Welcome Back To

The Wireless
Messaging News

This Week's Wireless News Headlines:

• PRISM-IPX SYSTEMS WELCOMES SENIOR VP OF SALES AND MARKETING
• The FCC wants to know if you’re paying too much for Internet access
• The FCC's broadband map won't be ready for a year. This data company has already built one
• GENESIS Ham Satellites among Payloads Lost in Launch Failure
  • ARRL
  • Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles
• Cell Broadcast: Bundestag unanimously approves new cell phone warning system
• Inside Towers
  • AT&T, OneWeb Agreement Brings Broadband to Remote Areas
• BloostonLaw Telecom Update
  • Form 477 Due Oct. 1 for Affected Filers; Sept. 15 for All Others. Reg Fees Due Sept. 24
  • Comment Sought on STIR/SHAKEN Obligations; Small Provider Exemption
  • FCC Seeks to Refresh the Record on MTE Competitive Access Proceeding
  • FCC Extends Certain Deadlines in Areas Affected by Hurricane Ida to October 1
  • Fee Filer Opens for 2021 Regulatory Fee Payments; Fees Due September 24
  • 2021 TRPs for Exogenous Cost Filings for ROR Business Data Services Posted
  • Latest Hurricane Ida Report Indicates Cell Site Outage in Louisiana Down To 3.7%
  • Deadlines
  • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • BloostonLaw Contacts
• Technician's Corner
  • Basics Of Op Amps
• THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO
  • “Yesterday's Fool”
  • Erika Lewis & Shaye Cohn

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.

What happens if you don't advertise? . . . NOTHING!

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There is not a lot of news about Paging these days but when anything significant comes out, you will probably see it here. I also cover text messaging to other devices and various articles about related technology.

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Advertiser Index

Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale

Motorola Service Monitor

IFR Service Monitor

IFR 500A Service Monitor

(Images are typical units, not actual photos of items offered for sale here.)

Prism-IPX Systems LLC
11175 Cicero Drive, Suite 120, Alpharetta, GA 30022 USA
T: +1 678-242-5290 W: www.prism-ipx.com

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

PRISM-IPX SYSTEMS WELCOMES SENIOR VP OF SALES AND MARKETING

ATLANTA, September 1, 2021 — Prism-IPX Systems is very pleased to announce that Kirk Alland has joined Prism-IPX Systems as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Kirk is well-known with over 35 years of experience in the Paging and Critical Messaging industry and recently retired from Unication.

During his 19 years with Unication, Kirk and his team established the Unication brand as a premier supplier of Critical Messaging solutions. Prior to Unication, Kirk was with Motorola for 17 years, holding senior management positions in Product Development, Sales and Marketing. Kirk holds a Degree in Business Management from Texas Christian University.

Kirk will be responsible for expanding marketing and sales activity for the company through the development of new business opportunities and creation of customized solutions for customer needs.

Jim Nelson, President and CEO of Prism-IPX, states “I am very excited to have Kirk join our team. I've known Kirk for over 20 years, and I know he will excel at this challenge. Kirk has a proven record of facilitating long term business relationships with both customers and partners in our industry. His in-depth knowledge of signaling and alerting devices for Critical Messaging complement and enhance Prism-IPX's ability to meet the needs of our customers as it continues to provide unique and innovative products to our market segments.”

About Prism-IPX Systems:

Prism-IPX is an innovative market leader and a major developer and distributor for paging, including innovative P25 products, and has working relationships with other manufacturers to round out its product line as a full system supplier. The company has won several major domestic and international contracts for reliable modern IT-centric messaging systems that address cyber-security and IP based networking with centralized management and monitoring. Prism-IPX Systems LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia USA with Engineering and support offices in several locations. The company has a development and support location in Adelaide, Australia to better serve its AU and Global markets.

For more information, please contact us at info@prism-ipx.com or visit the Prism-IPX Systems website at www.prism-ipx.com

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

			Minitor VI
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.

The FCC wants to know if you’re paying too much for Internet access

The Commission is investigating whether landlord-service provider relationships are limiting tenant choices.

BY COLLEEN HAGERTY | PUBLISHED SEP 7, 2021 8:00 PM

Unfair Internet prices, tell the FCC. Stephen Phillips / Unsplash

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Tuesday that it is requesting comments from the public to better understand some of the challenges that apartment dwellers have when choosing Internet service providers. The move comes after the Biden Administration raised concerns earlier this summer about the lack of competition in this space.

The Commission said in a release that it wants to learn more about the impacts of some common agreements between broadband service providers and the landlords of multi-tenant buildings. While the FCC prohibits these two parties from entering into exclusive contracts—meaning a building can’t make a deal to only offer residents one option for Internet access—the agency acknowledged there are other types of agreements that can limit choices for residents.

For example, the FCC pointed to revenue sharing agreements, which it describes as an arrangement between a landlord and a specific Internet service provider (ISP) that rewards the former when their tenants sign with the latter. The Commission identified two additional types of agreements it is particularly interested in hearing more about: exclusive wiring agreements, which grant one service provider the sole ability to use a building’s wiring, and exclusive marketing agreements, which allow only one provider to advertise to tenants, with the complex landlord often receiving some sort of payment.

Though these types of deals were singled out, the agency wrote in a Public Notice that it is also interested in learning about other sorts of agreements that might be impacting the ability of providers to compete within a given building. The notice offers the identifying information needed to submit a comment, multiple methods for sending it in, and relevant deadlines (the FCC also has a primer for first-time commenters that breaks down the basic process). In a press release, Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the Commission will then be “reviewing the record” to see if there are ways the agency can “promote increased competition, consumer choice, and lower prices.”

Axios reports that this is the first step the FCC is taking to comply with an executive order President Biden issued in July. In a sweeping directive, the Biden administration called on more than a dozen federal agencies to address “competition problems” in industries including transportation, healthcare, and travel, among others, in response to the rise of corporate consolidation and increase of consumer costs in recent decades. Internet service was identified as another area of concern, with the administration citing a study that found more than 200 million U.S. residents live in places with just one or two high-speed Internet providers—and that costs in these areas can be as much as five times higher than those with more choices.

As the study’s author, Tejas N. Narechania, told Popular Science in July, these differences can be hyper-localized. “At the end of one street, someone has two or three service providers, and at the other end of the street, there’s only one service provider,” he said, offering one example. “The same provider, on the same street, in one town of 900 people, will charge the monopoly-served consumer way more than they will charge the consumer at the other end of the street that has competition.”

The administration had laid out a series of recommendations for the FCC to address these concerns—the top one being to “prevent Internet service providers from making deals with landlords that limit tenants’ choices.” Axios explains that the findings from this request for comment could “lay the groundwork” for the FCC to impose new regulations on these relationships.

The executive order also encouraged the FCC to revisit a number of initiatives started under the Obama-Biden administration that were either abandoned or reversed under President Trump, including developing a “Broadband Nutrition Label” that breaks down basic Internet service offerings to help consumers better compare provider options.

Popular Science

Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz

The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.

• Commercial Paging systems.
• Healthcare Paging systems.
• Public Safety Emergency Services Paging systems.
• Demand Response Energy Grid Management.

Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.

• Use as a stand-alone unit or in wide area network.
• Mix with other transmitter brands in an existing paging network.
• Adjustable from 20-250 watts.
• 110/240 VAC or 48VDC.
• Absolute Delay Correction.
• Remote Diagnostics.
• Configurable alarm thresholds.
• Integrated Isolator.
• Superb Reliability.
• Improved amplifier efficiency.
• Most reliable high-powered paging transmitter available.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

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

Can You Help The Newsletter?

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The FCC's broadband map won't be ready for a year. This data company has already built one

LightBox, which helped Georgia build a detailed map of Internet service, has put information together to show where coverage gaps exist across the US.

Shara Tibken

Marguerite Reardon

Sept. 8, 2021 9:01 p.m. PT

LightBox has pulled Wi-Fi and location data to build a broadband map of the US.
Screenshot by Shara Tibken/CNET

This story is part of Crossing the Broadband Divide, CNET's coverage of how the country is working toward making broadband access universal.

The federal government is poised to allocate billions — $65 billion, to be exact — to make sure all Americans have speedy Internet at home. But it still doesn't know where the problem areas are. That's because of bad Federal Communications Commission maps that aren't detailed enough to show the gaps.

Now a real estate data company thinks it's created one of the most detailed maps available, showing exactly where coverage is strong and where it's lacking. LightBox, which helped the state of Georgia build what some experts call the most detailed broadband map in the country, published its own US map late Wednesday that combines its precise address data with information from about 2 billion Wi-Fi access points across the country.

LightBox "basically can, with a high degree of confidence, tell you, 'This is what the situation is in reality,'" CEO Eric Frank said in an interview ahead of the map's release. "These are the places that have Internet, and these are the places that don't show any appearance of Internet"

Millions of Americans around the country lack access to fast Internet at home, a need that's become especially critical over the past year and a half as the COVID-19 pandemic forced everything from family gatherings to classes and business meetings to go online. The federal government has an opportunity to fix this problem through the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package the Senate passed in August. The bill, which would allocate $65 billion to help close the digital divide, now must be approved by the House before it can head to President Joe Biden's desk.

Though federal, state and local governments want to deliver better Internet access, a fundamental flaw remains in not knowing where the problems lie. The faulty FCC national broadband map has essentially made millions of Americans without fast Internet "invisible," as Microsoft put it, and unless the data improves, they're likely to remain so.

A flawed map

Up to now, FCC maps have been too vague to be helpful. The agency collects what's called Form 477 data from Internet service providers, which contains information about where ISPs say they can provide service within 10 business days. It's measured at the census block level, the smallest geographic area used by the US Census Bureau, and if only one home in a census block can get service, the whole block is considered served and isn't eligible for public funds. If only one home in a census block can get service, the whole block is considered served and isn't eligible for public funds.

If only one home in a census block can get service, the whole block is considered served and isn't eligible for public funds.

The flawed maps present a big hurdle as the government tries to allocate billions through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, or RDOF, which the FCC has called its "largest investment ever to close [the] digital divide." Since the first phase of RDOF funding ended in November 2020, complaints have surfaced that some winning bids went to entities funding broadband to parking lots or well-served urban areas.

Critics like Steven Berry, head of the Competitive Carrier Association, which represents rural wireless companies, says the FCC's faulty maps aren't detailed enough to indicate to the bidders whether the areas they're bidding on were already served or didn't require service (the maps included geographies with airport runways or large parking lots).

"Pervasive errors in broadband data unfortunately led to some of the nation's wealthiest, most densely populated areas set to receive RDOF Phase I funds," he said.

To address these issues, the FCC in July issued letters to 197 RDOF winners with offers to allow them to withdraw their funding requests for areas that were already being served or where there were questions of whether service was even needed.

The latest FCC data, from January, which includes numbers provided through the end of 2019, determined that fewer than 14.5 million Americans — or 4.4% of the population — lack access to fixed broadband, which is defined as download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. But Microsoft, which looks at how quickly people across the US download its software and security updates, estimated in June that 120.4 million people, or more than a third of the US population, don't use the Internet at broadband speeds.

LightBox's map pegged the number of people without home Internet at all to be nearly 60 million. The company hopes its data will let local governments figure out where their gaps are and apply for funding to bridge them.

"This allows those organizations to come at applications for funding and prepare the best case for their state so they are competitive," Frank said.

Improving FCC maps

Thanks to $65 million in funding from Congress in December, the FCC now will require Internet service providers to share more detailed data, giving a better picture of what areas are unserved by broadband. These requirements, outlined in the Broadband DATA Act passed in March 2020, require the FCC to open the map to public feedback, letting people flag when something's wrong and provide more data points on gaps. In February, acting FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel launched a new task force to fix the data, saying, "it's no secret that the FCC's existing broadband maps leave a lot to be desired."

ISPs have long resisted sharing address-level data with the FCC, and still won't under the new plan. Instead, carriers will report on access based on regions called "shapefiles," which will be overlaid on census blocks to depict the areas where broadband-capable networks exist. But until the FCC publishes its new maps — expected some time next year — it won't be clear whether those shapefiles are detailed enough to help.

The FCC says it's been making progress on its mapping effort over the past six months. The agency has selected a system developer to build and implement the map, and it's released a detailed public notice seeking comment on technical aspects of the mobile challenge and verification processes.

In August, the agency released a mobile LTE broadband and voice coverage map. It includes a snapshot of the type of precise mobile broadband availability data, based on new standardized parameters, that the FCC will collect through its Broadband Data Collection program. A spokeswoman for the agency said that the mobile map provides a preview of how it'll make data available to the public for fixed broadband service maps.

In the meantime, states have been building their own, more detailed maps. That includes Georgia, a LightBox customer.

Building detailed maps

Georgia state officials passed a law to protect ISP data and make the providers comfortable enough to share details about what addresses they served. But the officials realized they needed to find a way to know what addresses actually were homes, not post office boxes or structures where people don't live or work. That's where LightBox came in. The company has data on precise geospatial extent, address, occupancy classification and number of business or dwelling units for nearly all structures across the United States.

ISPs provided Georgia with information on the addresses they served, and the state then matched that with LightBox's data to identify locations that didn't have broadband.

"The Georgia broadband map is the most granular in the nation," Gigi Sohn, an FCC staffer from 2013 to 2016 under Chairman Tom Wheeler and current distinguished fellow at Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, said in a speech in late January.

c|net

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.

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INTERNET Protocol Terminal

The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages.

An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.

Additional/Optional Features

• Database of up to 5000 subscribers.
• 4 serial ports on board.
• Up to 8 phone lines (DID or POTS).
• Can be configured for auto-fail-over to hot swap standby.
• 1RU rack mount unit appliance—no moving parts.
• Easily secure legacy system messages leaving site for HIPAA compliance.
• Only purchase the protocols/options you need.
• Add Paging Encryption for HIPAA compliance on site.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

Paging Data Receiver PDR-4

The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors.

Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.

• Option—decode capcode list or all messages.
• Large capcode capacity.
• Serial, USB and Ethernet output.
• POCSAG or FLEX page decoding, special SA protocols.
• Receivers for paging bands in VHF, UHF, 900 MHz.
• Message activated Alarm Output.
• 8 programmable relay outputs.
• Send notifications of a system problem.

• Synthesized Receiver Tuning.
• Selectivity better than 60 dB.
• Frequencies 148-174, 450-470, 929-932 MHz.
• Image Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Spurious Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Channel Spacing 12.5 or 25 kHz.
• Power 5VDC.
• Receiving Sensitivity 5µV at 1200 bps.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

Wireless Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

R.H. (Ron) Mercer Consultant 217 First Street East Northport, NY 11731
Telephone: 631-786-9359
www.wirelessplanners.com
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

GENESIS Ham Satellites among Payloads Lost in Launch Failure

09/07/2021

The GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N ham radio satellites were among several carrying amateur radio payloads lost following the failure of the Firefly Alpha rocket during its first launch on September 2 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. An anomaly occurred about 2 minutes into the mission, causing controllers to destroy the launcher in flight. The anomaly has yet to be explained.

This was sad news for AMSAT-EA (Spain), as GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N were the first satellites they had built themselves.

According to the AMSAT-EA website, the GENESIS satellites were destroyed after the Firefly Alpha vehicle presented an anomaly as it hit a velocity of Mach 1 and reached Max Q, a point of maximum aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle. The launch had been halted a few seconds before takeoff, but the countdown was subsequently resumed.

GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N were to conduct a series of telecommunications-related experiments, while a ground-station analysis of the received signals would try to attain Doppler variations in order to perform orbit determination and satellite identification from radio amateur stations around the world.

Also lost in the launch failure were the Serenity, Hiapo, the Cresst Dream Comet, and QUBIK-1 and QUBIK-2 satellites, and Spinnaker-3/Firefly Capsule 1. All were designed to use amateur radio frequencies for telemetry and/or communication.

Serenity, a 3U CubeSat, was developed by Teachers in Space (TIS) to provide low-cost opportunities to test educational experiments in space. TIS has previously guided high schools and other academic institutions in developing and flying sub-orbital experiments using high-altitude balloons, stratospheric gliders, and rockets. This was the first orbital satellite mission for TIS. Serenity carried a suite of data sensors and a camera to send data back to Earth using amateur frequencies.

Hiapo was an educational 1U CubeSat developed by the Hawaii Science and Technology Museum (HSTM). The Hiapo project was intended to provide hands-on STEM curriculum for Hawaii students in grades K – 12. Part of this curriculum involved obtaining data about solar flares, solar particle events, and disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field. Data would be available for amateur operators to download directly from the satellite.

The Cresst Dream Comet was a 3U CubeSat developed by the University of Cambridge as a small satellite for technology demonstrations.

QUBIK-1 and QUBIK-2 were picosatellites developed by the Libre Space Foundation, a nonprofit association developing PocketQube picosatellite technology. They were built following the 1P PocketQube form factor. The mission of these satellites was similar to that of the GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites.

Spinnaker-3 was a collaboration between the Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory, Purdue University, and NASA. It was designed to provide rapid de-orbit capability for the second stage of Firefly Alpha’s launch vehicle, using frequency shift keying (FSK) on 70 centimeters for communications. Firefly Capsule 1 consisted of nontechnical items from around the world, including photos, artwork, and books.

Perdidos los satélites GÉNESIS junto con el vehículo Alpha

Fecha:03 septiembre, 2021

Los satélites GÉNESIS han resultado destruidos en la madrugada del viernes 3 de septiembre junto con el vehículo Alpha de Firefly al presentar éste una anomalía cuando ascendía a velocidad Mach 1 cerca de dos minutos después del lanzamiento. Se trataba del primer vuelo de Firefly y era el segundo intento después de que el primero se abortase una hora antes unos segundos antes del despegue. La compañía Firefly aún no ha ofrecido más detalles de las causas de la pérdida del lanzador así como de las cargas que portaba.

En la imagen el momento de la explosión (créditos Everyday Astronaut/Firefly)

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

Cell Broadcast: Bundestag unanimously approves new cell phone warning system

Published by: MRT Published on: September 9, 2021

“Warnings of impending or spreading major emergencies and catastrophes” should be triggered via a central federal warning system and sent to cell phones in a certain area via the mobile network. Technically, this is done by means of so-called cell broadcasts, i.e. transmissions to all cell phones that are ready to receive in individual cellular cells. German network operators now have to install this. The Bundestag unanimously decided on a corresponding legal basis for the Cell Broadcast system on Tuesday.

The authorities for hazard prevention and civil protection and disaster control are responsible for drafting the warnings. The actual Amendment of the Telecommunications Act (TKG) is part of a Set-up aid package for those affected by the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia in July. In addition to the mobile network operators, number-based messengers such as Signal, WhatsApp and Threema are also to contribute “to the extent necessary” to ensure that the warnings are delivered promptly.

Detailed specifications follow by ordinance. It should be about basic technical requirements, security requirements, organizational matters including availability and reaction times as well as performance features.

Cell broadcast is based on all current cellular standards. As with SMS, the signaling channels of the cellular network are used to transmit messages. Individual addressing is not required, as all devices registered in a radio cell receive the warning messages at the same time.

According to the European Code for Electronic Communications adopted in 2018, EU member states must ensure by June 21, 2022 that providers of mobile communications services can send public warnings to end users. The federal government had long assumed that apps like Katwarn and Nina would be sufficient for this. After the most recent alarm failure in August, the federal government finally got Cell Broadcast off the ground.

MRT

AT&T, OneWeb Agreement Brings Broadband to Remote Areas

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

Satellite providers and terrestrial telecom companies, it seems, have always been at odds. But that may be changing. As Congress and the FCC have pushed for companies to provide broadband Internet to remote rural areas, satellites have become smaller, cheaper and certainly more plentiful. There may soon come a day when every fiber provider will be allied with a low earth orbit (LEO) constellation of satellites.

A step in that direction, AT&T has signed an agreement with OneWeb, the LEO satellite communications company. The carrier plans to use the LEO satellites to serve areas that its existing fiber networks can’t reach with the high-speed, low-latency broadband essential to business operations.

“I think that there are opportunities for the terrestrial and satellite industries to continue to coordinate their services,” said Thomas Stroup, President, Satellite Industry Association. “Satellites provide one of the most cost-effective means of being able to provide service to hard to reach areas. It is just so incredibly expensive to put in all of the infrastructure necessary to provide coverage to remote parts of the earth that don’t have coverage.”

The AT&T announcement follows OneWeb’s agreement in August with Northwestel, northern Canada’s largest telecommunications provider, to expand remote mining, enterprise business and government broadband options in northern Canada.

Although geostationary satellites have provided backhaul, this is the first agreement for a LEO satellite to provide coverage, Stroup said.

OneWeb-owner Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal said OneWeb plans to sign agreements with at least one telco in each of the 135 markets globally, ET Telecom.com reported.

The AT&T service will be supported by OneWeb’s network of satellites, which currently comprises 288 satellites. Global coverage with a total fleet of 648 satellites is expected by the end of 2022. AT&T business and government customers in Alaska and northern U.S. states will be covered later this year.

OneWeb competitors, SpaceX’s Starlink (42,000 satellites planned), Amazon’s Kuiper (3,236 satellites planned), and Telesat’s Lightspeed (298 satellites planned), are likely to hook up with a telco.

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.

Form 477 Due Oct. 1 for Affected Filers; Sept. 15 for All Others. Reg Fees Due Sept. 24

On September 3, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that Form 477 data as of June 30, 2021 is due October 1 for filers in Louisiana and Mississippi designated as eligible for Individual or Public Assistance for the purposes of federal disaster relief as of September 3. For all other filers, Form 477 is due September 15.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, on August 30 the FCC extended the Form 477 filing deadline beyond the original September 1 date due to the effects of Hurricane Ida.

Additionally, FY2021 regulatory fees are due September 24. See the full article below for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

Headlines

Comment Sought on STIR/SHAKEN Obligations; Small Provider Exemption

On September 3, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on two statutory obligations under the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act relating to the FCC’s caller ID authentication rules. First, the FCC seeks comment on STIR/SHAKEN implementation extensions granted by the FCC. This includes the exemption provided to small providers. Second, the FCC provides directions and filing instructions for the implementation verification certifications that voice service providers granted an exemption from the FCC’s caller ID authentication rule must file. Comment deadlines have not yet been established.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC granted three categorical extensions of the STIR/SHAKEN mandate on the basis of undue hardship: (1) small voice service providers; (2) voice service providers unable to obtain the “token” necessary to participate in STIR/SHAKEN; and (3) services scheduled for section 214 discontinuance. The TRACED Act further requires the FCC to assess burdens and barriers to implementation “as appropriate” after that initial assessment, and directs the FCC to, “not less frequently than annually after the first [extension] is granted,” reevaluate and potentially revise any extensions granted on the basis of undue hardship.

Regarding the FCC’s two-year extension for small voice service providers, defined as “a provider that has 100,000 or fewer voice service subscriber lines,” the FCC seeks comment on burdens and barriers to small voice service provider implementation and whether it should revise or extend their extension. Specific questions include:

• whether the burdens or barriers affecting small providers that were originally discussed in the Second Caller ID Authentication Report and Order changed since adoption, and if so, how?
• whether new burdens or barriers to implementation emerged that affect small providers?
• whether the FCC should extend the extension beyond its current June 30, 2023 date?
• whether lose are small voice service providers to “full participation,” and what steps, if any, could the FCC take to promote that goal?

Small providers currently taking advantage of this exemption may contact the firm for more information.

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

FCC Seeks to Refresh the Record on MTE Competitive Access Proceeding

On September 7, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing it is seeking to refresh the record in an existing proceeding on competitive access to broadband in apartment and office buildings, also known as Multiple Tenant Environment (MTE) buildings. Specifically, the FCC is seeking comment on three main issues related to broadband deployment in Multiple Tenant Environment (MTE) buildings. The first focuses on revenue sharing agreements between MTE owners and service providers, and whether such arrangements inhibit entry by competitive providers or affect the price and quality of service options for consumers. Second, the FCC seeks comment on exclusive wiring arrangements and whether such arrangements do not preclude access to new entrants or inhibit choice for tenants. The FCC also asks for input on whether exclusive marketing arrangements create confusion and lower choices for tenants.

“Across the country throughout the pandemic, the need for more and better broadband access has never been clearer,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “With more than one-third of the U.S. population living in condos and apartment buildings, it’s time to take a fresh look at how exclusive agreements between carriers and building owners could lock out broadband competition and consumer choice. I look forward to reviewing the record.”

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

FCC Extends Certain Deadlines in Areas Affected by Hurricane Ida to October 1

On September 3, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing that it has extended certain deadlines and waived certain rules to assist consumers, licensees and communications providers in Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by Hurricane Ida. These extensions and waivers apply only to the Louisiana parishes and Mississippi counties that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated as eligible for Individual or Public Assistance for the purposes of federal disaster relief as of September 3. This includes include those licensees and applicants that operate facilities, or, in a significant manner essential to the business or public safety operation, rely on personnel, records, or financial institutions located in the affected areas to provide services or to conduct substantial business activities with the FCC.

Specifically, for affected entities:

• Any deadline currently set from August 29 to September 30 with respect to Wireless Radio Service applications, notifications, and reports pursuant to Parts 1 (Subpart F only), 13, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 74 (excluding Subparts G, and L), 80, 87, 90, 95, 96, 97, or 101 of the FCC’s rules, including, but not limited to, filings regarding certain minor license modifications, license renewals, and notifications of construction, is extended to October 1.
• All construction deadlines and other regulatory deadlines currently set from August 29 to September 30 applicable to Wireless Radio Services pursuant to Parts 1 (Subpart F only), 13, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 74 (excluding Subparts G, and L), 80, 87, 90, 95, 96, 97, or 101 of the FCC’s rules is extended to October 1.
• STA requests for Wireless Radio Services in manners other than electronically on FCC Form 601, e.g., by requesting STAs by telephone call to FCC staff, are allowed through September 30. Further, because the President has issued a major disaster declaration for the affected region, all STA filings by affected licensees and applicants related to Hurricane Ida will be considered “emergency filings” and will be processed as expeditiously as possible.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

Law and Regulation

Fee Filer Opens for 2021 Regulatory Fee Payments; Fees Due September 24

On September 7, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that its automated filing and payment system (Fee Filer) is now available for filing and viewing of FY 2021 regulatory fees. Regulatory fee payments MUST BE RECEIVED by the FCC no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, on September 24. While FY 2021 regulatory fees will not become effective until the rulemaking is published in the Federal Register, regulatees, at their own discretion, may submit payments at any time before the FY 2021 regulatory fees due date.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, on August 26 the FCC released its FY 2021 Regulatory Fees Report and Order, which contains specific information concerning regulatory fee payment obligations, the regulatory fee process, and regulatory fee requirements for payment. The FCC also publishes industry-specific guidance in FY 2021 - Who Owes Fees and What Is My Fee, which can be found on the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees.

In the FY 2021 Regulatory Fees Report and Order, the FCC also extended the streamlined filing procedures for fee waiver, deferral, and installment payment requests implemented in FY 2020 to FY 2021 for financial hardship reasons related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The streamlined procedures include: (1) directing regulatees seeking relief to file their requests by email to a dedicated email address, and (2) permitting regulatees to file a single consolidated request for waiver, deferral and/or installment payment.

Carriers with questions about their annual regulatory fees may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Richard Rubino.

2021 TRPs for Exogenous Cost Filings for ROR Business Data Services Posted

On September 2, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the release of the tariff review plan for use by rate-of-return carriers that elected incentive regulation for their business data services (BDS) offerings pursuant to the Rate-of-Return Business Data Services Order (electing carriers). The tariff review plan is posted on the FCC’s website at: https://www.fcc.gov/tariff-review-plan-incentive-regulation-rate-return-carriers.

The 2021 Tariff Review Plan Order requires electing carriers to file tariff review plans reflecting any exogenous cost adjustment for Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), North American Numbering Plan Administration, and regulatory fees in rates to be effective October 1, 2021. As the FCC explained in the 2021 Tariff Review Plan Order, the exogenous cost adjustment for TRS must be “grossed up” to spread the entire adjustment over the remaining months in the tariff year. However, the October 1, 2021 exogenous cost filing and rate adjustment is optional for electing carriers if the total amount of such exogenous cost adjustments would either increase rates or meet a de minimus threshold of $960.00, which is the current tariff filing fee.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Mary Sisak.

Industry

Latest Hurricane Ida Report Indicates Cell Site Outage in Louisiana Down To 3.7%

On September 8, the FCC released the latest Communications Status Report for areas impacted by Hurricane Ida. According to the report, only 3.7% of cell sites in Louisiana are still down, from an initial figure of over 50%. While the overall figure has improved dramatically over time, certain parishes remain over 10%: Assumption, Lafourche, Palquemines, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist.

The FCC noted, however, that he number of cell site outages in a specific area does not necessarily correspond to the availability of wireless service to consumers in that area, as wireless networks are often designed with numerous, overlapping cell sites that provide maximum capacity and continuity of service even when an individual site is inoperable. In addition, wireless providers frequently use temporary facilities such as cells on-wheels (also known as COWs), increased power at operational sites, roaming agreements, or take other actions to maintain service to affected consumers during emergencies or other events that result in cell site outages.

Cable and wireline operations fare worse, with companies reporting 189,824 subscribers out of service in the disaster area in Louisiana (which may include the loss of telephone, television, and/or Internet services). This number was over 450,000 at its peak and has declined steadily.

Deadlines

SEPTEMBER 15: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION AND BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. This deadline was extended from September 1 due to Hurricane Ida. Carriers affected by Hurricane Ida. Filers in Louisiana and Mississippi designated as eligible for Individual or Public Assistance for the purposes of federal disaster relief as of September 3 have until October 1.

Three types of entities must file this form.

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

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

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

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

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

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

OCTOBER 15: 911 RELIABILITY CERTIFICATION. Covered 911 Service Providers, which are defined as entities that “[p]rovide[] 911, E911, or NG911 capabilities such as call routing, automatic location information (ALI), automatic number identification (ANI), or the functional equivalent of those capabilities, directly to a public safety answering point (PSAP), statewide default answering point, or appropriate local emergency authority,” or that “[o]perate[] one or more central offices that directly serve a PSAP,” are required certify that they have taken reasonable measures to provide reliable 911 service with respect to three substantive requirements: (i) 911 circuit diversity; (ii) central office backup power; and (iii) diverse network monitoring by October 15. Certifications must be made through the FCC’s portal.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Mary Sisak and Sal Taillefer.

NOVEMBER 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 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 499-A that is due April 1.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and John Prendergast.

Calendar At-a-Glance

September
Sep. 10 – Comments on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements are due.
Sep. 10 – Reply comments on Space Launch Industry Spectrum are due.
Sep. 20 – Reply comments are due on Broadcast Station Technical Rules NPRM.
Sep. 15 – FCC Form 477 due for providers not affected by Hurricane Ida.
Sep. 24 – Regulatory fee payments are due.
Sep. 27 – ETRS Form Three is due.
Sep. 27 – Reply comments on Broadband DATA Act Technical Requirements are due.
Sep. 28 – Providers prohibited from accepting traffic from providers not listed on Robocall Mitigation Database.
Sep. 30 – FCC Form 396-C (MVPD EEO Program Annual Report).
Sep. 30 – FCC Form 611T Designated Entity Report due for Licenses subject to Unjust Enrichment rule

October
Oct. 1 – FCC Form 477 due for providers affected by Hurricane Ida.
Oct. 8 – TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund Reimbursement Forms due for Phase 1-5 broadcasters.
Oct. 15 – 911 Reliability Certification
Oct. 21 – Notice of C-Band Operation for Earth Stations is due.

November
Nov. 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Nov. 15 – Deadline to submit information on status of robocall traceback efforts.

W2AEW
This tutorial discusses some general rules of thumb that make it easy to understand and analyze the operation of most op amp circuits. It presents some ideal properties of op amps, and discusses how negative feedback generally causes the input voltage difference to be equal to zero (input voltages are made equal by the action of negative feedback). In other words, the output will do whatever it can to make the input voltages equal. Applying this simple fact makes it easy to analyze most op amp circuits. A copy of the drawings can be found here: https://www.qsl.net/w/w2aew//youtube/Basics_of_opamps.pdf

“Yesterday's Fool”

Erika Lewis & Shaye Cohn singing “Yesterday's Fool”

Written by Erika Lewis. The Lonesome Doves Album Version. Country / Folk song taken from the “Waiting for Stars” Album. Erika Lewis — vocals, guitar, Shaye Cohn — vocals, fiddle, Matt Bell — lap steel, Pete Olynciw — bass. Recorded by Justin LeCuyer in the Holy Cross, New Orleans.

MENSA MEMBER

If you are curious about why I joined Mensa, click here.

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

Life is good!

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K9IQY

• ex KN9IQY, KN4BK, KM5NK, WB4JCF, ZP5TQ, WA4VXU, WA9RVL, /TI2, /9Y4, /6Y5, /KP4, HH2FJ
• Licensed FCC Amateur Radio operator since 1957
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