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This Week's Wireless News Headlines:
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NO POLITICS HERE This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.
A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn’t fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world’s major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get readers’ comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it. I spend the whole week searching the INTERNET for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.
Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I do freely express my own opinions. |
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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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There is not a lot of news about Paging these days but when anything significant comes out, you will probably see it here. I also cover text messaging to other devices and various articles about related technology. |
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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale
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Verizon CEO sees FWA as ‘the next generation of broadband’by Diana Goovaerts | Sep 21, 2021 10:21am
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg highlighted continued momentum in its Fios business, but pointed to fixed wireless access (FWA) as a key tool in its quest to expand its broadband reach further and faster. Speaking during a Goldman Sachs investor conference, Vestberg explained that Fios and its 4G and 5G FWA products are part of a patchwork of solutions the operator is leveraging to deliver a “full nationwide broadband offering.” He added FWA gives the operator an opportunity to serve up broadband to its sprawling base of wireless customers outside its ILEC footprint. “We’re going to have different solutions depending on the customer, but ultimately our goal is that we’re going to address the full market of broadband and we think that there are definitely underserved parts where we can come very strongly with our fixed wireless access, we can come quicker,” he said. “It’s the next generation of broadband. That’s how we see it.” Earlier this month, Verizon announced its 5G Home Internet service is now live in parts of 57 cities. Its 4G FWA offering is much more broadly available, covering 48 states. The operator previously outlined plans to reach 15 million homes with FWA by the end of this year, nearly 30 million by 2023 and 50 million by 2025. For comparison, its Fios service is available to roughly 15 million locations across eight states in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions. As of the end of Q2 2021, Verizon had approximately 6.7 million Fios subscribers. However, Vestberg noted the operator’s Fios business continues to chug along and stated strong momentum seen over the past three quarters is expected to linger given changing work patterns which require strong home broadband connections. He added Verizon sees an opportunity to continue to differentiate and grow revenue from its broadband offerings by bundling various offers from partners, as it’s already done with content from Disney +. “We still have a lot of new things we can add to it. We just started with I would say content streaming, we are now into gaming, we have been into music,” Vestberg said. “There might be more areas where our customers are going to benefit and we’re going to benefit from our distribution and network platform together with all the partners to see that we can continue that journey of incremental ARPA and service growth.” |
| Source: | Fierce |
| Leavitt Communications |
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iOS 15 for iPhone: Apple Maps finally caught up to Google Maps. The top features to knowiOS 15 is here — and with it an improved navigation system that goes toe-to-toe with Google Maps.
Remember when Apple Maps first launched as the iPhone's native navigation app? After years of Google Maps on iPhone, Apple's move to make its own app the default instead of Google Maps was a disaster. But now iOS 15 for iPhone and iPadOS are here (how to download iOS 15 now) and Apple Maps has caught up. In some ways you might think it's even surpassed Google Maps. That's a bold statement, I know. But Google has some tips it can now pick up from its arch rival. Don't believe me? Fire up iOS 15 and read through my list of notable improvements to Apple Maps below. Apple Maps brings confidence with turn-by-turn directionsCurrently, when Apple Maps gives turn-by-turn directions, you're routinely provided with more precise directions such as "turn right in two stoplights" or some other reference to a landmark. Getting more precise instructions from your phone provides more confidence in the route that Apple Maps is taking you on. When you start using Apple Maps in iOS 15 to get turn-by-turn driving directions, you'll see a brand-new look that will add even more confidence. For example, you'll be able to better identify accidents, traffic jams or construction with a quick glance at your phone's screen as you follow the route. Adding to the accuracy, there's a new 3D model that the typical 2D map transitions to as you approach an interchange, making it easier to see exactly where you're supposed to go instead of guessing which lane is the true lane that's second from the right. Also worth noting, Apple says it'll be easier to identify bike, bus, turn and taxi lanes, along with medians and crosswalks in the new Apple Maps. If you can visualize where you're supposed to go, along with the current features of hearing specifics, driving in new cities will be less stressful.
Transit, search improvements and more coming to Apple MapsThere are more features coming to Apple Maps in iOS 15, like an improved transit experience that will send alerts as you near your stop, and allow you to mark your favorite routes so they're always at the top of your screen. Or if you'd rather, you can quickly look at all nearby departures to see when you need to start your journey. Apple is also starting to curate its own Guides that detail venues and businesses you should visit when in a new city. This is clearly an area where Apple needs to do some more work to catch up to Google Maps and its reviews of businesses, but it's a step in the right direction. You'll also see improvements to searching in Maps with more filters (e.g., Does that place down the street take credit cards?) and information about businesses.
Apple Maps has a new preferences sectionUsing Apple Maps prior to iOS 15 meant that you constantly had to change the mode of transportation when getting directions or figure out where to find locations you'd favorited, and it often felt like a chore when doing so. With iOS 15, Apple Maps now has a profile page for you to alter your personal travel preferences and find all of your Apple Maps-related data in one place. To view your user account in Apple Maps, tap on your profile avatar. You'll see a list of the various options, including any reviews you've left for a business, your favorite locations, any city guides you've created and a Preferences page.
iOS 15 will be out this fall, likely in September, and will come with all of these new Apple Maps features plus so much more. Apple Maps put the world in the palm of your handThis feature may not help you daily, but it's something fun to point out nonetheless. Once you have iOS 15 installed, try this: Open Apple Maps and zoom out. Zoom out some more, and then keep zooming out until you're staring at planet Earth. Apple added an interactive globe to Apple Maps. That means you can spin the globe, only instead of seeing a static image of it, it'll change to match the time of day in various parts of the world. It's pretty fun to look at and use. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm jealous that my kids will learn geography like this instead of on a paper map or old-fashioned plastic globe. Try zooming out like that on Google Maps, and you'll find a flat map of Earth. There's a joke to be made here, but I'll leave it alone. We'll keep digging through Apple Maps and the rest of iOS 15, for that matter, and share what we discover. For example, we've already found several new features everyone is sure to love. But my favorite features are hidden, and of course, I found some of those, too. |
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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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| PRISM IPX Systems |
With PRISM IPX Systems, Your message is delivered Secure & Encrypted
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This winged microchip, smaller than an ant, is the smallest human-made flying structureScott Gleeson
USA TODAY
Northwestern University engineers are taking a page from "Ant-Man," creating the smallest-ever human-made flying structure in the form of a winged microchip. The "microflier," announced Wednesday by Northwestern, is about the size of a grain of sand and much smaller than a regular-sized ant. It operates without a motor or engine, catching flight through wind via a propeller like a helicopter. The microflier structures are built in a way where they can be packed with miniaturized technology, including sensors, power sources, antennas for wireless communication and memory data. 9 free software copycatsthat work better than the real expensive programs Experts:Seeing more spiders crawling around your home? Don't panic, there's a reason "Our goal was to add winged flight to small-scale electronic systems, with the idea that these capabilities would allow us to distribute highly functional, miniaturized electronic devices to sense the environment for contamination monitoring, population surveillance or disease tracking," said Northwestern’s John A. Rogers, a biomedical engineering professor and the leader of the device’s development. "We were able to do that using ideas inspired by the biological world. Over the course of billions of years, nature has designed seeds with very sophisticated aerodynamics. We borrowed those design concepts, adapted them and applied them to electronic circuit platforms.” The engineers at Northwestern researched maple trees and wind-dispersed seeds to understand aerodynamics and create the microflier's flying capability, configuring how to stabilize flight with enough time to be an ideal monitoring system of air pollution and airborne disease. “We think that we beat nature,” Rogers said via SciTechDaily. “At least in the narrow sense that we have been able to build structures that fall with more stable trajectories and at slower terminal velocities than equivalent seeds that you would see from plants or trees. "That’s important because device miniaturization represents the dominating development trajectory in the electronics industry, where sensors, radios, batteries and other components can be constructed in ever smaller dimensions.” |
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| Easy Solutions |
Providing Expert Support and Service Contracts for all Glenayre Paging Systems. The GL3000 is the most prolific paging system in the world and Easy Solutions gladly welcomes you to join us in providing reliable support to the paging industry for many more decades in the future. Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.
Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or Easy Solutions |
GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTUREI would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging. GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018. If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation. Click on the image above for more info about advertising here. |
INTERNET Protocol Terminal The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages. An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.
Additional/Optional Features
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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Paging Data Receiver PDR-4 The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors. Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Wireless Network Planners
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Wednesday September 22, 2021 10:20 am PDT by Juli Clover Apple today seeded a new public beta of the macOS 12 Monterey beta to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Monterey software ahead of its public release.
Public beta testers can download the macOS 12 Monterey update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website. macOS Monterey introduces quite a few major updates for the macOS operating system. When released, Universal Control will let a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard be used across multiple Mac or iPad devices, and it's now possible to AirPlay directly to a Mac from an iPhone, iPad, or even another Mac. Safari has an updated tab bar and support for Tab Groups to keep tons of tabs organized, and FaceTime now features support for spatial audio, Portrait Mode (M1 Macs only) and Voice Isolation for cutting out background noise. A SharePlay FaceTime feature (coming in a Monterey update) will let Apple TV users watch TV, listen to music, and share their screens with one another. Shared With You, another new feature, keeps track of the music, links, podcasts, news, and photos that people are sent in Messages, highlighting it in the relevant apps. Notes has a new Quick Note feature for jotting down thoughts, and the Shortcuts app is now available on the Mac. A dedicated Focus mode helps people stay on task by cutting out background distractions based on what's going on, and there's an updated Maps app with a whole slew of new features. With Live Text, Macs can now detect text in photos or provide details on animals, art, landmarks, plants, and more in images. The new beta adds Live Text support for Intel Macs. Mail Privacy Protection hides IP and prevents tracking through invisible pixels, and iCloud Private Relay keeps Safari browsing protected. There are many other new features in macOS Monterey, with a complete overview available in our macOS Monterey roundup. |
| Source: | MacRumors |
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 |
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 |
ARRL, RSGB Announce Joint Events to Celebrate Centenary of Ham Radio Transatlantic SuccessARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain will jointly sponsor events to celebrate the achievement of transatlantic communications by radio amateurs 100 years ago.
In December 1921, ARRL sent Paul F. Godley, 2ZE, as its representative to listen for amateur signals from North America during the Second Transatlantic Tests. Setting up his listening station in Ardrossan, on the west coast of Scotland, Godley received the signals of more than 2 dozen US amateur radio stations, the first on December 12 (UTC) from 1BCG in Connecticut, operated by members of the Radio Club of America. The message read: "Nr 1 NY ck 12 to Paul Godley, Ardrossan, Scotland. Hearty Congratulations. (Signed) Burghard Inman Grinan Armstrong Amy Cronkhite." These successful transatlantic tests and the ones that followed spurred technological advances and new global wireless distance records. Several amateur radio operating events this year and next will commemorate the centenary of these significant milestones that heralded the dawn of two-way international amateur radio communication. ARRL and RSGB will activate special event stations for 6 hours (0200 - 0800 UTC) on December 12 for the 160-meter Transatlantic Centenary QSO Party. RSGB will activate GB2ZE from Scotland, with a team of stations from the GMDX Group sharing operating duties. ARRL will activate W1AW. The stations will operate only on CW. If transatlantic propagation holds up, the stations may continue to operate beyond 0800 UTC.
The GMDX Group of Scotland will award a quaich — a traditional Scottish drinking cup representing friendship — to the first stations in North America and the UK to complete contacts with both W1AW and GB2ZE during the QSO party. A commemorative certificate will be available for download. RSGB and ARRL are also organizing an international amateur radio marathon on the HF bands to commemorate transatlantic tests held between 1921 and 1923. The Transatlantic Centenary Marathon will take place in December 2022. The objective will be to mark these historic events by encouraging all radio amateurs to get on the air. Event details are pending. ARRL and RSGB have assembled a list of stations and groups that are also organizing events and activities to celebrate 100 years of amateur radio transatlantic communication. For more information, visit arrl.org/transatlantic and rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests. The sites also include links to many previously published articles and presentations covering the historic tests.
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| Leavitt Communications |
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| Inside Towers Newsletter |
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STOP USE & RECALL Rescue Safety Harness Recalled From 3M and STOP USE Issued
Yesterday 3M issued a “Stop Use & Recall” of its 3M™ DBI-SALA® Delta™ Arc Flash Web Loop Rescue Safety Harness and 3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit™ XP Arc Flash Rescue Web Loop Harness ANSI and CSA Versions. 3M said it was not aware of any accidents, injuries or customer complaints related to this notice, but have identified the defect through an internal review. The company issued the following instructions:
Step 1: Please inspect your 3MTM DBI-SALA® Arc Flash Harness label (see photograph below) to confirm that it is one of the affected part numbers listed above and has been manufactured between the dates listed above. Step 2: Once you have confirmed the part number and affected date, remove the unit from service immediately and contact the 3M Fall Protection Customer Service Team (details provided in the table in the Appendix). We will arrange to have your product returned to 3M Fall Protection. As soon as a product solution is available, 3M will replace or repair your device and ship it to you at 3M’s expense pending the returned product passes pre-use inspection. If it does not pass the pre-use inspection, we will dispose of the harness and contact you. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact the 3M Fall Protection Customer Service Team. A copy of this notice can be found at http://go.3M.com/AFHarnessRescueLoops. Distributors: Please contact our Customer Service department to obtain a summary of all affected parts sold to you (details provided in the table above). Please forward this “Stop Use & Recall” notice to any of your customers/users who have purchased the harnesses listed above from you. If you have any inventory of the affected models, please contact our Customer Service department to have them returned.” |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer. Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
REMINDER: 911 RELIABILITY CERTIFICATION DUE
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| Percentage of Locations in a State | Service Milestone Deadline |
| 40 | December 31, 2024 |
| 60 | December 31, 2025 |
| 80 | December 31, 2026 |
| 100 | December 31, 2027 |
RDOF support recipients are also subject to the following requirements:
RDOF recipients with questions about any of these requirements may contact the firm for more information.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.
On September 17, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the 33 applicants that are qualified to bid in Auction 110. As we reported in previous editions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, Auction 110 will offer new flexible‐use licenses in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band (3.45 GHz Service) throughout the contiguous United States. Bidding in Auction 110 is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2021.
Qualified bidders, listed here, have been registered automatically for the auction. Registration materials will be sent by overnight delivery only to the contact person at the contact person’s address identified in the qualified bidder’s FCC Form 175. The contact person for each qualified bidder must distribute each RSA token to the specific authorized bidder as identified on each envelope contained in the registration materials package. Upon receipt, each qualified bidder should possess the following:
A qualified bidder must have the above-referenced registration materials to participate in the mock auction and to bid in the clock phase of Auction 110. Any qualified bidder that has not received the registration mailing by 12:00 noon Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, should contact the Auctions Hotline at (717) 338-2868. Receipt of the registration mailing is crucial to participating in the clock phase mock auction and in Auction 110. Each qualified bidder is responsible for ensuring that it has received all the registration materials listed above.
Bidders will first be able to access the bidding system for the mock auction at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. All qualified bidders in Auction 110 will have the opportunity to participate in a clock phase mock auction on Thursday, September 30, 2021. Access to the mock auction bidding system will remain available until 12:00 noon ET on Friday, October 1, 2021. Access to the Auction 110 bidding system will open at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 1, 2021, and will remain open to bidders through the Clock Phase of Auction 110.
The mock auction bidding schedule for Thursday, September 30, 2021, will be as follows:
| Mock Bidding Round 1 | 10:00 a.m. | — | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| Mock Bidding Round 2 | 12:00 p.m. | — | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Mock Bidding Round 3 | 2:00 p.m. |
— | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Mock Bidding Round 4 | 4:00 p.m. | — | 4:30 p.m. ET |
Bidding in Auction 110 will begin Tuesday, October 5, 2021, with the following schedule:
| Bidding Round | 10:00 a.m. | — | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Bidding Round | 2:00 p.m. | — | 4:00 p.m. ET |
The bidding schedule starting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, and continuing each business day until further notice, will be:
| Bidding Round | 10:00 a.m | — | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| Bidding Round | 1:00 p.m. | — | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Bidding Round | 4:00 p.m. | — | 5:00 p.m. ET |
All applicants must maintain the accuracy and completeness of information furnished in their applications to participate in Auction 110 throughout the process. All applicants must also adhere to the FCC’s rules prohibiting certain communications, which provide that “all applicants are prohibited from cooperating or collaborating with respect to, communicating with or disclosing, to each other or any nationwide provider [of communications services] that is not an applicant, or, if the applicant is a nationwide provider, any non-nationwide provider that is not an applicant, in any manner the substance of their own, or each other’s, or any other applicants’ bids or bidding strategies (including post-auction market structure), or discussing or negotiating settlement agreements, until after the down payment deadline[.]”
BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast, Cary Mitchell, and Sal Taillefer.
On September 21, the FCC issued a Public Notice directing the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to review and process Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (Program) applications filed after the close of the Program’s initial application filing window (which closed on August 13) with those filed in the second application filing window (which is open until October 13). As a result, applicants that certified and submitted their ECF FCC Forms 471 after the close of the initial application filing window on August 13, 2021 will not be required to resubmit their applications during the second application filing window, nor will they need to file a request for waiver of the initial 45-day application filing deadline with the FCC.
As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, due to high demand the FCC determined to open a second application filing window from September 28, 2021 to October 13, 2021 for the Program.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.
Comments on MTE Broadband Proceeding Due October 20 On September 20, the FCC published in the Federal Register its Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on issues raised in the 2019 Improving Competitive Broadband Access to Multiple Tenant Environments Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Comments are due October 20, and reply comments are due November 4.
As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC is specifically 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.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.
On September 15, the FCC issued a Public Notice containing an updated list of those Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) earth stations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (C-band) within the contiguous United States that the FCC has found satisfy the criteria to be classified as incumbent earth stations for purposes of the C-band transition. This updated list reflects changes since the most recent version of the list of incumbent earth stations released on June 22, 2021. The FCC also is including a change log to assist in the identification of changes made in the incumbent earth station list since the previous list. The list can be found here.
According to the Public Notice, this updated list takes into account, among other things, filings made in the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) by earth station operators to update IBFS to remove inactive antennas, including those filed in response to the FCC’s July 23 Public Notice identifying earth station antennas that are reportedly no longer operational. Surrendered calls signs and inactive individual antennas closed in IBFS have been removed from the incumbent earth station list. The updated list also reflects a variety of changes to earth station registrations, including address or coordinate corrections, registration assignments, and other ministerial updates since the June 22 Incumbent Earth Station PN. Finally, the FCC has not included on the updated list any earth stations for which it has dismissed applications as not meeting the criteria for incumbent status since release of the June 22 Incumbent Earth Station PN.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Richard Rubino.
On September 15, the FCC issued a Press Release announcing a new study authored by Ph.D. economist Hal Singer and Ted Tatos, which examines whether large technology companies should start contributing to the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (“USF”). According to the Press Release, the newly released economic study compares this current funding method to two alternative approaches. First, it looks at assessing revenues from wireline broadband, which would effectively shift the relevant USF fee from the voice portion of consumers’ bills over to the Internet portion of those bills. Second, the study examines the idea of eliminating that charge from consumers’ monthly bills entirely and replacing it with a fee that large technology companies would pay based on their digital advertising service revenues.
The FCC’s Press Release highlights the following as the study’s key findings:
Commissioner Carr issued the following statement regarding the study:
“For too long, Big Tech has been enjoying a free ride on our Internet infrastructure. The current funding mechanism for the Universal Service Fund—a regressive charge placed on consumers’ monthly bills for traditional telephone service—is unfair and unsustainable.
“As this new economic study shows, requiring Big Tech to start paying a fair share could eliminate entirely this 30 percent charge from consumers’ bills. Rather than artificially raising the cost of Internet service for Americans, assessing Big Tech would sharply reduce consumers’ monthly costs. The study also shows that requiring large technology companies to pay a fee would align incentives given both the bandwidth consumed by digital advertising services and the benefits large technology companies would realize from even greater connectivity.”
On September 16, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that on September 27, the agency will host a public webinar on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (Reimbursement Program) starting at 10:30 a.m. ET. According to the Public Notice, the webinar will provide an overview of the Reimbursement Program, provider eligibility information, and application procedures for participating parties.
Specifically, the FCC will walk through the online portal for filing Application Requests for Funding Allocation, the User Guide for parties participating in the Reimbursement Program, and the outreach tool kit materials developed to increase awareness about the Reimbursement Program. The webinar can be viewed live at fcc.gov/live and will be archived on the FCC’s supply chain website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain.
As we reported in previous editions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act) directed the FCC to establish a $1.9 billion Reimbursement Program to reimburse providers of advanced communications services with ten million or fewer customers for costs incurred in the removal, replacement, and disposal of covered communications equipment or services from their networks that pose a national security risk. Covered communications equipment or services eligible for Reimbursement Program support is limited to communications equipment or services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company (Huawei) or ZTE Corporation (ZTE), that were obtained by providers on or before June 30, 2020.
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 1: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION AND BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. (CARRIERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IDA ONLY). 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.
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.
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.
September
Sep. 24 – Regulatory fee payments, or requests for waivers, reductions, or installment plans, 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. 12 – Comments are due on Unmanned Aircraft System Use of 5GHz Band.
Oct. 15 – 911 Reliability Certification
Oct. 20 – Comments on Broadband MTE proceeding are due.
Oct. 21 – Notice of C-Band Operation for Earth Stations is due.
Oct. 25 – Reply comments are due on Unmanned Aircraft System Use of 5GHz Band.
November
Nov. 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Nov. 4 – Reply comments on Broadband MTE proceeding are due.
Nov. 9 – Comments on Farm Bill are due.
Nov. 15 – Deadline to submit information on status of robocall traceback efforts.
Law Offices Of 2120 L St. NW, Suite 300 — CONTACTS — 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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