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Wireless News Aggregation

Friday — December 2, 2022 — Issue No. 1,039

Welcome Back To

The Wireless
Messaging News


Wireless Messaging News

  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Two-way Radio
  • Technology
  • Telemetry
  • Science
  • Paging
  • Wi-Fi
Wireless
wireless logo medium
Messaging

This Week's Wireless Headlines:

  • Astronomers say a new, huge satellite is as bright as the brightest stars
  • Fusion power is 'approaching' reality thanks to a magnetic field breakthrough
    • A boost from magnetism is nearly enough to achieve fusion ignition
  • Quarter Century Wireless Association to Celebrate 75 Years
  • INSIDE TOWERS
    • U.S. Urges FCC to Block Undersea Cable to Cuba
  • BLOOSTONLAW PRIVATE USERS UPDATE
    • FCC Extends Deadlines in Areas Affected by Hurricane Nicole Until December 9
    • FCC Revises PSAP Notification Requirements
    • FCC Establishes Compliance Deadlines for Updated EAS Rules, including Set Top Box Replacement
    • Hill & Smith Pays $47,600 Civil Penalty as Part of Consent Decree Over Equipment Marketing Rules
    • Chairwoman Rosenworcel Announces Plans to Establish Space Bureau; Office of International Affairs
    • FCC Rules that Ringless Voicemails are Subject to Robocall Restrictions
    • BloostonLaw Contacts
    • Who Is BloostonLaw
  • TECHNICIAN'S CORNER
    • USB Ports, Cables, Types, & Connectors
  • THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO
    • AMAZING - Flash Mob - Started by one little girl - “Ode to Joy”

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.


About Us

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 Policy

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.

 

Click on the image above for more info about advertising in this newsletter.


CAN YOU HELP?

HELP SUPPORT THE NEWSLETTER

How would you like to help support The Wireless Messaging News? Your support is needed. New advertising and donations have fallen off considerably.
A donation through PayPal is easier than writing and mailing a check and it comes through right away.

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

Easy Solutions  (Vaughan Bowden)
Frank Moorman
IWA Technical Services, Inc.  (Ira Wiesenfeld)
Leavitt Communications  (Phil Leavitt)
Prism-IPX Systems  (Jim Nelson & John Bishop)
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC  (Ron Mercer)

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.)

Qty Item Notes
2 Late IFR 500As  
1 Motorola R 2001D  
4 Motorola R 2400 and 2410A  
5 Motorola R 2600 and R 2660 late S/Ns  
4 Motorola R 1200  
2 Motorola R 2200  
2 Stand-alone Efratom Rubidium Frequency Standards 10 MHz output
1 Telawave model 44 wattmeter Recently calibrated
1 IFR 1000S  
All sold with 7-day ROR (Right of Refusal), recent calibration, operation manual, and accessories.  
Factory carrying cases for each with calibration certificate.  
Many parts and accessories  

Frank Moorman

fircls54@aol.com animated left arrow

(254) 596-1124

Calibration and Repair (NIST 17025)
Upgrades: We can add the FE 5680A 10 MHz rubidium clock to your unit. Small unit fits into the well in the battery compartment — making it a world standard accuracy unit that never needs to be frequency calibrated.
Please inquire by telephone or e-mail.
Most Service Monitor Accessories in stock.


Leavitt Communications

leavitt

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

 

COM

 

UNICATION

 


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.

Philip C. Leavitt, V.P.
Leavitt Communications
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
Web Site: www.leavittcom.com
Mobile phone: 847-494-0000
Telephone: 847-955-0511
Fax: 270-447-1909
Skype ID: pcleavitt

BRIGHT THINGS —

Astronomers say a new, huge satellite is as bright as the brightest stars

"BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue."

ERIC BERGER - 12/1/2022, 9:49 AM


Observation of a BlueWalker 3 pass from Oukaimeden Observatory on Nov. 16 2022. The bright star lower left is Zeta Puppis.

Last month, a Texas-based company announced that it had successfully deployed the largest-ever commercial communications satellite in low-Earth orbit.

This BlueWalker 3 demonstration satellite measures nearly 65 square meters, or about one-third the size of a tennis court. Designed and developed by AST SpaceMobile, the expansive BlueWalker 3 satellite is intended to demonstrate the ability of standard mobile phones to directly connect to the Internet via satellite. Large satellites are necessary to connect to mobile devices without a ground-based antenna.

In this emerging field of direct-to-mobile connectivity, which seeks to provide Internet service beyond the reach of terrestrial cellular towers, AST is competing with Lync, another company that also has launched demonstration satellites. In addition, larger players such as Apple and a team at SpaceX and T-Mobile have announced their intent to provide direct connectivity services.

So while there are many more such satellites coming, AST stands out at this time because it's the first to launch an exceptionally large satellite, and it plans to start launching operational "BlueBird" satellites in late 2023.

IAU concerns

Since BlueWalker3's launch in September, astronomers have been tracking the satellite, and their alarm was heightened following its antenna deployment last month. According to the International Astronomical Union, post-deployment measurements showed that BlueWalker 3 had an apparent visual magnitude of around 1 at its brightest, which is nearly as bright as Antares and Spica, the 15th and 16th brightest stars in the night sky.

For a few years, astronomers have been expressing concerns about megaconstellations, such as SpaceX's Starlink satellites. While these are more numerous—there are more than 3,000 Starlink satellites in orbit—they are much smaller and far less bright than the kinds of satellites AST plans to launch. Eventually, AST plans to launch a constellation of 168 large satellites to provide "substantial" global coverage, a company spokesperson said.

Even one is enough for astronomers, however. “BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue and should give us all reason to pause,” said Piero Benvenuti, a director at the International Astronomical Union.

The organization of astronomers is also concerned about the potential for radio interference from these "cell phone towers in space." They will transmit strong radio waves at frequencies currently reserved for terrestrial cell phone communications but are not subject to the same radio quiet zone restrictions that ground-based cellular networks are. This could severely impact radio astronomy research—which was used to discover cosmic microwave background radiation, for example—as well as work in related fields.

Astronomers currently build their radio astronomy observatories in remote areas, far from cell tower interference. They are worried that these large, radio-wave transmitting satellites will interfere in unpopulated areas.

AST responds

An AST spokesperson provided a statement to Ars that implied the impact of its satellites must be weighed against the "universal good" of cellular broadband for people on Earth. However, the company also said it is willing to work with astronomers to address their concerns.

"We are eager to use the newest technologies and strategies to mitigate possible impacts to astronomy," the AST statement said. "We are actively working with industry experts on the latest innovations, including next-generation anti-reflective materials. We are also engaged with NASA and certain working groups within the astronomy community to participate in advanced industry solutions, including potential operational interventions."

To that end, AST said it is committed to avoiding broadcasts inside or adjacent to the National Radio Quiet Zone in the United States, which is a large area of land that includes portions of West Virginia and Virginia, as well as additional radioastronomy locations.

A US-based astronomer who focuses on light pollution, John Barentine, told Ars he welcomed the company's efforts to address radio interference. He also appreciates any efforts to mitigate effects on optical astronomy. However, Barentine warned, there is no recourse for astronomers but to take AST and other companies at face value due to a lack of regulatory oversight.

"Overtures by commercial space operators who commit that their activities in space will not adversely affect astronomy are made in the absence of any meaningful regulatory oversight that mandates mitigations," he said. "AST SpaceMobile’s stated intentions are laudable, but for now, they’re just words. So I reserve judgment pending whatever actions the company takes."


ERIC BERGER
Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA, and author of the book Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston.
EMAIL eric.berger@arstechnica.com // TWITTER @SciGuySpace
Source: arsTECHNICA  

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


IMPORTANT left arrow

“Is Paging Going Away?” by Jim Nelson

  • Click here for English.
  • Click here for German. (Berlin Revision: November 8, 2016)
  • Click here for French.

Here is an English PDF edit of this paper formatted with page breaks and suitable for printing.

Volunteers needed for translations into other languages.


Board of Advisors

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

Frank McNeill
Founder & CEO
Communications Specialists
Jim Nelson
President & CEO
Prism IPX Systems International
Kevin D. McFarland, MSCIS
Sr. Application Systems Analyst
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center
Paul Lauttamus, President
Lauttamus Communications & Security
R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Wireless Consultant
Barry Kanne
Paging Industry Veteran
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Allan Angus
Consulting Engineer

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?

Can You Help The Newsletter?

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You can help support The Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above. It is not necessary to be a member of PayPal to use this service.


Reader Support

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ $1.50 a copy and they hardly ever mention paging or wireless messaging, unless in a negative way. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially?

A donation of $50.00 would certainly help cover a one-year period. If you are wiling and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above .


PRISM IPX Systems

PRISM IPX Systems Critical Messaging Solutions

 

Thousands of Users Worldwide Depend on Prism IPX

Our Customers Trust Us To Make Sure That Their Messages Get Delivered

Prism-IPX Systems products include full-featured radio paging systems with VoIP input, IP based transmitter control systems and paging message encryption. Other options include email messaging, remote switch controllers, Off-The-Air paging message decoders and logging systems.



How Can We Help You With Your Critical Messaging Solutions?

CONTACT PRISM IPX

MORE INFO HERE left arrow


Easy Solutions

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.

  • 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


Readers of the Newsletter who are Ham Radio Operators

NAME CALLSIGN E-MAIL
Pete Oesterle VE3HOH/W3 phoesterle@hotmail.com
John Nagel W5EXJ scubajohn1@gmail.com
Anthony Hedge KD9BKH ajhedge@gmail.com
Jerry Daugherty W9FS jdaugherty@ipnmsg.com
Marshall Sherard KE4ZNR marshall.sherard@durhamnc.gov
Barry Kanne W4TGA radio.w4tga@gmail.com
Steve Siegel K3SLS k3sls@icloud.com
Loren Anderson KEØHZ ke0hz@arrl.net
Dan Ruhe KE3UC druhe@atlanticbb.net
Bill Woods N9SVU skybill9@gmail.com
Paul Sadowski AH6LS & DH6LS pasadowski99@gmail.com
Larry Gabriel K4BZY gabe2699@gmail.com
Gary Blinckmann WA2IQC gary.blinckmann@memphistn.gov
Peter Moncure W4PWM pmoncure@gmail.com
James Petera N8IXP jspetera@jnlelectronics.com
Ed Lyda WA4OEI eastwesttexas@sbcglobal.net
Brad Dye K9IQY brad@braddye.com
Bill Waugaman WA3OJG wrwaugaman@gmail.com
Paul DeLong KF4LNB delongelectronics@gmail.com
Albert Erdmann KJ4BWW theone@uneedus.com
Ken Pearce N4KCD kpearce1@ix.netcom.com
Tim Jones K4MSP / W4FWD (Repeater) t.jones@metrocomms.net
Brent Finster K6BEF brent.finster@gmail.com
Charles Tindall KF5VPB ctindall601@gmail.com
Frank Moorman KE5CSP fircls54@aol.com
Graham Jones W5AAG gkjones1@outlook.com
Denis Gignac VE2EAM degignac@iristel.com
Ira Wiesenfeld WA5GXP iwiesenfel@aol.com
John Linko N3RTS 7242970@gmail.com
Miguel Gonzalez YY5OGU yy5ogu@gmail.com
Philip Leavitt N9CPO pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
Chris Baldwin KF6AJM (KB3PX Repeater) cbaldwin@oerm.org
Joe Delio KE8BGH joedelio@cox.net

Source: Amateur Radio callsigns of readers. Please click here to add yours.

GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTURE

Service Contracts

I would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging.

GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018.

If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation.


Click on the image above for more info about advertising here.

INTERNET Protocol Terminal

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

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

Input Protocols: Serial and IP
TAP TNPP SNPP
HTTP WCTP SMTP
POTS (DTMF) DID (DTMF)  
 
Output Protocols: Serial and IP
TAP TNPP SNPP
HTTP HTTPS SMPP
WCTP WCTPS SMTP
FLEX (optional PURC control)   POCSAG (optional PURC control)

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 Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Consultant
217 First Street
East Northport, NY 11731

Telephone: 631-786-9359
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com left arrow



Fusion power is 'approaching' reality thanks to a magnetic field breakthrough

A boost from magnetism is nearly enough to achieve fusion ignition.


Liu Junxi/Xinhua via Getty Images


Jon Fingas
November 30, 2022 2:52 PM

Fusion power may be a more realistic prospect than you think. As Motherboard reports, researchers at the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered that a new magnetic field setup more than tripled the energy output of the fusion reaction hotspot in experiments, "approaching" the level required for self-sustaining ignition in plasmas. The field was particularly effective at trapping heat within the hotspot, boosting the energy yield.

The hotspot's creation involved blasting 200 lasers at a fusion fuel pellet made from hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium. The resulting X-rays made the pellet implode and thus produce the extremely high pressures and heat needed for fusion. The team achieved their feat by wrapping a coil around a pellet made using special metals.

The notion of using magnets to heat the fuel isn't new. University of Rochester scientists found they could use magnetism to their advantage in 2012. The Lawrence Livermore study was far more effective, however, producing 40 percent heat and more than three times the energy.

Practical fusion reactors are still many years away. The output is still far less than the energy required to create self-sustaining reactions. The finding makes ignition considerably more achievable, though, and that in turn improves the chances of an energy-positive fusion system. This also isn't the end of the magnetism experiments. A future test will use an ice-laden cryogenic capsule to help understand fusion physics. Even if ignition is still distant, the learnings from this study could provide a clearer path to that breakthrough moment.

Source: engadget  


Consulting Alliance

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects.

Click here left arrow 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



Quarter Century Wireless Association to Celebrate 75 Years

The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) will celebrate its 75th anniversary on December 5, 2022. Founded in 1947, QCWA's mission includes promoting "friendship and cooperation among Amateur Radio (Wireless) operators who were licensed as such at least a quarter of a century ago."

Today, QCWA has 230 chapters in the US. During the organization's 75 years, it has had nearly 40,000 members. The Cleveland, Ohio, chapter was the first chapter chartered in 1951, and now has over 100 members.

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the QCWA Special Event Station, W2MM, will operate from 0001 UTC December 3 to 2359 UTC December 10, 2022. Only QCWA members in the US and its territories will have an opportunity to activate W2MM for this event. More information is available at https://qcwa.org/w2mm-special-event.htm.

QCWA is also hosting the members-only Worked 75/75 Members Contest from December 5, 2022, through February 18, 2023. The contest encourages QCWA members to contact a minimum of 75 QCWA members during the contest period. All contest entrants will receive a special certificate. Additional information is available at https://qcwa.org/1-worked-75-75-members-contest.htm.

Source: The ARRL Letter for December 1, 2022

Leavitt Communications

We can supply alphanumeric display, numeric display, and voice pagers.

We also offer NEW and refurbished Alphamate 250s, refurbished Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate refurbished, and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts, and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging! Outstanding service is our goal.

E-mail Phil Leavitt ( pcleavitt@leavittcom.com ) for pricing and delivery information, or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

LEAVITT COMMUNICATIONS
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
www.leavittcom.com


Inside Towers Newsletter

Friday, December 2, 2022 Volume 10, Issue 234

U.S. Urges FCC to Block Undersea Cable to Cuba

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

A U.S. government committee urged the FCC to deny an application to connect Cuba to the United States through a new undersea cable landing station to handle Internet, voice and data traffic. The Justice Department-led panel known as “Team Telecom,” said the proposal raised national security concerns because the cable-landing system in Cuba would be owned and controlled by Cuba’s state-owned telecommunications monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. It would also be the only direct, commercial undersea cable connection between America and Cuba, reports Reuters.

The U.S. government in recent years has been scrutinizing undersea cable connections especially involving China. Around 300 subsea cables form the backbone of the Internet, carrying 99 percent of the world’s data traffic.

Team Telecom said Cuba “could access sensitive U.S. data traversing the new cable segment.” An FCC spokesman said the agency is reviewing the recommendations.

The existing ARCOS-1 submarine cable system connects the U.S. with 14 countries in the Caribbean, Central America and South America and sought to expand to a landing station in Cojimar, Cuba. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.

Team Telecom said it supports the “Cuban people’s access to an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet” but said the proposal poses “unacceptable risks to U.S. national security.” FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks called for enhanced scrutiny of undersea cables in 2020, citing national security concerns, Inside Towers reported.

Alphabet’s Google and Facebook parent Meta previously abandoned a proposal to use an undersea cable to Hong Kong, which is controlled by Beijing. The decision was made after Team Telecom recommended blocking that plan in 2020.


Source: Inside Towers newsletter Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer.
Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription.

BloostonLaw Newsletter


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.

  BloostonLaw Private Users Update Vol. 22, No. 11 November 2022  

FCC Extends Deadlines in Areas Affected by Hurricane Nicole Until December 9

On November 10, the FCC issued a Public Notice extending certain deadlines occurring from November 9 to December 9 for licensees and applicants affected by Hurricane Nicole. For the purposes of this relief, the FCC defines “affected areas” as the State of Florida.

Specifically, the following deadlines are extended to December 10:

  • any deadlines currently set within the period from November 9 to December 9, inclusive, 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 (such as filings regarding certain minor license modifications, license renewals, and notifications of construction); and
  • all construction deadlines and other regulatory deadlines currently set within the period from November 9 to December 9, inclusive, 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.

The FCC also waived Section 1.931(a) of the rules through December 10, to allow the filing of 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.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino.

FCC Revises PSAP Notification Requirements

On November 17, the FCC adopted a Report and Order in PS Docket Nos. 13-75, 15-80 and ET Docket No. 04-35 establishing rules to promote public safety by ensuring that 911 call centers receive timely and useful notifications of network disruptions that affect 911 service. Specifically, the updated rules standardize the type of information conveyed in the network outage notifications that telecom providers are required to provide to PSAPs they serve. The updated rules also require service providers to maintain up-to-date contact information for the 911 call centers they serve. In addition, the FCC retained its current requirement that covered 911 service providers file annual 911 reliability certifications, which will help the FCC promote the continuity of 911 service during the transition to Next Generation 911.

Providers that serve PSAPs may contact the firm for more information.

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

FCC Establishes Compliance Deadlines for Updated EAS Rules, including Set Top Box Replacement

The FCC has now published Register its Report and Order (FCC 22-75) of September 30, 2022 in the Federal Register. This Order updated the FCC’s Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) rules to make alert messages more informative and easier to understand by the public, especially persons with disabilities. Specifically, those new rules (1) require EAS Participants to deliver regularly transmitted state and local alert messages in the IP-based Common Alerting Protocol (“CAP”) format where available, and (2) revise the required descriptions used to identify three national EAS Codes and prescribe a scripted visual message that EAS Participants must display when FEMA conducts nationwide tests of the alert system in legacy EAS format. The EAS R&O also eliminates an outdated alert code, and updates the EAS rules for clarity. We note that these requirements do not apply to Wireless Emergency Alerts (“WEAs”) sent over participating CMRS networks. However, as described below, the new rules will impose a series of cable set top box upgrades/replacements for which affected clients should start the planning process.

Specifically:

  • CAP Alert Polling and Prioritization. Under the new rules, EAS Participants that receive both a legacy EAS version and a CAP-formatted version of the same alert are required to transmit the CAP version to the public (i.e., CAP prioritization). But since the CAP version of an alert may not appear in the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (“IPAWS”) server until a few seconds after a legacy alert header code is received, the rules require EAS Providers to wait at least 10 seconds after receiving a legacy alert header code before transmitting the alert in legacy format, unless the Participant can confirm that there is no matching CAP version of the alert message available.
  • Application of the CAP Priority Mandate. The Commission’s rules requiring EAS Participants to poll for and prioritize CAP-formatted messages will apply to all EAS alert categories except for Presidential Alerts (i.e., EAN code), National Tests (“NPT”), or Required Weekly Test (“RWT”) event codes. Transmission of state and local alerts is not mandated by the FCC rules, but if the alerts are transmitted pursuant to an applicable State EAS Plan, the rules require CAP polling and prioritization.
  • Revisions to Certain Alert Codes and Alert Text. To adopt more simplified and straightforward language, the EAS R&O changes the text for the EAN event code from “Emergency Action Notification” to “National Emergency Message”; it changes the text for the NPT event code from “National Periodic Test” to “Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System”; and it changes the text for the PEP originator code from “Primary Entry Code System” to “United States Government.” The Commission also changed to audible and viewable text for three event codes. Finally, the Commission eliminated the National Information Center (“NIC”) code because the federal National Information Center no longer exists.

Compliance Dates for New EAS Rules

The Federal Register publication establishes the following compliance deadlines for our firm’s clients who are EAS Participants:

December 12, 2023

  • Implementation of new CAP alert polling and prioritization rules;
  • Display of new text for the national alert originator code (“PEP”), the national test code (“NPT”), and (excluding cable systems) the national emergency code (“EAN”);
  • Display of standard script for NPT alerts issued in legacy format;
  • Deactivation of National Information Center or “NIC” code alert processing.

March 12, 2024

  • Deadline for cable systems to update set-top boxes to display the new EAN text;
  • Cable systems must replace set-top boxes that cannot be modified using software updates to display the new EAN text with set-top boxes capable of displaying the new text for requesting subscribers with hearing disabilities;
  • Cable systems must display on their websites information about the availability of set-top boxes capable of displaying the new EAN text for subscribers with hearing disabilities upon request.

December 12, 2028

  • Cable systems must complete the provision of set-top boxes capable of displaying the new EAN text to all subscribers.

The FCC believes that the costs and time to implement mandatory CAP poling and prioritization will likely be relatively low, requiring software updates to EAS encoder equipment. Our clients that are EAS Participants should check with their vendors to determine what updates and/or upgrades may be needed and the timetable for implementation.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, Richard Rubino and Cary Mitchell.

Hill & Smith Pays $47,600 Civil Penalty as Part of Consent Decree Over Equipment Marketing Rules

The FCC announced that Hill & Smith, Inc. has agreed to pay a $47,600 civil penalty as part of a consent decree over violations of the FCC’s equipment marketing rules. The consent decree stems from Hill & Smith’s marketing of light-emitting diode (“LED”) signs without the required equipment authorization, labeling and user manuals — as well as failing to retain the required test records.

The Commission’s rules require that RF devices be tested for compliance and satisfy the applicable technical and other requirements prior to being marketed or sold in the United States. In particular, Rule Section 2.803(b) prohibits the marketing of RF devices unless the device has first been properly authorized, identified, labeled, and complies with the applicable technical standards, with limited exceptions, prior to being marketed in the United States.

The type of RF equipment determines the equipment authorization procedures that apply. A device that intentionally generates RF energy for use within the device, or that sends RF signals by conduction to associated equipment by wiring, is called an “unintentional radiator.” Although unintentional radiators, such as LED signs, are required to be authorized through either the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (“SDoC”) or Certification procedures, most are generally authorized by SDoC. Rule Section 2.906 provides the SDoC procedures that apply to unintentional radiators in order to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. Devices that are subject to authorization by SDoC do not need to be tested by an accredited test laboratory, unless otherwise exempt; however, they still must be properly tested and demonstrate compliance with the technical, labeling, and administrative standards before they may be advertised, imported, or sold within the United States.

This case demonstrates the importance of testing and obtaining proper FCC authorizations for RF equipment (whether intentional or unintentional radiators) prior to marketing for sale in the United States. The FCC takes its equipment authorization rules seriously because these rules are designed to ensure safe operation of intentional and unintentional RF energy radiators without causing harmful interference to humans or to licensed radio services. This case also demonstrates that devices which may not seem to be RF devices, could in fact emit RF energy, such as LED lights and signs — which have gotten some users in trouble in years past.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

Chairwoman Rosenworcel Announces Plans to Establish Space Bureau; Office of International Affairs

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a plan to reorganize the agency to better support the needs of the growing satellite industry, promote long-term technical capacity at the FCC, and navigate 21st century global communications policy. Under this plan, Chairwoman Rosenworcel will work to reorganize the FCC’s International Bureau into a new Space Bureau and a standalone Office of International Affairs. According to the Chairwoman’s comments, these changes will help ensure that the FCC’s resources are better aligned so that the agency can continue to fulfill its statutory obligations and keep pace with the rapidly changing realities of the satellite industry and global communications policy.

According to Chairwoman Rosenworcel, establishing a stand-alone Space Bureau will better fulfill the FCC’s statutory obligations and elevate the significance of satellite programs and policy within the agency to a level that reflects the importance of the emerging space economy. By separating satellite policy from the “International Bureau,” the agency acknowledges the role of satellite communications in advancing domestic communications policy and achieving U.S. broadband goals.

Establishing a stand-alone Office of International Affairs, according to the Chairwoman, will allow relevant experts to focus specifically on matters of international communications regulation and licensing as we enter a new era of global communications policy. She pointed to the successful models of similar offices such as Office of Engineering and Technology, and Office of General Counsel, which she indicates allow for consistent expertise to be leveraged across all the Bureaus with a nexus to international affairs.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Rules that Ringless Voicemails are Subject to Robocall Restrictions

The Commission has issued a Declaratory Ruling in which it clarified that callers must first obtain a consumer’s consent before delivering “ringless voicemail,” which is defined as a message left in a consumer’s mailbox without ringing their cell phone. The unanimous decision by the full Commission finds that ringless voicemails are, in fact, “calls” that require consumers’ prior express consent. The ruling was immediately effective upon last week’s release of the decision.

The Declaratory Ruling denied a petition filed by All About the Message, LLC, which asked the Commission to find that delivery of a message directly to a consumer’s cell phone voicemail was not a call protected by the TCPA. The FCC is acting on its own motion after the petitioner and two other similar petitions sought to withdraw their requests for clarification after the FCC sought public comment and received overwhelming negative reaction from commenters. The FCC has also received dozens consumer complaints annually related to ringless voicemail.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), which protects consumers from unwanted robocalls, prohibits making any non-emergency call using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to a wireless telephone number without the prior express consent of the called party. As a result of the ruling, the Commission clarified that a ringless voicemail is a form of robocall and is therefore illegal if the caller did not have the consumer’s prior express consent. Like other TCPA violations, violations involving Ringless Voicemails can be enforced by the Commission itself or through a lawsuit filed by a consumer in civil court.

In support of this ruling, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stated, “Imagine finding robocallers leaving junk voicemails on your phone without it ever having rung. It’s annoying and it’s happening to too many of us.

Today we’re taking action to ensure these deceptive practices don’t find a way around our robocall rules and into consumers’ inboxes.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast, Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer

Law Offices Of
Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens,
Duffy & Prendergast, LLP

2120 L St. NW, Suite 825
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(202) 828-5568 (fax)

— CONTACTS —

Benjamin H. Dickens, Jr., 202-828-5510, bhd@bloostonlaw.com
Gerard J. Duffy, 202-828-5528, gjd@bloostonlaw.com
John A. Prendergast, 202-828-5540, jap@bloostonlaw.com
Richard D. Rubino, 202-828-5519, rdr@bloostonlaw.com
Mary J. Sisak, 202-828-5554, mjs@bloostonlaw.com
D. Cary Mitchell, 202-828-5538, cary@bloostonlaw.com
Salvatore Taillefer, Jr., 202-828-5562, sta@bloostonlaw.com

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm.


Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP is a telecommunications law firm representing rural telecommunications companies, wireless carriers, private radio licensees, cable TV companies, equipment manufacturers and industry associations before the FCC and the courts, as well as state and local government agencies. Our clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized enterprises whose vitality and efficiency depend on the effective deployment of communications.


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