Welcome Back To

The Wireless
Messaging News

This Week's Wireless News Headlines

• The Need For A Top Down Enterprise Security Strategy
  • By Rex Lee
• SSD Pricing Could Tumble as NAND Prices Predicted to Drop by 35%
• USB-C naming to somehow get worse with USB4 Version 2.0
• How many fiber players is too many for one market?
• This obscure startup wants to kill Blu-ray, tape with 'cheap' 1TB optical disc
• INSIDE TOWERS
  • Association Urges “Extreme Caution” in Unlicensed Use of 6 GHz Band
• BLOOSTONLAW TELECOM UPDATE
  • BloostonLaw Offices Moving to Suite 825 on October 1
  • Comments Filed on Midco Petition
  • Comments on CAF II Letter of Credit Requirements Extension Due September 21
  • Senators Urge Changes to BEAD Program
  • New Multi-tenant Environment Rules Effective September 26
  • Senators Press FCC on Ligado Reversal
  • FCC Seeks Nominations for Six USAC Board Positions
  • FCC Releases Responses to Mobile Data Privacy Probe
  • Deadlines
  • BloostonLaw Contacts
  • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • Who Is BloostonLaw
• BLOOSTONLAW PRIVATE USERS UPDATE
  • BloostonLaw Offices Moving to Suite 825 on October 1
  • Reminder: Conduct FAA Notice Check Before Construction or Modification of Antenna Structures
  • FCC Fines Equipment Vendor $685K For Failure to Comply with Marketing Rules
  • FirstNet Seeks Renewal of 700 MHz License — Initial Pleadings Due September 22, 2022
  • FCC and NTIA Sign MOU on Spectrum Coordination
  • FCC Seeks Extension of US Coast Guard Coordination Requirement
  • FCC Urges EAS Participants to Take Immediate Steps to Secure Emergency Alert Equipment
  • Senators Press FCC on Ligado Reversal
  • DC Circuit Allows FCC Plan to Repurpose 5.9 GHz Band for Wi-Fi
  • Sens. Cantwell, Capito Introduce Bill Promoting Broadband Along Electricity Grid
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  • Allan Angus
  • Re: “Electrical Grounding Explained”
• TECHNICIAN'S CORNER
• HDMI CEC, ARC, eARC, Explained
• THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO
  • “Them Things Got Me”
  • Tuba Skinny on Royal St.

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.

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

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.

Subscribe Here — It's Free

* required field

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.)

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 Need For A Top Down Enterprise Security Strategy

By Rex M. Lee
Monday, August 15, 2022

In today’s hyper geo-competitive world, businesses and governments must implement a top down cybersecurity and privacy strategy to eliminate or mitigate threats posed by competitors and adversarial nation-states.

Here is what FBI Director Christopher Wray said to business leaders in London on July 6:

“The FBI has no closer partner than MI5 (UK ). . . As laser-focused as both our agencies are on the Russia threat. . . We consistently see that it’s the Chinese government that poses the biggest long-term threat to our economic and national security, and by ‘our,’ I mean both of our nations, along with our allies in Europe and elsewhere. . . I’ll start with what this danger looks like. The Chinese government is set on stealing your technology — whatever it is that makes your industry tick — and using it to undercut your business and dominate your market. . . I want to be clear that it’s the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that pose the threat, not the Chinese people, and certainly not Chinese immigrants in our countries—who are themselves frequently victims of the Chinese government’s lawless aggression.”

Many businesses, including fortune 500 corporations, and government agencies fail to implement a top-down enterprise cybersecurity and privacy strategy centered on eliminating or mitigating threats posed to:

• Networks and critical infrastructure, including Endpoint Devices: Many hacks and malware attacks today are coming from nation-state hackers who are using leaky operating systems and intrusive apps to launch attacks on networks/critical infrastructure by way of endpoint devices such as a smartphone or a tablet PC;
• Confidential information and IP: Most hacks today come from insider attacks launched by employees who are compromised by bad actors such as nation-state hackers or criminal organizations;
• Board members, C-suite executives, government officials and elected officials: Many business leaders, including government/elected officials, can be compromised or leveraged by nation-state actors, including law firms/lobbyist;
• Middle management and frontline employees: Middle management and frontline employees can be exposed to insider threats associated with nation-state actors or criminal organizations;
• Supply chain: Many contractors and supply chain vendors can be compromised or leveraged by nation state actors.

As a matter of fact, most organizations and government entities do not even employ a privacy strategy regarding threats to end-user business information associated with the use of smartphones, tablet PCs, connected products and PCs that are supported by leaky operating systems, intrusive apps, and surveillance and data mining business practices employed by operating system (OS) and app developers.

Furthermore, most organizations and government entities do not employ a “cloud exit strategy” regarding highly confidential and protected information supported by critical infrastructure. Today, most organizations and government entities are now relying on third-party managed services providers (MSP) many of whom do not indemnify their clients, even due to negligence on behalf of the MSP exposing the client to harm without legal recourse.

Many organizations and government entities only employ a tactical level cybersecurity strategy that is centered on threats posed mainly to network/critical infrastructure with little or no focus on endpoint cybersecurity associated with mobile devices that include smartphones, tablet PCs and connected products in general.

Existential Threats Posed by Connected Technology

In today’s connected world, operating systems and apps are designed to enable the OS and app developer, including those from adversarial countries, to monitor, track and datamine the end user for financial gain posing numerous cybersecurity and privacy threats to the end user, including the end user’s employer.

In essence, Google, Apple and Microsoft are actively distributing Chinese and Russian surveillance and data mining technology in the form of uncontrollable preinstalled apps that support endpoint devices and third-party apps distributed through Google Play, the Apple App Store and Microsoft App Store.

Intrusive apps from adversarial countries are being banned by many countries, including India who has banned popular apps and social media platforms such as TikTok, which is developed by ByteDance of China.

Additionally, leaky operating systems and intrusive apps developed by many multinational corporations pose equal cybersecurity and privacy threats as intrusive apps from adversarial countries due to the fact that many leaky OS and app developers, such as Alphabet, compete in multiple industries worldwide such as Alphabet.

For example, business leaders and employees who work for companies that compete against Alphabet may be inadvertently using intrusive Google technology, such as apps, exposing highly confidential business and personal information to an existing or future competitor.

All of these threats posed by connected technology are associated with a centralized Internet that is controlled by a handful of tech giants who are dominating the industries they compete in due to their monopolistic business models that are centered on surveillance capitalism.

However, there is some hope in the future regarding Web3/Open-Web which is centered on a decentralized Internet providing end users with privacy and security that used to be associated with the Internet in the 1990s before major corporations centralized the Internet for monopolistic purposes.

Until there is mainstream adoption of a decentralized Internet, there are many existential threats posed by connected technology that organizations and government entities need to address with a top down enterprise cybersecurity and privacy strategy.

These existential threats include the following:

1. Unrestricted hybrid warfare, including tech-based hybrid warfare, waged by business competitors and adversarial countries;
2. Insider threats posed to board members, senior executives, middle management, frontline employees, government/elected officials, contractors, college interns and supply chain vendors;
3. Predatory surveillance and data mining business practices employed by major corporations, operating system developers, and app developers, including those from Russia and China;
4. Predatory and exploitive terms of use that support leaky operating systems and intrusive apps
5. Nation-state hackers who can launch attacks on networks/critical infrastructure by way of telecommunication networks, e-mail, intrusive apps and leaky operating systems;
6. Legal malware in the form of addictive, intrusive, and dangerous apps that pose privacy, cybersecurity and safety threats to end users;
7. legal corporate and government espionage by way of leaky operating systems and intrusive apps developed by current or future business competitors, including those from Russia, china, and other adversarial countries.

These are just a few of many existential cybersecurity and privacy threats that need to be addressed by government entities, including law enforcement/military; corporations; defense contractors; healthcare providers; academic institutions; legal professionals and small-to-medium-sized businesses.

Here is what Casey Fleming, CEO of BlackOps Partners, had to say about FBI Director Christopher Wray’s comments to business leaders in London:

“The FBI and MI5 announcement is unprecedented in history. It frames the scale of economic power that has tipped out of our favor requiring a top-down cultural shift in every company beginning with the board and CEO. The shift must align risk, strategy, data, IP, technology, cyber, security, privacy, and the most important element — the “human factor.”

Existential Threats Posed by Surveillance Capitalism and Lobbying

Unfortunately, Google, Apple, Microsoft and governments around the world are not going to address many of these existential threats that are associated with leaky operating systems, intrusive apps and threats posed by major corporations/app developers, including those from adversarial countries.

The problems with addressing these threats include the fact that trillions of dollars in profits associated with predatory surveillance and data mining business practices would be eliminated while negatively effecting the stock values of tech giants such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, ByteDance and other major corporations who employ predatory surveillance and data mining business practices that are rooted in “surveillance capitalism.”

Frankly tech giants, including those from adversarial countries, buy influence with government/elected officials, including world leaders, by way of powerful law firms and lobbyists.

Surprisingly in the United States, companies from China can lawfully buy influence over lawmakers by way of powerful K-street law firms/lobbyist such as American Continental Group (ACG) who represent ByteDance, the Chinese developer of the highly intrusive social media app and platform TikTok.

Getting back to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s concerns over China’s ability to steal technology, he states that the Chinese government, including the CCP, are going to use every tool necessary to gain intelligence on their competitors, while using whatever means possible to steal information, including intellectual property.

One way to do that could include using intrusive apps and social media platforms developed by Chinese corporations such as ByteDance (TikTok), Tencent (WeChat) and BAIDU (Android app developer/Google partner).

As I mentioned in my previous MissionCritical Communications article centered on tech-based hybrid warfare, Bloomberg reported in 2021 that the Chinese government insisted that ByteDance employ a Chinese government official on their board, potentially exposing highly confidential TikTok end-user personal and business information to the Chinese government, including the CCP.

It is paramount that CIOs, CISOs and IT professionals audit the apps that the enterprise, including government agency, is using from the board/CEO down to the frontline employee.

Top Down Enterprise Cybersecurity and Privacy Strategy

Since governments around the world, including the United States, are not going to help stop these existential cybersecurity, privacy, and hybrid warfare threats, it is paramount that organizations and government entities employ a top-down enterprise cybersecurity and privacy strategy that includes:

1. A “cloud exit strategy” centered on protecting highly confidential and protected information supported by critical infrastructure. Note, it is OK to use MSPs to support general and/or public information;
2. Best practices associated with business competition, wargaming, insider threats, employee privacy policies, confidential and protected information, network security, critical infrastructure and endpoint cybersecurity;
3. Third-party mobile device lifecycle and security management providers
4. Mobile device management (MDM) solutions. Note that some MDM solutions are supported by intrusive apps and/or are not secure;
5. Intelligence, cybersecurity and simulated business war gaming firms centered on threats posed by insiders, corporations, nation-state hackers and entities associated with adversarial business competitors and countries;
6. Corporate counterintelligence centered on domestic and foreign competition, including Chinese and Russian competitors;
7. Cybersecurity and privacy advisors who have extensive tech, telecom and cybersecurity industry experience;
8. privacy providers centered on protecting confidential business and personal information.

Organizations, government entities, business leaders, and professionals need to be concerned about the fact that their highly confidential and protected information is ending up on servers owned by business competitors, adversarial countries, and other entities that could be bad actors, including those from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. CIOs, CISOs, and IT professionals also need to be concerned with the fact that nation-state hackers can use leaky operating systems and intrusive apps to launch a wide array of attacks on networks/critical infrastructure that include distributed denial of service (DDoS), man-in-the-middle (MitM) and ransomware attacks. Organizations and government entities can no longer afford to put off implementing a top down enterprise cybersecurity and privacy strategy for survival in today’s world of permanent chaos.

Would you like to comment on this story? Click here.

Rex M. Lee, is a Cybersecurity and Privacy Advisor/Tech Journalist. For background information on Mr. Lee, visit My Smart Privacy at: About (mysmartprivacy.com) or contact Rex at Rlee@MySmartPrivacy.com

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?

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.

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 .

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.

MORE INFO HERE

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

SSD Pricing Could Tumble as NAND Prices Predicted to Drop by 35%

By Mark Tyson published September 1, 2020

NAND flash makers have been busy building up capacity but now face oversupply

(Image credit: SK hynix)

The semiconductor industry analysts at TrendForce have highlighted a likely seismic shock on the way to the NAND Flash market — the firm's investigations indicate that manufacturer inventories are reaching a "breaking point" because the usual "peak season" demand surge failed to materialize this year. Thus, TrendForce has revised its already-gloomy predictions of a 15-20% decline in flash pricing down to 30-35%. These estimates are all the more jarring as they are expected to occur in a single quarter, the current Q3 2022. Moreover, with NAND flash ICs being a key cost component of SSDs, we should expect price cuts to seep through to consumer SATA and NVMe SSD models.

The expected price collapse is a pretty good example of the boom and bust cycle we see in the semiconductor space. As TrendForce notes, manufacturers saw rapid flash consumption growth from consumers and enterprises building server systems during the pandemic. This led manufacturers to expand aggressively while they increased bit capacity output with 128+ layer technologies.

(Image credit: Micron)

All the gung-ho optimism and investment now looks set to go nowhere (for a while) as demand for NAND-consuming devices like smartphones and laptops has fallen considerably. Part of the reason behind the drop will be the post-pandemic mood, but we are also dealing with a war in Europe, double-digit inflation, and energy price hikes making people more careful with their disposable income. Some will even have seen disposable income vanish as prices of basic necessities eat into budgets.

TrendForce also foresees some level of market consolidation due to the NAND Flash pricing situation. In other words, it reckons some flash makers will buy up others during the downturn.

A Further 20% Price Slide in Q4 2022?

Moving into Q4 2022, TrendForce expects manufacturers to strive to maintain market share at all costs, exacerbating oversupply and the need to make irresistible deals with NAND Flash consumers. It doesn’t say when it sees this rapid downward trend bottoming out, but that flash pricing will likely continue the downward pricing trend into next year.

(Image credit: Camelx3)

In brief, things look good if you are in the market for a replacement or expansion SSD. Prices should drop for those with patience, and not much patience should be needed to get more for your money. Checking out various price history websites, we see that a downward SSD pricing trend has been well established for several months (see above Samsung example). According to the industry report, pricing is only going one way for the next half year or so.

While you save your pennies, it is probably worth a look at our frequently updated Best SSDs 2022 guide so you will have a good idea about the best price/performers in the SATA and NVMe segments in the market right now.

	Mark Tyson Freelance News Writer
Mark Tyson is a Freelance News Writer at Tom's Hardware US. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTURE

Service Contracts

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

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

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

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

INTERNET Protocol Terminal

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

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

Additional/Optional Features

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

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

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

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
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

HERE WE GO AGAIN —

USB-C naming to somehow get worse with USB4 Version 2.0

USB-C is getting yet another specification.

SCHARON HARDING - 9/1/2022, 2:49 PM

Getty

USB-C is a heck of a connector. It is so beloved that it's becoming mandatory among EU electronics, with other geographies considering similar approaches, and even the resistant iPhone is reportedly considering using it. Operating at up to 40Gbps, it has greater bandwidth than USB-A or other forms of USB, but that's assuming you're using the right type of USB-C. USB-C naming has already dealt with a rebrand that only continued the confusion. And the next standard for the popular reversible connector type will further the twisted plot that is USB naming with a new, perplexing identity: USB4 Version 2.0.

USB4 Version 2.0 will operate at up to 80Gbps, the USB Promoter Group announced today. The current USB4 can operate at up to 40Gbps, but it can also max out at 20Gbps. You'd need to look for optional USB-IF logos or check spec sheets to know.

USB4 Version 2.0 is said to reach 80Gbps by use of a new physical layer architecture that, according to the USB Promoter Group, leverages "newly defined" 80Gbps USB-C active cables and currently existing 40Gbps USB-C passive cables.

The new type of USB4 will continue the USB-IF's questionable naming scheme that only its members and a thumbtack-and-string-covered corkboard can truly appreciate. When it's all said and done, it seems you'll be able to find USB-C ports that are USB4 Version 2.0, USB4 Version 1.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 1, or USB 2.0, plus some will opt for Intel Thunderbolt certification. And in the case of USB4 Version 1.0, you'll still need more information to know if the port supports the spec's max potential speed of 40Gbps.

Ultimately, vendors may or may not use any of these names, with some opting for the USB-IF's consumer "SuperSpeed" branding (for example, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 can be SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps) or just listing max speeds alone.

Leveraging Intel's Thunderbolt protocol for the first time, USB4 introduced protocol tunneling to the USB specification. With data and display data protocol updates, USB4 Version 2.0 will leverage the higher bandwidth for "higher performance USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and PCI Express data tunneling to best use the higher available bandwidth," according to the USB Promoter Group's announcement. USB 3.2 data tunneling will reportedly surpass the spec's max data-transfer rate of 20Gbps.

USB4 Version 2.0 will also be current with the latest DisplayPort and PCIe standards, the announcement said.

The woefully named new spec should be published by November, alongside relevant updates to the USB-IF's USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery specifications.

SCHARON HARDING Scharon is Ars Technica’s Senior Products Expert and writes news, reviews, and features on consumer technology, including laptops, PC peripherals, and lifestyle gadgets. She’s based in Brooklyn. EMAIL scharon.harding@arstechnica.com

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 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

BROADBAND

How many fiber players is too many for one market?

By Diana Goovaerts
Aug 31, 2022 02:03pm

INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering argued the more fiber providers there are in a market, the better.
(gabort71/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

AT&T this week announced plans to deploy its fiber service in Mesa, Arizona, making it the sixth — yes, you read that right, sixth — operator to target the Phoenix suburb. Its big reveal came after Mesa’s City Council in July tapped four different ISPs including Google Fiber and SiFi Networks to deploy fiber there. Lumen Technologies has also said it will bring its Quantum Fiber service to the city.

Such overlap is becoming more commonplace across the country as incumbent operators and new entrants alike disclose their fiber plans. For instance, at least three fiber providers — AT&T, Bluepeak and Dobson Fiber – are all headed to Lawton, Oklahoma. This trend raises an interesting question: how many fiber players is too many for one market, especially when you consider many cities will also have an incumbent cable provider?

If you ask Chip Pickering, CEO of fiber trade group INCOMPAS, the answer to that question might be that classic line from the movie Mean Girls — the limit does not exist. According to Pickering, the broadband market today broadly lacks the characteristics of healthy competition. He stated that in markets where there are only one or two broadband providers, prices are higher, speeds are lower and service is generally worse than markets where there are 3 or more competitors. Thus, the more fiber providers there are in a market, the better.

"Right now, we can't build too much fiber," he said.

The latest data from the Federal Communications Commission shows that 97.7% of the country had access to three or more providers offering speeds of 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream as of June 2021. But that percentage dropped sharply with each step up the service ladder. Just under 30% of the country had a choice of three or more operators offering speeds of 100/10 Mbps, and that optionality was only available to 6.4% of the population at the 250/50 Mbps tier. Less than half a percent of the population had access to three or more providers offering speeds of 1-gig down and 100 Mbps up and almost 72% of the population didn’t have any providers offering those speeds at all.

Given all the fiber announcements that have flowed since June 2021, it seems this data is likely to shift dramatically. Besides a glut of funding, Pickering said one factor driving the fiber push into new areas is actually a trend in the pay TV market. The shift away from legacy video services over the past five years toward over-the-top streaming service has left an opening for fiber to compete with cable without having to offer the old triple-play bundle, he said. That’s “changed the economics of multiple providers in a market,” he explained.

But there’s still the question of return on investment if too many players are in one place.

Asked about the predicament AT&T finds itself in down in Arizona, MoffettNathason partner Craig Moffett told Fierce that despite appearances there don’t seem to be too many instances of overbuilders overbuilding overbuilders just yet. That said, things could get tricky fast.

He explained that when overbuilders go after a particular market, they usually only build to subset of neighborhoods within that area. “Those neighborhoods might cover just a quarter or so of the households, so a single metro can have room for multiple overbuilders without much if any overlap,” Moffett said. “Avoiding each other gets harder as more overbuilders target a given market. We’re certainly seeing a lot of markets becoming very balkanized as multiple players target the same metros, and squeeze themselves into sub-scale neighborhoods to avoid stepping on each other’s toes.”

Moffett added the reason so many companies are targeting the same areas is because there “simply aren’t that many markets with the right combination of density and aerial vs. buried infrastructure.”

He laid out three possibilities for what will happen next: previously announced numerical build targets will be cut to avoid redundant deployments, operators will pivot to target less attractive markets, or “they actually will start to overbuild each other, and then they’ll have to assume lower penetration rates, and much, much lower returns.”

Pickering acknowledged investment analysts may be concerned about the impact of overbuilding on pricing and returns. However, he predicted markets with a large number of competitors would end up regulating themselves and "eventually there'll be an equilibrium reached."

This obscure startup wants to kill Blu-ray, tape with 'cheap' 1TB optical disc

By Collin Probst published September 1, 2020

Folio Photonics breakthrough looks to enable ‘far greater data densities than was thought possible’

Image credit: Phil Hearing — Unsplash)

Folio Photonics has announced new advances in the field of material science it says will pave the way for ultra high-capacity, low-cost optical disc cartridges.

The data storage company claims to have developed the first “economically-viable, enterprise-scale optical storage discs with dynamic multi-layer write/read capabilities”, delivering a dramatic improvement in cost per capacity.

Modern archival discs feature only three optical layers per side, but the breakthrough achieved by Folio Photonics allows for up to 16 layers to be applied to each surface of a disc, increasing capacity significantly.

Greater storage capacity, lower price

Off the back of the breakthrough, Folio Photonics will turn its attention from research to product development, with the first discs expected to come to market in 2024.

Initially, the firm’s ten-disc cartridges will have a capacity of 10TB (1TB per disc), but the potential to add further layers will supposedly allow discs to scale rapidly towards “multi-TB capacities”.

“Our talented engineering team has pioneered a fresh approach to optical storage that overcomes historical constraints and puts unheard of cost, cybersecurity and sustainability benefits within reach,” said Steven Santamaria, Folio Photonics CEO. “With these advantages, Folio Photonics is poised to reshape the trajectory of archive storage.”

These bullish predictions were echoed by analyst John Monroe, formerly of Gartner, who said the company is “on a path to engendering far greater data densities than was thought possible several years ago”.

As the volume of data produced by Internet activity, digital devices, IoT sensors, and general business operations continue to expand at an aggressive rate, large companies are expected to spend heavily on archival storage.

Currently, Linear Tape-Open (LTO) magnetic tape rules the roost, with the lowest cost per capacity of any technology. However, tape has its weaknesses too; data can only be accessed serially, making it hard to locate specific files, and companies also need to migrate to fresh tape on a semi-regular basis to avoid data loss.

The arrival of an ultra-cheap new form of archival storage, then, has the potential to have a material impact. The disc cartridges enabled by the new technology from Folio Photonics are set to be faster than tape, resilient to radiation, salt water, humidity, and temperature fluctuations, and boast a longevity of roughly 100 years. They will also support write once, read many (WORM) use cases. For a pricing comparison, Folio costs $5 per TB, while LTO-9 is roughly $8.30 per TB.

“Archival data is typically unchanging, presenting itself as 'write once' and requiring immutability. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and Big Data analytics are increasing activity and accessibility requirements for archival storage systems,” added Fred Moore, president of consulting firm Horison Information Strategies.

“As a result, the demand for immutable active archives will only increase as immutability and higher performance requirements reshape the exploding secondary storage paradigm.”

	Collin Probst B2B Hardware Editor, TechRadar Pro
Collin is the B2B Hardware Editor for TechRadar Pro. He has been in journalism for years with experience in both small and large markets including Gearadical, DailyBeast, FutureNet and more.

Association Urges “Extreme Caution” in Unlicensed Use of 6 GHz Band

The National Spectrum Management Association (NSMA) asked the FCC to conduct tests in the 6 GHz band before opening the 1,200 MHz swath of spectrum for unlicensed use. The new rules, meant to allow devices to use WiFi 6 in the band, were adopted in 2020, and then put on hold as a challenge worked its way through the courts. In January, an appeals court sided with the Commission.

The 6 GHz band is used in more than 100,000 microwave radio links that form the essential communications infrastructure for first responders and other mission critical systems. In addition to fixed microwave users, the 6 GHz band is used by licensees that employ transmitters and receivers on portable bases, like news vans and broadcasting cameras, and send programming from remote locations back to studios. The band is also inhabited by mobile transmitters to support wireless microphones and backstage communications.

The association expressed its “grave concerns” about the regulatory change that “could wreak havoc” on police and fire departments, ambulance services, pipelines, electric and water utilities, and railroads — with potentially disastrous consequences for public safety.

To function safely, these links require extremely high-quality signal availability — with less than 158 seconds of interruption per year. Greatly increasing traffic in this band increases the probability of service interruptions, according to Joseph Sandri, president of the NSMA.

“This swarm of devices could disrupt communications for first responders, utility workers, pipeline safety engineers, and more,” Sandri said. “Without more thorough testing, the deployment of these devices can place dangerous amounts of stress on critical networks around the country.”

The FCC said that low-power indoor use protects licensed 6 GHz technology such as AT&T’s microwave links and TV broadcasts from interference, while “standard power” devices used indoors and outdoors could include automated frequency control to prevent interference, Inside Towers reported.

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 Offices Moving to Suite 825 on October 1

On October 1, our firm will be moving to a new suite in the same location. Our new address will be:

Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP
2120 L Street NW, STE 825
Washington, DC 20037

Our phone and email contact information will remain the same. We ask that our clients bear with us during this transition, which we hope to be seamless but for the change in mailing address.

BloostonLaw Contact: John Prendergast.

Headlines

Comments Filed on Midco Petition

On August 19, comments were filed on Midcontinent Communications' (Midco) petition for declaratory ruling on whether a wholesale provider is required to obtain a certificate of authority when interconnecting with another carrier under Section 251(a) and 251(b). Reply comments are due September 9.

The South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA), represented by BloostonLaw, filed joint comments with James Valley Telecommunications Cooperative (JVTC) opposing the petition. NARUC, NTCA, JSI, the South Dakota PUC (SD PUC), and the Michigan PUC opposed as well. Generally, the opposing comments argued that Midco had misconstrued the FCC precedent relied upon in the petition, and that the FCC had not preempted or otherwise modified state authority in this arena. NCTA was the sole entity filing comments in support of Midco’s petition, arguing that telecommunications carriers need not be local exchange carriers before seeking interconnection.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, Midcontinent filed a petition requesting that the FCC issue a declaratory ruling affirming that “a telecommunications carrier authorized to provide any telecommunications service in a state may seek interconnection with any other telecommunications carrier under section 251(a) of the Communications Act for the purpose of providing wholesale interconnection services for the exchange of local traffic, without the need to obtain additional authority from a state regulator, including a certificate of authority to provide local exchange service.” Emphasis supplied. The Petition was prompted by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission’s recent ruling that Midcontinent is not entitled to interconnection with a rural incumbent telephone company to provide wholesale interconnection services until Midcontinent obtains a certificate of authority to provide local exchange service in the exchange. BloostonLaw attorneys assisted SDTA in obtaining this result before the PUC.

Carriers interested in participating in the proceeding may contact the firm for more information. Carriers that encounter a similar issue in their state can contact us for assistance in addressing the matter.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Comments on CAF II Letter of Credit Requirements Extension Due September 21

On August 22, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on extending its waiver of the letter of credit rules for Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) and Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE) support recipients. Comments are due September 21, and reply comments are due October 6.

Last summer, in light of the ongoing pandemic, the FCC directed recipients to comply with the less extensive letter of credit rules established by the Commission for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The Bureau, however, limited the waiver until the end of 2022. As we approach the fall of 2022, the FCC seeks comment on extending the waiver of the letter of credit rules for Auction 903 support recipients beyond December 31, 2022 and whether, and to what extent, the ongoing nature of the pandemic has affected the operations of telecommunications services providers and the condition of financial markets and supply chains.

The FCC also proposes to extend the waiver of the Auction 903 letter of credit requirements only for Auction 903 support recipients that meet the first mandatory build out deadline, as demonstrated by reporting in the HUBB by March 1, 2023, of deployment to at least 40% of their locations as of December 31, 2022. Those that do not meet the 40% milestone would have to obtain a letter of credit meeting the original Auction 903 requirements by April 1, 2023. Similarly, the FCC proposes that Auction 903 support recipients that do not timely file their first location report or that fail to timely file a subsequent location report be automatically excluded from any waiver of the Auction 903 letter of credit requirements. Finally, the FCC proposes that Auction 903 support recipients who maintain a reduced (e.g., at one year of support) letter of credit in accordance with the RDOF rules be required to increase the letter of credit’s value to comply with the Auction 903 rules if they do not pass a USAC verification.

Carriers interested in filing comments may contact the firm for more information.

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

Senators Urge Changes to BEAD Program

On August 18, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), and a group of 10 other Senators sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, raising concerns and calling for changes to the current implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program that was created through the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Specifically, the Senators are seeking changes to the following areas:

• Rate Regulation: The bipartisan infrastructure law includes an explicit prohibition of government actions that would otherwise interfere with broadband prices and terms in connection with participation in the BEAD program. The Senators argue that the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) appears to open the door to rate regulation by imposing several requirements not included in the law. The Senators therefore are urging NTIA to rescind or correct these portions of the NOFO and make clear to states that rate regulation of broadband service is prohibited.
• Technology Neutrality: The bipartisan infrastructure law states that any provider that can reliably provide 100/20 mbps is qualified to participate. The Senators state that the NOFO contradicts this by explicitly stating that fiber is the only technology that can meet the definitions of a priority project. The Senators therefore urge NTIA to clarify that technologies such as fiber, fixed wireless, cable, and others all have a demonstrated ability to reliably serve customers at the 100/20 mbps required speed, an ability to scale up service over time, and an ability to support deployment of other advanced telecommunication services.
• Special Preferences for Certain Providers: The bipartisan infrastructure law requires NTIA to “distribute the funds in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner” and to focus assessments of participating providers on their substantive qualifications. Instead, the Senators assert, the NOFO favors certain bidders for reasons unrelated to capability or performance, and that these preferences will deter state broadband offices from selecting the provider that is best equipped to deliver broadband to unserved and underserved households. The Senators are urging NTIA to remove these preferences from the NOFO.
• BEAD and Digital Equity Participation: According to the Senators, the NOFO implies that states that do not choose to participate in the Digital Equity Program could be disadvantaged in their BEAD grant applications. To provide greater certainty to states and better conform to the law, the Senators are urging NTIA to revise the NOFO to clarify that a state’s participation in one of these programs will not affect participation in the other.
• Workforce Preferences: The Senators argue that many of the specific workforce-related obligations set out in the NOFO erect considerable roadblocks to ensuring swift deployment of broadband access to all Americans. Consequently, the NOFO risks exacerbating the current labor shortage by making it even harder for participating providers to find and employ workers who are not only capable of doing the job but also satisfy these additional extraneous requirements. The Senators are urging NTIA to eliminate those workforce obligations and preferences that could have this deleterious effect.
• Middle Mile Deployment: The NOFO requires participating service providers in the BEAD program to accommodate requests for interconnection outside of the planned deployment of such projects even though the bipartisan infrastructure law includes the separate middle mile grant program to meet these interconnection needs. The Senators argue that this requirement is unnecessary and will discourage deployment of broadband service to unserved and underserved locations, and should be removed.
• Unnecessary Burdens in the NTIA Review Process: The Senators said that the NOFO review process is likely to mire state broadband offices in excessive bureaucracy and delay connecting unserved and underserved Americans as quickly as possible. The Senators are urging NTIA to remove any non-essential bidding processes and research and reporting requirements, and instead focus on rules that prioritize swift review and deployment.

Joining Senators Cramer, Collins, and Portman, the letter was signed by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Mitt Romney (R-UT).

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

Law and Regulation

New Multi-tenant Environment Rules Effective September 26

On August 22, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the certain requirements adopted in the 2022 Multiple Tenant Environment (MTE) Order will go into effect next month. Specifically, the prohibition on enforcement of existing exclusive and graduated revenue sharing agreements and the requirement to disclose existing exclusive marketing arrangements go into effect on September 26. We note that the requirement to disclose new exclusive marketing arrangements is already in effect and required immediately.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FCC adopted rules to “promote competitive choice of communications services for those living and working in multiple tenant environments, and to address practices that undermine longstanding rules promoting competition in multiple tenant environments.” Specifically, the FCC adopted rules to (1) prohibit providers from entering into certain types of revenue sharing agreements with MTE owners, and (2) require providers to disclose the existence of exclusive marketing arrangements they have with MTE owners in simple, easy-to-understand language.

Carriers with questions about the new MTE requirements may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

Senators Press FCC on Ligado Reversal

A bipartisan group of senators have urged the FCC to overturn a two-year-old decision granting Ligado Networks authority to deploy a terrestrial 5G network using a portion of the L-band frequencies, adjacent to those used by GPS.

Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Jack Reed, D-RI, and ranking member James Inhofe, R-OK, and six other bipartisan senators sent a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and her fellow commissioners last week asking they “stay and reconsider” the FCC’s April 2020 order.

“Staying and reconsidering the Ligado Order is necessary to address the imminent risks associated with Ligado’s intention to commence operations in the 1526-1536 MHz band on or after September 30, 2022,” the senators wrote. “We remain gravely concerned that the Ligado Order fails to adequately protect adjacent band operations—including those related to GPS and satellite communications—from harmful interference impacting countless military and commercial activities.”

Prior to the issuance of the Ligado Order, fourteen federal agencies and departments expressed strong opposition to the applications sought by Ligado over concerns about potential harmful interference with GPS operations. In May 2020, shortly following the issuance of the Ligado Order, NTIA petitioned the FCC to reconsider its decision.

In the absence of new technical studies, or changing political winds, it is hard to see how the FCC is going to reverse its earlier ruling. Commissioner Brendan Carr noted in a statement accompanying the FCC’s 2020 decision that “after a thorough and multi-year review, the FCC’s professional staff of engineers and other experts determined that we can advance America’s 5G leadership while protecting GPS and other adjacent band services.” Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks termed the decision “an extremely close call,” but similarly noted in their joint statement of concurrence that, despite the concerns of DOD and others about potential GPS interference, “in the end, we are compelled to support the expert technical analysis done by the [FCC’s] engineering staff.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

Industry

FCC Seeks Nominations for Six USAC Board Positions

On August 22, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking nominations for the following Board member positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) listed below for a three-year term.

• Representative for commercial mobile radio service providers (position currently held by Indra Sehdev Chalk, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, T-Mobile USA, Inc.)
• Representative for cable providers (position currently held by Beth Choroser, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Comcast Corporation)
• Representative for schools that are eligible to receive discounts pursuant to section 54.501 of the Commission’s rules (position currently held by Dr. Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators)
• Representative for libraries that are eligible to receive discounts pursuant to section 54.501 of the Commission’s rules (position currently held by Amber Gregory, Manager of E-Rate Services, Arkansas State Library)
• Representative for incumbent local exchange carriers (Bell Operating Companies) (position currently held by Stephanie Polk, Vice President of Customer Success and Advocacy, Lumen Technologies)
• Representative for state consumer advocates (position currently held by Jeffrey Jay Waller, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Alaska Office of the Attorney General, Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy Section)

The FCC stated that it believes that “having Board members with substantive areas of expertise relevant to running a large and complex organization with such skills as accounting, finance, auditing, procurement, data management and information technology will improve the management, administration and oversight of USAC” The FCC further indicated that if members of the relevant industry or non-industry group fail to reach consensus on a candidate to serve on the Board, or fail to submit a nomination for the particular Board member seat, Chairwoman Rosenworcel will select an individual from that industry or non-industry group to serve on the Board.

FCC Releases Responses to Mobile Data Privacy Probe

On August 25, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel made available the responses received from the nation’s 15 top mobile carriers following a request for information about their data retention and data privacy policies and practices. The responses can be found here.

“Today, I’m publishing the responses I received from mobile carriers on how they handle geolocation data to help shed light on this issue for consumers. Additionally, I have asked the Enforcement Bureau to launch a new investigation into mobile carriers’ compliance with FCC rules that require carriers to fully disclose to consumers how they are using and sharing geolocation data,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Finally, if you, as a consumer, have concerns or complaints about how your provider is handling your private data, the FCC is making it easier for you to file complaints and make your concerns known—so we can take action under the law.”

Deadlines

AUGUST 29: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Copyright Statement of Accounts form plus royalty payment for the first half of year is due to be filed August 29 at the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office by cable TV service providers.

BloostonLaw Contact: Gerry Duffy.

SEPTEMBER 1: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION AND BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. Four types of entities must file this form: (1) Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End User Locations (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); (2) Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Telephone Services (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 (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); and (4) 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).

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

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: Sal Taillefer.

Law Offices Of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP 2120 L St. NW, Suite 825 Washington, D.C. 20037 (202) 659-0830 (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.

Calendar At-a-Glance

August
Aug. 29 – Copyright Statement of Accounts is due.

September
Sep. 1 – FCC Form 477 due (Local Competition and Broadband Report).
Sep. 1 – Broadband Data Collection filings are due.
Sep. 6 – Reply comments on ATSC 3.0 NPRM are due.
Sep. 6 – ReConnect Round 4 application filing window opens.
Sep. 9 – Reply comments are due on Certificate of Authority and Interconnection Declaratory Ruling.
Sep. 22 – Replies are due in Eligible Locations Adjustment Process (ELAP).
Sep. 26 – New MTE rules come into effect.
Sep. 30 – Middle Mile Infrastructure Program grant applications are due.
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. 15 – 911 Reliability Certification November
Nov. 2 – ReConnect Round 4 applications are due.

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.

BloostonLaw Offices Moving to Suite 825 on October 1

On October 1, our firm will be moving into a new office suite in the same building. As a result, our new address will be:

Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP
2120 L Street NW, Suite 825
Washington, DC 20037

Our phone and email contact information will remain the same. We anticipate that this move will take a few days to accomplish. During this time, we ask that our clients bear with us during this transition, which we hope to be seamless but for the change in mailing address.

BloostonLaw Contact: John Prendergast.

Reminder: Conduct FAA Notice Check Before Construction or Modification of Antenna Structures

We want to remind our clients of the need to make sure that FAA Notice and/or antenna structure registration (“ASR”) with the FCC is not required prior to either constructing or modifying an antenna tower. These checks are in addition to the environmental, zoning and Section 106 historic preservation requirements.

The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) operates an on-line tool that we can use to determine whether notice to the FAA will be required. Generally, notice is required for any antenna structure that is over 200 feet above ground level, any antenna structure that penetrates the glide slope into a nearby public use or military aircraft landing area, and where otherwise requested by the FAA. In this regard, the FAA will request a notice filing for antenna towers that are located near aircraft navigational aids in order to ensure that the frequency proposals for the antenna structure will not cause harmful interference.

We can assist you in making these checks to verify whether notice to the FAA and/or FCC registration will be required.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FCC Fines Equipment Vendor $685K For Failure to Comply with Marketing Rules

The FCC has issued a Forfeiture Order which imposed a $685,338 fine upon a finding that Sound Around, Inc. (Sound Around or Company) marketed 32 models of wireless microphones in violation of the Communications Act and the FCC’s equipment marketing rules.

According to the Forfeiture Order, Sound Around received directives for years from the FCC warning the company to ensure its devices were properly authorized under the Commission’s rules. Despite these warnings, Sound Around did not bring its wireless microphones into regulatory compliance. Specifically, the FCC initially issued a citation to Sound Around in 2011. In 2016, the FCC opened an investigation against Sound Around when it received a complaint that the company was still marketing non-compliant equipment. Over the course of this investigation, the FCC discovered that many of the models offered for sale by Sound Around did not actually operate at the frequencies the company indicated (under oath). Further, two models operated in the aviation band, thereby potentially affecting critical public safety radio service.

In the Notice of Apparent Liability that preceded the instant Forfeiture Order, the FCC “proposed a significant upward adjustment of the total base forfeiture [g]iven the company’s long record of repeated and continuous marketing violations and the egregious nature of the violations, because the Company marketed two microphone models that apparently operated in the aviation band and thus had the potential to cause harmful interference to a critical public safety radio service.” The baseline forfeiture for 32 violations would have been $224,000.

Sound Around argued that the fine should be cancelled because the FCC did not prove a violation occurred; that the 2011 Citation provided insufficient and stale notice to support the NAL; that the proposed forfeiture should be lowered because some microphones were authorized or should be grouped together for the purpose of any forfeiture calculation; and that the upward adjustments are excessive and unwarranted. The FCC found these arguments unpersuasive. The FCC further found that the proposed forfeiture amount was appropriate because (a) Sound Around apparently had marketed non-compliant devices since at least 2009 and (b) for two of the models, the Commission further upwardly adjusted the forfeiture to the statutory maximum because those models presented an egregious threat to public safety.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino.

FirstNet Seeks Renewal of 700 MHz License — Initial Pleadings Due September 22, 2022

The FCC has announced the acceptance for filing of FirstNet’s application for renewal of its license for the 758-769/788-799 MHz band. FirstNet’s initial 10-year license was granted on November 15, 2012 pursuant to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the “Spectrum Act”). Pleadings in connection with this application are due on September 22, 2022. Oppositions to these initial pleadings will be due no later than October 3, 2022, with replies to any oppositions due no later than October 11, 2022.

The Spectrum Act directs FirstNet to submit a license renewal application to the Commission on or before the expiration of FirstNet’s current license, and authorizes the Commission to grant the application for a term not to exceed ten years if FirstNet has met its duties and obligations as set forth in the Spectrum Act. The Spectrum Act also includes provisions for FirstNet’s authority to terminate in 2027 absent further Congressional action to extend its licensing authority.

Any client desiring to file pleadings in support of or in opposition to the FirstNet license renewal application should can contact our office for assistance.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FCC and NTIA Sign MOU on Spectrum Coordination

The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) have completed an updated memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) for spectrum coordination between the two agencies. NTIA is responsible for the management of spectrum allocated for federal government users.

The FCC states that the revised MOU “will strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the agencies and help advance a whole-of-government approach to how we use and manage one of the nation’s most important resources” at a time when the US is attempting “to expand access to high-speed Internet, protect national security, promote economic growth and advance the progress of science and technology.”

“Next-generation spectrum innovation is going to require next-generation spectrum coordination. This updated MOU embraces the idea that no single entity can meet this challenge alone,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “We need a whole of government approach—one that draws on the strengths in our national DNA: our hard-wired belief in the creative possibilities of the future, the power of coordination, and the rule of law. This effort, as part of our broader Spectrum Coordination Initiative, helps make that possible. I am grateful to have the leadership and partnership of Assistant Secretary Davidson in this important work.”

“A spectrum coordination agreement that pre-dates the smartphone is not sufficient to meet the challenges facing our agencies today,” said Assistant Secretary Davidson. “This updated MOU between NTIA and the FCC will deepen our collaboration and improve our ability to anticipate and mitigate serious spectrum issues. I salute Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s leadership and support in charting a course for sustained coordination for years to come.”

The FCC stated that the MOU will establish a stronger framework for managing spectrum use and planning through:

• Formalized High-Level Planning. For the first time, the FCC Chair and Assistant Secretary will hold formal meetings to conduct joint spectrum planning at least quarterly.
• A Longer-Term Spectrum Outlook. FCC and NTIA staff will meet at least monthly to exchange information. Where possible, the agencies will share their planned spectrum activities for the next 12 months.
• Greater Coordination. The agencies have committed to coordinating more of their spectrum activities than was required under the prior MOU, including when the agencies are considering taking actions that would create new spectrum adjacencies. The updated MOU also extends the amount of time for coordination.
• Improved Transparency and Data Sharing. Both agencies will endeavor to share information, concerns, or views as early in the spectrum planning process as possible, supported by technical data and analysis that is based on sound engineering principles. For NTIA, this includes sharing information, concerns, or views of other federal agencies as well.
• Clearer Dispute Resolution. FCC and NTIA will work together to develop and implement a process for escalating any disputes for consideration by agency leadership

Finally, the MOU, which was last updated nearly 20 years ago, will be reviewed every four years going forward in order to ensure that it remains consistent with current private use, commercial and governmental spectrum needs.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FCC Seeks Extension of US Coast Guard Coordination Requirement

The FCC is seeking an extension of the information collection requirements specified in Rule Section 80.605, which requires certain Part 80 Marine Radio licensees to obtain written permission from the US Coast Guard for operation in areas where radio-navigation/radio-location devices are located. Rule Section 80.605 is designed to ensure no hazard to marine navigation will result from the grant of applications for non-selectable transponders and shore-based radio-navigation aids. Comments are due October 31, 2022.

As a reminder, Rule Section 80.605 states in part that before an application for a radio-navigation coast station can be filed, the applicant is required to obtain written permission from the US Coast Guard District Commander in which the device will be located. In this regard, Coast station transponders (i.e., radar beacons and/or racons) operating in the 2900-3100 MHz or 9300-9500 MHz bands must meet the ITU-R M.824-3 requirements.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FCC Urges EAS Participants to Take Immediate Steps to Secure Emergency Alert Equipment

The FCC is advising communications providers that participate in the Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) to take steps to secure their EAS equipment against risks impacting devices that are publicly accessible from the Internet This action comes in response to a FEMA warning about potential vulnerability in certain EAS encoder/decoder devices that have not been updated to most recent software versions. FEMA has observed that if EAS devices are not up-to-date, an unauthorized actor could issue EAS alerts over the EAS Participant’s infrastructure.

EAS Participants (i.e., radio and television broadcasters, wireless and wired cable television systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers) have an obligation to ensure that their EAS equipment’s monitoring and transmitting functions are available whenever the stations and systems are operating. Regardless of make and model of EAS equipment, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is urging all EAS Participants to upgrade their equipment software and firmware to the most recent versions recommended by the manufacturer, and secure their equipment behind a properly configured firewall as soon as possible.

The FCC’s rules provide that failure to receive or transmit EAS messages during national tests or actual emergencies because of an equipment failure may subject the EAS Participant to enforcement. We therefore strongly encourage EAS Participants to contact their EAS equipment manufacturers with any specific questions regarding the security of EAS equipment.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast, Richard Rubino and Cary Mitchell

Senators Press FCC on Ligado Reversal

A bipartisan group of senators have urged the FCC to overturn a two-year-old decision that granted Ligado Networks authority to deploy a terrestrial 5G network using a portion of the L-band frequencies, adjacent to those used by GPS.

Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Jack Reed, D-RI, and ranking member James Inhofe, R-OK, and six other bipartisan senators sent a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and her fellow commissioners asking that they “stay and reconsider” the FCC’s April 2020 order.

“Staying and reconsidering the Ligado Order is necessary to address the imminent risks associated with Ligado’s intention to commence operations in the 1526-1536 MHz band on or after September 30, 2022,” the senators wrote. “We remain gravely concerned that the Ligado Order fails to adequately protect adjacent band operations—including those related to GPS and satellite communications—from harmful interference impacting countless military and commercial activities.”

Prior to the issuance of the Ligado Order, fourteen federal agencies and departments expressed strong opposition to the applications sought by Ligado over concerns about potential harmful interference with GPS operations. In May 2020, shortly following the issuance of the Ligado Order, NTIA petitioned the FCC to reconsider its decision.

In the absence of new technical studies, or changing political winds, it is hard to see how the FCC is going to reverse its earlier ruling. Commissioner Brendan Carr noted in a statement accompanying the FCC’s 2020 decision that “after a thorough and multi-year review, the FCC’s professional staff of engineers and other experts determined that we can advance America’s 5G leadership while protecting GPS and other adjacent band services.” Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks termed the decision “an extremely close call,” but similarly noted in their joint statement of concurrence that, despite the concerns of DOD and others about potential GPS interference, “in the end, we are compelled to support the expert technical analysis done by the [FCC’s] engineering staff.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

DC Circuit Allows FCC Plan to Repurpose 5.9 GHz Band for Wi-Fi

The DC Circuit has upheld a November 2020 FCC decision to make 45 megahertz of spectrum in the 5850-5925 MHz (or 5.9 GHz) band for indoor, unlicensed operations over objections from auto safety groups. The decision was applauded as a “win for consumers” by the Internet & Television Association, now known as NCTA.

“The Commission’s unanimous, bipartisan order modernizes a band that was primarily unused for over 20 years, and today’s court decision enables that important 5.9 GHz spectrum to provide consumers with even more reliable high-speed Wi-Fi and access to next-generation automotive safety applications,” the trade group said.

The 5.9 GHz band has been designated for Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) since 1999, when the FCC set aside 75 megahertz of spectrum in the band for DSRC to improve traffic safety. However, the FCC and DSRC proponents’ vision for the service never materialized and the need for additional Wi-Fi spectrum grew dramatically.

Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (the groups that brought the suit) said the FCC’s decision "ignored the recommendations of the federal DOT, automotive safety professionals, automobile manufacturers and state highway officials."

The FCC’s 2020 decision to reallocate a portion of the 5.9 GHz band allowed for supplementary devices to use the lower 45 megahertz while keeping the remaining 30 megahertz for transportation safety uses, most notably a Qualcomm-backed auto-safety technology called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X). C-V2X as developed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a replacement to DSRC. The technology is a step towards autonomous driving and can function without network assistance.

BloostonLaw Contact: Cary Mitchell

Sens. Cantwell, Capito Introduce Bill Promoting Broadband Along Electricity Grid

On August 10, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced the Grant to Rapidly Invest and Deploy Broadband, or GRID Broadband Act. According to the press release, the bill is designed to provide “a robust new federal cost-share to spur investment in a nationwide middle-mile backbone along the nation’s existing electricity grid.”

Under the GRID Broadband Act, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) will be charged with issuing competitive cost-shared federal grants to encourage the rapid development of a secure, nationwide broadband backbone on existing electric grid infrastructure. Recipients of GRID Broadband awards must use the funding to improve cybersecurity and smart grid technology on their electrical grid infrastructure, as well as increase middle-mile broadband capacity. Grant recipients must cover at least half of project costs, except for a qualifying not-for-profit utility or Native entity that is providing access to underserved or unserved communities.

“Building out fiber along our nation’s existing [electric] grid will provide the communications capacity needed to modernize our energy system, make our grid more cybersecure, and bring affordable high-speed Internet to tens of millions of hard-to-reach households,” said Senator Cantwell.

“In order to accomplish our goal of bringing reliable, high-speed Internet access to every West Virginia community, we need to continue bringing solutions to the table,” said Senator Capito. “The GRID Broadband Act would utilize our nation’s electric grid system to help build out and deploy broadband, especially in some of the most rural areas of West Virginia with little to no service.

The proposed bill may be fodder for legislative debate, given the tension that is arising with regard to broadband funding on top of USF-supported projects.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, John Prendergast and Sal Taillefer.

Set up Dolby Atmos or surround sound on Apple TV with a sound bar or AV receiver Learn how to play Dolby Atmos or surround sound on your Apple TV with a sound bar or AV receiver.

"Them Things Got Me"

Tuba Skinny on Royal St.

The band returns to Royal St. but with traffic. And we get photo bombed right away. April 1, 2022.

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!

I am a person in
long-term
recovery.

Four Generations

of Brad's Family

CONTACT INFO & LINKS

Skype: braddye
Twitter: @BradDye1
Telephone: +1-618-599-7869
E–mail: brad@braddye.com
Wireless: Consulting page
Paging: Home Page
Marketing & Engineering Papers
K9IQY: Ham Radio Page

Amateur Radio
K9IQY

• ex KN9IQY, KN4BK, KM5NK, WB4JCF, ZP5TQ, WA4VXU, WA9RVL, /TI2, /9Y4, /6Y5, /KP4, HH2FJ
• Licensed FCC Amateur Radio operator since 1957
• Licensed FCC First-Class-Commercial Operator/Engineer since 1964