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Welcome Back To
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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.
HELP SUPPORT THE NEWSLETTER These are uncertain times.
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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As the paging business began to decline, one manager of a large carrier was quoted as saying that his job was like "managing a melting ice cube." (I think he got fired.) Anyone who feels that way about the Paging Industry should probably just give up. On the other hand, if you are not ready to quit and you have some "fight" left in you, then why not give some advertising a try? What happens if you don't advertise? . . . NOTHING! Click on the image above for more info about advertising in this newsletter. |
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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale
(Images are typical units, not actual photos of items offered for sale here.)
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Cleanup of Arecibo Observatory's collapsed radio telescope seen from space By Elizabeth Howell Satellite images show what's left of the iconic observatory.
The sad work of dismantling the remains of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is underway. Fresh satellite images from Maxar Technologies from Feb. 23 show work crews removing part of the structure and clearing the land for safety reasons, after the telescope collapsed Dec. 1, 2020. The National Science Foundation (which stewarded the telescope since the 1970s) had no updates about Arecibo's status recently on Twitter or on its press releases. It announced the decommissioning of the famed observatory back in November, however, due to hurricane and cable damage deemed too dangerous to repair. The new pictures are therefore no surprise. The collapse, documented in pictures and video, saw the 900-ton platform that hung above the radio dish suddenly falling 450 feet (140 meters) into the structure below at 8 a.m. local time. A preliminary investigation is ongoing for the cause amid the cleanup; a first update Jan. 21 from NSF suggested manufacturing error in the cables may have contributed to the collapse. "We at NSF are extremely grateful that the safety zones were adequate and that nobody was physically hurt," Ashley Zauderer, the program director for the Arecibo Observatory at the NSF, said during a virtual town hall event held separately Jan. 11 at the 237th conference of the American Astronomical Society. "I say 'physically hurt' because we do want to clearly communicate that we understand that this was a very traumatic event, impacting a lot of people," Zauderer added. "There is a lot of hurt."
The telescope's astronomical achievements are vast, but include scanning asteroids that came close to Earth, examining exoplanets and once sending a message to extraterrestrials in 1974. The public was also familiar with Arecibo's work through sci-fi films in the 1990s such as "Goldeneye" of the James Bond franchise, and the alien-focused "Contact" that starred a young Matthew McConaughey decades before his more famous space flick "Interstellar" (2014). Arecibo's location in Puerto Rico brought tourism and scientific employment to the island associated with the telescope's work; how to secure that for the future is still being discussed. A recent editorial in Astronomy magazine suggested selling off pieces of Arecibo (in the context of a growing, worldwide space memorabilia market) to contribute to a fund for education and outreach at the former facility. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. |
| Source: | space.com |
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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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FCC hints at cure to mobile interference woes with Mexico
The FCC's new boss recently held a call with her counterpart in Mexico. The development could pave the way for some kind of fix to the interference problems along the US-Mexico border that have affected AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. "It was a pleasure to meet with [Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones] Interim Chairman [Adolfo] Cuevas this afternoon and discuss the ways our two countries can best collaborate on the technology and connectivity challenges facing our respective citizens," Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a recent release. "I welcome the opportunity to strengthen relationships with our international partners to build a brighter, more digitally connected world." Importantly, the release indicated that the conversation covered "the use of radio spectrum in different frequency bands along the US-Mexico border" and the "elimination of counterproductive spectrum interferences." But it did not provide details, and FCC officials declined to comment beyond the release. Nonetheless, such language is noteworthy considering AT&T ( through its FirstNet effort ) as well as T-Mobile and Verizon have all suggested that their mobile services along the border have been affected by the 700MHz LTE network being built by Mexico's Altán Redes. Called Red Compartida, the network stems from a public-private partnership between the Mexican government and Altán Redes to construct a wholesale wireless network covering at least 92.2% of the Mexican population by 2024. According to a document T-Mobile filed with the FCC in 2020, the situation is severe: The operator said that it has been forced to shut down or power down hundreds of cell sites along the border due to interference from Altán Redes. US government officials have declined to comment on the issue beyond official documents. However, the situation may stem from the strained relationship between the US and Mexico due in part to former President Trump's many negative statements and actions toward Mexico. Rosenworcel — President Biden's FCC appointee — may be looking for a chance to reset relations. "As part of their introductory virtual meeting, both regulatory chairs highlighted their shared commitment to advancing connectivity and the continued development of the telecommunications sector in the United States and Mexico," the FCC said of the recent meeting. |
| Source: | LightReading |
| PRISM IPX Systems |
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| Easy Solutions |
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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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EWA-BLL-2021-5 March 5, 2021 A “Publication Division” IndeedThey are at it again, or perhaps they never stopped, but Federal Licensing, Inc.’s Publication Division is warning licensees that a “financial penalty (fine)” may be assessed by the FCC if radio systems are not operated in accordance with the FCC’s rules. And just in case licensees do not have a copy of the rules governing their radio system to discover whether they are operating within the rules, for a mere $119 per order no less, Federal Licensing, Inc. will save the day and send you for five years straight, an “updated version of the FCC RULES AND REGULATIONS governing the PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES.” Their solicitation claims that the “FCC implemented major changes to the rules, having a direct impact on the operation of your system” which is consistent with other wacky statements contained within their tired solicitations. Of course, we are not sure how they would know that, and we suspect that they have no idea what changes have taken place within the rules, when or why. It sounds good though. What a way to make a living! Here's the tip of the week – the entirety of the current updated rules governing private land mobile radio systems may be viewed by accessing the FCC’s web site at www.fcc.gov. For free no less! Do not fall prey to these jokers. |
| Source: | EWA |
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 WHAT IS 5G? 5G is the ext generation of wireless networks and promises a mobile experience that's 10x to 100x faster than today's 4G networks. We say the word promise because we're in the early days of 5G. When more smartphones and networks support 5G tech, it will have far-reaching consequences for consumers, from the cars we drive (or that drive us) to the food we eat to the safety of our roads to the ways we shop to the entertainment we share with family and friends. And that doesn't include things we haven't yet imagined because we've never had the capability to unlock those new scenarios. Today, 5G may seem confusing even as it's widely hyped. We're here to help you sort fact from fiction, weed through the acronyms and jargon, and figure out when and how 5G can change the way you live. And we'll keep you from getting caught up in hyperbole — and empty promises. [ source ] |
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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| Inside Towers Newsletter |
Rockin’ the C-bandBy John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor Verizon (NYSE: VZ) won a staggering amount of spectrum in the high mid-band 3.7-3.98 GHz range in the recent FCC C-band auction. Certainly, it paid a record $45 billion to gain that spectrum. Simply referred to as the 3.7 GHz band, this spectrum puts VZ on a comparable footing in terms of coverage and capacity with T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) and its 2.5 GHz spectrum that came with the Sprint merger.
The 3.7 GHz band gives spectrum balance to mobile network operators that up to now have relied on low-band frequencies for wide area, low throughput performance and high-speed, short distance millimeter wave spectrum for 5G. Auction 107 made available 280 MHz in the 3.7-3.98 GHz range, Inside Towers reported. That is the lower portion of the 3.3-4.2 GHz C-band range that was assigned to the U.S. by the International Telecommunications Union. The Auction offered 14 licenses of 20 MHz channels each, grouped in A, B and C Blocks. A and B Blocks each have five 20 MHz channel licenses (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and B1, B2, B3, B4, B5) giving each Block a total of 100 MHz. The C Block comprises four 20 MHz channels (C1, C2, C3, C4) for an 80 MHz total. The three Blocks make up the 280 MHz aggregate. This swath of spectrum was offered in each of the 406 Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) that cover the entire continental U.S. MNOs could bid for any or all 14 license blocks in any PEA. VZ won 3,511 licenses of the 5,684 available across all 406 PEAs for $45 billion. This motherlode includes five A Block licenses along with two to five B Block licenses nationwide. This combination gives VZ bandwidth capacity from 140 to 200 MHz depending on the market, and sets it up for high-speed, low latency services in either mobile or fixed wireless access applications. Initial deployments likely will extend its nationwide 5G coverage on a standalone 3.7 GHz network. For its $23 billion investment, AT&T captured 1,651 licenses in all 406 PEAs with an average bandwidth of 80 MHz, mainly in B and C Blocks. Third-place T-Mobile doled out $9.3 billion for 142 licenses, covering 72 PEAs mainly in C Block at an average 40 MHz bandwidth, while UScellular won 254 C Block licenses in 99 PEAs, predominantly across its 21-state operating area. There is just one small hurdle to overcome to make 3.7 GHz operation a reality. Existing communication satellites already use the C-band for their downlinks that deliver video programming to broadcasters and cable head ends. In March 2020, the FCC offered satellite companies $9.7 billion in total to clear the 3.7-3.98 GHz spectrum once the auction was completed, Inside Towers noted. FCC rules would make the lower 280 MHz (3.7-3.98 GHz) available for flexible use, including for 5G. The adjacent 20 MHz (3.98-4.0 GHz) would serve as a guard band. Existing satellite operations, including their associated earth stations, would be “repacked” into the upper 200 MHz (4.0-4.2 GHz) of the band. The relocation costs are to be covered by the auction and paid directly by winning bidders to the satellite carriers. In some ways, this is similar to the FCC’s television repack program. The agency repaid “reasonable” broadcaster moving costs. At least one carrier paid some stations to clear their spectrum more quickly. Satellite operators could receive accelerated relocation payments if they can clear the lower portion of the C-band sooner than later. On June 1, 2020, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announced that incumbent satellite operators had made sufficient commitments to clear the 3.7–4.0 GHz band on the accelerated timeline described in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order, thereby triggering accelerated clearing of the band. CohnReznick and subcontractors Squire Patton Boggs and Intellicom Technologies, were selected as the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse to ensure the requisite repack criteria are met before payments are made, Inside Towers noted. With the Order, licenses in the A Block in 46 of the top 50 PEAs (1–4, 6–10, 12–19, 21–41, and 43–50) will be subject to the Phase I accelerated relocation deadline of December 5, 2021. These PEAs cover 55-60 percent of the U.S. households. Licenses in the B and C Blocks in the top 46 PEAs, and in the A, B, and C Blocks in the remaining 360 PEAs will be subject to the Phase II accelerated relocation deadline of December 5, 2023. The repack schedule has significant implications for the license holders. VZ would be the main beneficiary of the early repack deadline since it holds most of A Block licenses in the Top 50 PEAs. The company could commence 5G deployments at 3.7 GHz as early as 2022. With the second deadline, other MNOs would have to wait until 2024 and later to put their licenses into play. All MNOs have up to eight years from the date of the initial license to build out to at least 45 percent of the population in each of its license areas. |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers Jim Fryer. Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
FCC Reopens Form 477 Filing Interface; Filing Deadline
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| Bidder | Total Gross Winning Bids |
| Cellco Partnership | $45,454,843,197 |
| AT&T Spectrum Frontiers LLC | $23,406,860,839 |
| T-Mobile License LLC | $9,336,125,147 |
| United States Cellular Corporation | $1,282,641,542 |
| NewLevel II, L.P. | $1,277,395,688 |
The five bidders winning the largest number of licenses were as follows:
| Bidder | Number of Licenses Won |
| Cellco Partnership | 3,511 |
| AT&T Spectrum Frontiers LLC | 1,621 |
| United States Cellular Corp. | 254 |
| T-Mobile License LLC | 142 |
| Canopy Spectrum, LLC | 84 |
“It is essential to America’s economic recovery that we deliver on the promise of next-generation wireless services for everyone, everywhere,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “This auction reflects a shift in our nation’s approach to 5G toward mid-band spectrum that can support fast, reliable, and ubiquitous service that is competitive with our global peers. Now we have to work fast to put this spectrum to use in service of the American people. Special thanks go to our great FCC auctions team, and their colleagues in the Wireless Telecommunications and International Bureaus, among others, for this success.”
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.
On February 25, the FCC formally adopted a Report and Order that establishes the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to provide qualifying households discounts on their Internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet.
As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service, and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.
Under the law, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is open to households that participate in an existing low-income or pandemic relief program offered by a broadband provider; Lifeline subscribers, including those that are on Medicaid or accept SNAP benefits; households with kids receiving free and reduced-price lunch or school breakfast; Pell grant recipients; and those who have lost jobs and seen their income reduced in the last year.
“This is a program that will help those at risk of digital disconnection. It will help those sitting in cars in parking lots just to catch a Wi-Fi signal to go online for work. It will help those lingering outside the library with a laptop just to get a wireless signal for remote learning. It will help those who worry about choosing between paying a broadband bill and paying rent or buying groceries. In short, this program can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people across the country. That’s why our work is already underway to get this program up and running, and I expect it to be open to eligible households within the next 60 days as providers sign up and program systems are put in place. I have confidence in our staff that we will do this carefully, swiftly and the right way,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast.
On February 24, the FCC adopted an Order extending, on its own motion, the prior waivers of the Lifeline program rules governing documentation requirements for subscribers residing in rural areas on Tribal lands, recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment, and income documentation through June 30, 2021.
However, the FCC did not extend the existing waiver of the Lifeline usage requirement beyond May 1, 2021. Specifically, starting May 1, 2021, ETCs must send notice to Lifeline subscribers who have not used their service in the previous 30 days and notify those subscribers that they have 15 days to cure their non-usage.
BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer.
Last week, the FCC issued a number of Notices of Apparent Liability, ranging between $10,000 and $20,000, for repeated failures to file FCC Form 477.
Since 2005, the Commission has required “all facilities-based providers” of fixed and mobile broadband connections to end-users to submit counts of broadband connections in FCC Form 477. This includes facilities-based providers in rural areas, regardless of their size. Fixed wireless facilities-based broadband providers have been required to file both “deployment” and “subscription” data on their FCC Form 477 filings since 2014.
The Commission’s rules establish a base forfeiture of $3,000 for failure to file a required form or information, for each violation or each day of a continuing violation. In each of the Notices of Apparent Liability issued last week, the statute of limitations had run on all but one or two violations. Nevertheless, in light of the companies’ histories of failed filings — often twenty to thirty missed filings each — the FCC used its authority to adjust the fine upward.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Richard Rubino and Sal Taillefer.
On February 25, the Ensuring RDOF Integrity Coalition (“ERIC”) filed an “Informal Request for Commission Action” asserting that certain winning bidders “in which it asks the FCC lack the technical and financial ability to meet their performance obligations” and that the Commission “lacks the ability to fully vet these bidders’ qualifications.” According to the filing, the FCC should allow interested stakeholders the opportunity to review certain Auction 904 information currently under Protective Order.
Specifically, the ERIC alleges that “the following WISPs raise particular red flags” about their ability to meet RDOF commitments due to the number of locations and amount of funding won: LTD Broadband LLC, AMG Technology Investment Group dba Nextlink, Resound Networks, LLC, and Connect Everyone LLC. ERIC further alleges that SpaceX is of concern due to its promised delivery of Above Baseline (100/20 Mbps) broadband with low latency to locations in 35 states using “unproven technology.” Finally, ERIC alleges that Charter Fiber Link, Time Warner Cable and Information Services and Frontier Communications are also problematic due to “extremely low bids in areas that extend well beyond their current operations that will be extremely difficult to serve for the amount of funds won for those locations.”
Informal Requests for Commission action are covered by Section 1.41 of the Commission’s Rules. While the Commission may very well act on an informal request, it is not obligated to do so and unlike a Petition to Dismiss or Deny, it is not obligated to issue an order.
APRIL 1: FCC FORM 499-A, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. This form must be filed by all contributors to the Universal Service Fund (USF) sup-port mechanisms, the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the cost recovery mechanism for the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP). Contributors include every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications, and certain other entities that provide interstate telecommunications for a fee. Even common carriers that qualify for the de minimis exemption must file Form 499-A. Entities whose universal service contributions will be less than $10,000 qualify for the de minimis exemption. De minimis entities do not have to file the quarterly report (FCC Form 499-Q), which was due February 1, and will again be due May 1. Form 499-Q relates to universal and LNP mechanisms. Form 499-A relates to all of these mechanisms and, hence, applies to all providers of interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications services. Form 499-A contains revenue information for January 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year. And Form 499-Q contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. (Note: the revised 499-A and 499-Q forms are now available.) Block 2-B of the Form 499-A requires each carrier to designate an agent in the District of Columbia upon whom all notices, process, orders, and decisions by the FCC may be served on behalf of that carrier in proceedings before the FCC. Carriers receiving this newsletter may specify our law firm as their D.C. agent for service of process using the information in our masthead. There is no charge for this service.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.
APRIL 1: ANNUAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED SERVICES CERTIFICATION. All providers of telecommunications services and telecommunications carriers subject to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act are required to file with the FCC an annual certification that (1) states the company has procedures in place to meet the record-keeping requirements of Part 14 of the Rules; (2) states that the company has in fact kept records for the previous calendar year; (3) contains contact information for the individual or individuals handling customer complaints under Part 14; (4) contains contact information for the company’s designated agent; and (5) is supported by an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury signed by an officer of the company.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, Mary Sisak, Sal Taillefer.
MAY 26: STUDY AREA BOUNDARY RECERTIFICATION. In addition to the obligation to submit updated information when study area boundaries change, all ILECs are required to re-certify their study area boundary data every two years. The recertification is due this year by May 26. Where the state commission filed the study area boundary data for an ILEC, the state commission should submit the recertification. However, where the state commission did not submit data for the ILEC and the ILEC submitted the study area boundary data, then the ILEC should submit the recertification by May 26.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.
MAY 31: FCC FORM 395, EMPLOYMENT REPORT. Common carriers, including wireless carriers, with 16 or more full-time employees must file their annual Common Carrier Employment Reports (FCC Form 395) by May 31. This report tracks carrier compliance with rules requiring recruitment of minority employees. Further, the FCC requires all common carriers to report any employment discrimination complaints they received during the past year. That information is also due on June 1. The FCC encourages carriers to complete the discrimination report requirement by filling out Section V of Form 395, rather than submitting a separate report. Clients who would like assistance in filing Form 395 should contact Richard Rubino.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.
March
Mar. 3 – Comments on CTS/IP CTS Standards and Metrics are due.
Mar. 15 – Comments are due on Auction 109 Procedures.
Mar. 15 – Comments on NECA Average Schedule Formula are due.
Mar. 15 – FCC Form 477 is due.
Mar. 18 – NANC nominations are due.
Mar. 19 – STIR/SHAKEN Certificate Revocation comments are due.
Mar. 22 – Reply comments on Auction 109 Procedures are due.
Mar. 30 – Reply comments on NECA Average Schedule Formula are due.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 525 (Delayed Phasedown CETC Line Counts) is due.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 508 (ICLS Projected Annual Common Line Requirement) is due.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 507 (Universal Service Line Count – CAF BLS) is due.
Mar. 31 – Performance Pre-Testing Report for Certain ETCs is due.
April
Apr. 1 – FCC Form 499-A (Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Apr. 1 – Annual Accessibility Certification is due.
Apr. 2 – Reply comments on CTS/IP CTS Standards and Metrics are due.
Apr. 15 – First Reassigned Number Database Report due (carriers with > 100,000 subscribers).
Apr. 19 –STIR/SHAKEN Certificate Revocation reply comments are due.
May
May 1 – 64.1900 Geographic Rate Averaging Certification is due.
May 1 – Lifeline usage requirement waiver ends.
May 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
May 26 – Biannual Study Area Boundary Re-certifications are due.
May 31 – FCC Form 395 (Annual Employment Report) is due.
| BloostonLaw Private Users Update | Vol. 21, No. 2 | February 2021 |
As we have previously reported, the FCC reopened the 470-512 MHz band (also known as the “T-Band”) to certain types of applications as a result of the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which repealed the provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act that required the FCC to auction the T-Band. As a result, starting at 8:00 AM on February 18, 2021, the Frequency Coordinators started their pre-coordination process in order to eliminate the potential for mutually exclusive applications. The process adopted by the various frequency coordinators will ensure a level playing field for all applicants and that applications are processed on a first come, first served basis during the FCC’s upcoming application filing window (March 22, 2021 through June 22, 2021).
During this filing window, the FCC has stated that it will accept the following categories of applications from incumbent T-Band licensees:
The FCC has recognized that there may be circumstances where a waiver of the provisions of this process are required. In those cases, an applicant may request a waiver of the FCC’s Rules. The FCC has cautioned that waiver requests must demonstrate why grant of the waiver is justified by special circumstances and is consistent with the public interest, including the policies underlying the T-Band rules.
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
Over the past month, the FCC has denied various Petitions from public safety and local governmental entities to reinstate licenses that were terminated for apparent non-construction. In general, the FCC provides a one-year construction period for land mobile licenses and an 18-month construction period for microwave. While the construction deadlines are reflected on the face of the private land mobile licenses, they are not reflected on the face of the microwave licenses.
It is critically important that facilities be constructed in a timely manner and that the FCC be notified in a timely manner of the construction. If for some reason you are not able to complete construction, you may be able to obtain an extension of time within which to complete construction, provided that the extension request is filed prior to the expiration of the construction period and you are able to demonstrate that the need for the extension is due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control. In this regard, the FCC’s rules provide that there will be a partial presumption of due diligence if you can demonstrate that the equipment was ordered within 90 days of the license grant, but that other circumstances (e.g. late delivery) prevented installation of the equipment.
The FCC currently mails construction coverage reminder letters to licensees approximately three months prior to the construction deadline. As we have previously reported, the FCC is transitioning away from mailing letters and other correspondence via US Mail to using licensee email addresses. In light of this development, we have started adding licensee email addresses to the application in addition to our own email address so that you will receive correspondence from the FCC in the future. When establishing an email address, we recommend that the Company consider a generic email address such as fcc@XXXXX.com that is set up to be received by multiple personnel rather than a specific individual’s email address. In that way, if there is a personnel change, death or other issue, the Company will still receive the notice while it updates its email system to add and remove contact persons.
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
The FCC has issued a Notice of Violation to Oakmont of Concord LLC, the licensee of an Industrial/Business Pool Service station, for improper operation of an 800 MHz signal booster. The FCC became involved upon the receipt of a complaint of harmful interference from the East Bay Regional Communications Systems Authority (“East Bay”). Investigation by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau revealed that 800 MHz radio signals were being transmitted from a bi-directional amplifier at Oakmont’s address.
The FCC’s investigation revealed three issues:
For those clients that are using signal boosters to amplify a wireless signal that may infringe on nearby cochannel operations, it is critically important that you not only have permission to do so, but maintain a written record of that permission in your files in case the FCC requests that information. Signal booster operators otherwise have the obligation to ensure interference free operation and to immediately correct any instances of harmful interference, even if it means shutting down the offending signal booster.
Please contact our office for any additional information regarding signal boosters since the requirements will vary based upon the application.
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
The Virginia State Police have requested a waiver of Rule Section 22.565 to increase the existing limit on its Part 22 transmitter power output for its mobile transmitters from 60 watts to 100 watts, using a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 150 watts. The State Police seek to increase the capacity of its state-wide land mobile radio system (also known as STARS), by upgrading it to use Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology while maintaining the existing geographic coverage that its public safety personnel currently rely on. The State Police have asserted that they have investigated other frequency bands and technologies, but have not been able to find any viable alternative for addressing their security and public safety needs. Comments are due March 15, 2021; Reply Comments are due March 30, 2021.
Virginia’s STARS system is a statewide shared land mobile radio system that utilizes Part 90 public safety channels as well as Part 80 Public Coast VHF and Part 22 geographic area paging channels. According to the waiver request, Virginia concluded that the only practical solution for meeting the increased capacity needs of its STARS system is to upgrade from its existing Frequency Division Multiple Access technology to TDMA technology. In order to avoid a degradation in geographic coverage resulting from this change, the State Police claim that increasing the transmitter power of certain radios from 60 watts to 100 watts is necessary, and that this increased power level will not cause harmful interference to adjacent channel operations.
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
AT&T, the vendor for the FirstNet public safety interoperability network, has announced that it has completed more than 90 percent of its FirstNet coverage using 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum. This completion rate exceeds the 80 percent milestone it was contracted to reach by the end of March 2021. As a result, FirstNet subscribers now have access to more than 2,710,000 square miles of coverage. According to AT&T, it is scheduled to finish 95 percent of the planned Band 14 buildout by the end of March 2022, and the rest of the system by March 2023. This level of coverage is significant because Verizon, a traditional carrier for public safety agencies has long claimed a 400,000 square mile LTE coverage advantage.
According to the press release, FirstNet adoption has continued to grow, while the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) supports over 2 million subscriber connections and more than 15,000 public safety related agencies. The AT&T press release continued that “2020 made it clearer than ever before how critical it is for first responders to have the tools and wireless infrastructure they need to communicate with each other wherever their mission takes them.”
During the CoVID-19 pandemic response, Gerald Reardon, SAFECOM chair and a retired fire chief, noted that the expanded FirstNet coverage made a significant impact during deployments related to CoVID-19. In particular, Reardon noted that “the drive from FirstNet to consistently increase coverage has been impressive, especially as we work to combat CoVID-19. With our mobile task force constantly moving locations for testing sites and vaccination locations, FirstNet not only fits the bill, but is key to our mission’s success.”
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
It is well known that critical infrastructure facilities such as water systems and electric grids, to name a few, are vulnerable to attack. Recently, a hacker infiltrated the computer system of a Tampa, Florida-area water treatment plant and made a change to the lye level that could have been dangerous had it not been caught by a treatment plant employee.
Following the “attack”, the Oldsmar, Florida mayor stated that “[t]he important thing is to put everyone on notice”, a sentiment that was echoed by the Sheriff of Pinellas County. Apparently, the attack first started in the morning when someone accessed the plant’s computer system. While nothing seemed amiss (and it was not uncommon for supervisory personnel to have remote access to check the system), the hacker came back later that afternoon and quickly changed the level of lye, a primary ingredient in liquid drain cleaners to dangerous levels. While the issue was promptly caught and corrected so that the public was never in danger, the fact that this incident occurred demonstrates our infrastructure systems’ vulnerabilities and the need for redundancies to protect the public from harm that others might want to cause.
Industry press reports indicate that Part 90 licensing activity, both in the public safety and industrial business pools, declined to an all-time low — beating the prior low set in 2017 when 13,678 applications for new or modified facilities were received. According to industry sources, data available in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) indicates that the FCC received 12,368 applications in 2020 for new or modified facilities, of which 2,791 were for public safety systems.
In the 20 years that the Part 90 licenses were migrated to the FCC’s Universal Licensing System, 2012 was the busiest year (presumably because of the narrowbanding mandate), followed by 2013, 2011 and 2010. Since 2017, the level of applications has been relatively flat, although there was a bit of a decline in 2020, which we believe could be related to the CoVID-19 pandemic since many companies have delayed infrastructure projects or migrated to telework which has eliminated the need for large offices and campus facilities. With respect to declines in the public safety sector, analysts note that push-to-talk-over-cellular (similar to the old Nextel IDEN system) and carrier networks such as FirstNet are providing options for localities and public safety entities to consider in lieu of the traditional land mobile radio.
While we are only two months into calendar year 2021, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue or whether applications will pick up. Factors impacting this will be whether or not there is a meaningful recovery from the CoVID-19 pandemic as well as whether the lifting of the T-Band freeze creates a significant amount of applications to satisfy any pent-up demand for spectrum.
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino
On February 8, Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996. She also hosted a video featuring telecommunications policy leaders’ thoughts about the Act.
In addition to Rosenworcel, speakers included Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Frank Pallone, Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congressman Fred Upton, former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Larry Irving, former FCC Commissioner Susan Ness, former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani, and former FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong.
“Without the Telecom Act of 1996, today’s information and communications landscape would look entirely different,” said Rosenworcel. “Coming at the dawn of the Internet age, the Act accelerated the transition from the analog era to the digital age while also reaffirming the promise at the heart of FCC’s founding statute: that advanced communications should be available to all Americans. Importantly, the Act established the E-Rate program to bring the Internet to every classroom and library in America and, today, the wisdom of investing in digital learning has never been clearer. While we have come a long way, we still have much more work to do to fully realize the promise of the Act and see connectivity for all Americans.”
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Harold Mordkofsky, 202-828-5520, hma@bloostonlaw.com This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm. |
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