEO of ITS America. “We are taking this action because V2X technologies continue to be our best available tool to significantly reduce crashes and save lives on American roadways.”

“Keeping people safe is the top priority for every state DOT,” said Jim Tymon, AASHTO executive director, “We believe the FCC ruling has undermined state DOTs’ ability to utilize the 5.9GHz safety frequency as it was intended to be used.”

FCC Announces Next Meeting of Precision Agriculture Task Force for July 8

On June 9, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the next meeting of the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force or Task Force) will be held Thursday, July 8, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The meeting will be wholly electronic and is open to the public on the Internet via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live.

At this meeting, the Task Force will hear updates from the Working Group leadership. More information about the Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force is available at https://www.fcc.gov/task-force-reviewing-connectivity-and-technology-needs-precision-agriculture-united-states.

Deadlines

JUNE 30: STUDY AREA BOUNDARY RECERTIFICATION. In addition to the obligation to submit updated information when study area boundaries change, all ILECs are required to recertify their study area boundary data every two years. The recertification is due this year by June 30. Where the state commission filed the study area boundary data for an ILEC, the state commission should submit the recertification. However, where the state commission did not submit data for the ILEC and the ILEC submitted the study area boundary data, then the ILEC should submit the recertification by June 30.

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

JULY 1: FCC FORM 481 (CARRIER ANNUAL REPORTING DATA COLLECTION FORM). All eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) must report the information required by Section 54.313, which includes information on the ETC’s holding company, operating companies, ETC affiliates and any branding in response to section 54.313(a)(8); its CAF-ICC certification, if applicable; its financial information, if a privately held rate-of-return carrier; and its satellite backhaul certification, if applicable.

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

JULY 1: MOBILITY FUND PHASE I ANNUAL REPORT. Winning bidders in Auction 901 that are authorized to receive Mobility Fund Phase I support are required to submit to the FCC an annual report each year on July 1 for the five years following authorization. Each annual report must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the FCC, clearly referencing WT Docket No. 10-208; the Universal Service Administrator; and the relevant state commissions, relevant authority in a U.S. Territory, or Tribal governments, as appropriate. The information and certifications required to be included in the annual report are described in Section 54.1009 of the FCC’s rules.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer.

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

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

JULY 31: CARRIER IDENTIFICATION CODE (CIC) REPORTS. Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Reports must be filed by the last business day of July (this year, July 31). These reports are required of all carriers who have been assigned a CIC code by NANPA. Failure to file could result in an effort by NANPA to reclaim it, although according to the Guidelines this process is initiated with a letter from NANPA regarding the apparent non-use of the CIC code. The assignee can then respond with an explanation. (Guidelines Section 6.2). The CIC Reporting Requirement is included in the CIC Assignment Guidelines, produced by ATIS. According to section 1.4 of that document: At the direction of the NANPA, the access providers and the entities who are assigned CICs will be requested to provide access and usage information to the NANPA, on a semi-annual basis to ensure effective management of the CIC resource. (Holders of codes may respond to the request at their own election). Access provider and entity reports shall be submitted to NANPA no later than January 31 for the period ending December 31, and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. It is also referenced in the NANPA Technical Requirements Document, which states at 7.18.6: CIC holders shall provide a usage report to the NANPA per the industry CIC guidelines … The NAS shall be capable of accepting CIC usage reports per guideline requirements on January 31 for the period ending December 31 and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. These reports may also be mailed and accepted by the NANPA in paper form. Finally, according to the NANPA website, if no local exchange carrier reports access or usage for a given CIC, NANPA is obliged to reclaim it. The semi-annual utilization and access reporting mechanism is described at length in the guidelines.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

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.

Calendar At-a-Glance

June
Jun. 10 – Comments are due on Semiconductor Shortage study.
Jun. 15 – Reply comments are due on Semiconductor Shortage study.
Jun. 16 – 15-Day Access Tariff Filings are due.
Jun. 23 – Petitions to suspend 15-Day Access Tariff Filings are due.
Jun. 23 – Comments are due on Secure Networks Reimbursement Program.
Jun. 24 – 7-Day Tariff Filings are due.
Jun. 28 – Replies to Petitions to Suspend 15-Day Access Tariff Filings are due (NOON ET).
Jun. 28 – Petitions to Suspend 7-Day Tariff Filings are due (NOON ET).
Jun. 30 – STIR/SHAKEN Implementation Certifications are due.
Jun. 30 – Replies to Petitions to Suspend 7-Day Tariff Filings are due (NOON ET).
Jun. 30 – Biannual Study Area Boundary Recertifications are due.

July
Jul. 1 – FCC Form 481 (Carrier Annual Reporting Data Collection Form) is due.
Jul. 1 – FCC Form 690 (Mobility Fund Phase I Auction Winner Annual Report) is due.
Jul. 1 – Annual TRS Complaint Summary Reports are due.
Jul. 6 – Comments are due on Accessibility Rules.
Jul. 7 – Reply comments are due on 12Ghz NPRM.
Jul. 15 – EBB Reimbursement Claims from May 2021 on are due.
Jul. 27 – Auction 109 – AM/FM Broadcast Auction begins.
Jul. 21 – Short forms for Auction 110 are due (6:00 PM ET).
Jul. 31 – Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Report is due.

August
Aug. 1 – FCC Form 502 due (North American Numbering Plan Utilization and Forecast Report).
Aug. 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Aug. 1 – Live 911 Call Data Reports from Non-Nationwide Providers are due.
Aug. 29 – Copyright Statement of Accounts is due.

“Trouble in Mind”

Tuba Skinny

It was a privilege to see Tuba Skinny busk today in the French Quarter for the first time since March of last year. This is a great old blues tune. Recorded on Pere Antoine Alley, next to St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. 6-6-21.

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

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• ex KN9IQY, KN4BK, KM5NK, WB4JCF, ZP5TQ, WA4VXU, WA9RVL, /TI2, /9Y4, /6Y5, /KP4, HH2FJ
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