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This Week's Wireless Headlines:
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NO POLITICS HERE This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.
A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn’t fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world’s major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get readers’ comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it. I spend the whole week searching the INTERNET for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.
Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I do freely express my own opinions. |
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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale
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| Leavitt Communications |
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APPLE/TECH Apple announces revamped full-size HomePod two years after discontinuing originalThe new speaker will be sold alongside the HomePod Mini introduced in 2020.By JON PORTER / @jonporty Jan 18, 2023, 8:05 AM CST
Apple has announced a new $299 HomePod smart speaker with a similar form factor to the original HomePod released in 2018. New features available with this second-generation model include support for the wireless protocol Thread and the smart home standard Matter, allowing the speaker to control compatible accessories, and an upgraded S7 chip first seen in the Apple Watch Series 7. It will be sold alongside the HomePod Mini, the smaller version of the speaker introduced in 2020. The new HomePod is available to order starting today and will begin shipping February 3rd. The second-generation HomePod has a single four-inch woofer paired with five tweeters, (down from seven in the original model) and a total of five microphones (down from seven). Apple says the speaker can sense how it’s positioned in a room, adjusting its sound depending on whether it’s placed up against a wall or out in the middle of a space. Like the original HomePod, two speakers can be arranged into a stereo pair or used as speakers for the Apple TV 4K. There’s also support for spatial audio with Dolby Atmos.
New for this model are built-in temperature and humidity sensors that can be used as triggers for smart home automations. (There were reports that similar sensors were present in the HomePod Mini, but they’ve never been made available for consumer use.) There’s also support for handing off music like we saw with the HomePod Mini using Apple’s ultra wideband tech, and the speaker’s voice assistant, Siri, is able to recognize up to six different voices and provide personalized responses. With a software update coming later this spring, Apple says the new HomePod will be able to use its built-in microphones to listen for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and notify you if it hears anything via an iPhone. The new model is a little shorter than the original HomePod by 0.2 inches and a little lighter at 5.16 pounds versus 5.5 pounds. The original HomePod had an unusually rocky lifespan for an Apple product. Originally announced in 2017 with a December ship date, the $349 smart speaker was subsequently delayed to February 2018. When it was eventually released, the HomePod’s Siri fared poorly against Alexa and Google Assistant, and reviewers criticized how locked into Apple’s ecosystem the smart speaker was. Despite getting a $50 price cut in 2019, the HomePod was eventually discontinued in 2021. As well as its cheaper price, the HomePod Mini also introduced support for Thread — a smart home protocol that subsequently became an integral part of the Matter spec. Like the new HomePod, the HomePod Mini can serve as a Matter smart home controller and Thread border router for the management of Matter devices across Thread, Wi-Fi, and ethernet networks. The second-generation HomePod will be sold in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and 11 other markets, according to Apple. It’ll be available in either white or gray, with a “color-matched” power cable. |
| Source: | The Verge |
Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.
Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
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The Wireless Messaging News
The Board of Advisor members are people with whom I have developed a special rapport, and have met personally. They are not obligated to support the newsletter in any way, except with advice, and maybe an occasional letter to the editor.
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| PRISM IPX Systems |
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Thousands of Users Worldwide Depend on Prism IPXOur Customers Trust Us To Make Sure That Their Messages Get Delivered
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| Easy Solutions |
Providing Expert Support and Service Contracts for all Glenayre Paging Systems.The GL3000 is the most prolific paging system in the world and Easy Solutions gladly welcomes you to join us in providing reliable support to the paging industry for many more decades in the future. Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.
Experts in Paging Infrastructure
Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or Easy Solutions |
| Readers of the Newsletter who are Ham Radio Operators |
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| Source: | Amateur Radio callsigns of readers. Please click here to add yours. |
GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTUREService ContractsI would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging. GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018. If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation. Click on the image above for more info about advertising here. |
INTERNET Protocol Terminal The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages. An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.
Additional/Optional Features
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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Paging Data Receiver PDR-4 The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors. Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Wireless Network Planners
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R.H. (Ron) Mercer |
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wirelessplannerron@gmail.com  |
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Lorain County’s 911 radio system failed during emergency — When will it be fixed?by: Ed Gallek Posted: Jan 18, 2023 / 06:16 PM EST Updated: Jan 18, 2023 / 08:19 PM EST LAGRANGE, Ohio (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found a radio system for first responders failed during an emergency call in Lorain County. That led us to investigate and ask when that system will be fixed. The I-Team has the recordings showing what went wrong, and we’ve learned what happened in this case is not that unusual. This incident began with a 911 call from a home in LaGrange. “My 83-year-old dad, he can’t breathe,” a woman reported. But, when the EMS crew got to the house, dispatch couldn’t make contact. You hear multiple transmissions, including “911 dispatch, 39 checkup…” and “911 dispatch to La Grange 39…” There was no answer. First responders say they really need a new radio system in Lorain County. In this case, dispatch could only reach the EMS crew by calling back the woman who had called 911 for help. “Hello?” she answered. “Hi, ma’am, this is Lorain County 911. I am looking to attempt to speak to the LaGrange EMS crew that is on scene,” the dispatcher said. “Hi, this is LaGrange 39,” a crew member then said. “I apologize for interrupting while you’re on scene,” the dispatcher said. “I don’t know if we’re coming across on yours (radio), but we’re just not getting anything.” “Yeah, I’m not hearing you on the radio,” the crew member said. So, the I-Team went to the Lorain County administration building. We took a copy of that recording. We wanted to play it for one of the commissioners as a chance to show why first responders are so desperate for a new radio system. We played some of the recording for Commissioner Jeff Riddell. “It’s a story that needs to be told, and nobody’s denying the equipment in Lorain County is not in need of upgrading,” he said. Days ago, Riddell voted for the county to back out of a contract for a new radio system. So, we asked why. We also asked how much longer first responders will now wait for another contract to fix the system. “The contract was poorly written,” Riddell said. “It was done without competitive bidding, and it’s $8 million and we have to be sure the taxpayers money is spent wisely.” As for how much time now has been added to the process, Riddell said, “I would say we’re talking months. At this point, I would say we don’t have a timetable.” Back at the scene, dispatch recordings show the patient was taken to the hospital. The commissioner says county leaders are meeting and trying to move along the process to get a new radio system. |
| Source: | FOX8.com | “This may deserve a closer look” comment by Barry Kanne. |
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 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
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Remote AB Switches ABX-1 switches are often used at remote transmitter sites to convert from old, outdated and unsupported controllers to the new modern Prism-IPX ipBSC base station controllers. Remotely switch to new controllers with GUI commands. ABX-1 ABX-3 switches are widely used for enabling or disabling remote equipment and switching I/O connections between redundant messaging systems. ABX-3 Common Features:
Prism-IPX Systems LLC. 11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Helmut Köchler - role model, a mover
January 15, 2023 Innovation and action, decision and vision always depend on people. One who has driven secure communication for more than 50 years has passed away. We mourn the loss of Helmut Koechler. Helmut Koechler was the initiator and founder of the Swissphone Group based in Switzerland and in 2000 also co-founder of the e*Message Group in Germany and France. Helmut realised that alerting and two-way communication are just as much two pairs of shoes as the need to call to the scene of the crisis event without any hesitation and then — when the first responders are there — to exchange information on the spot. Helmut was not only Swiss and German and French. Helmut was European. He was one of the strongest movers of the European EPPA group that promoted paging and critical communication internationally. Also with the development of his own standard — rubbing a bit against Motorola's activities — the ERMES. No longer talked about today, but all the products and services of e*Message and Swissphone that save lives and move the industry forward every day. Helmut went into the markets that were for others “too small” compared to the mass market. Yes, you can sell more cars than fire engines. But, what is “more” needed? Take Germany, for example: Deutsche Telekom had a well-developed paging network, but it was designed for mass private use and used the frequencies differently than the fire brigades needed. So, together with the users, a network organisation was created for many German fire brigades, which did not use the incumbent Telekom, but their own networks with terminals from Swissphone Group — or later — the e*BOS services of its co-enterprise e*Message Deutschland with terminals that also came from Europe — often from TPL Systèmes, but also from others. I have known Helmut since the 90s. As managing director of the market-leading Regiokom Berlin (later Deutschland) GmbH, we took over from Sprintel (also an initiative of Helmut) the trunked radio networks according to MPT1327 in three of the 14 priority regions awarded by the regulatory authority at that time, including the one in the Rhine-Main region. Thus and further completed, the shareholders of Regiokom were able to place trunked radio in the hands of a globally investing company from Canada in 1999. With advantages for service and for a good return of the European shareholders, which included Barthold von Ribbentrop and Dietmar Gollnick. The shareholders invested part of the funds generated in the acquisition of the each countrywide POCSAG (paging, NP2M) activities of the German and French telecoms. The “big players” wanted to take care of the millions of private customers with their many cell phones. Thus, the alerting service came back into close and professionally concentrated hands. Barthold von Ribbentrop and Dietmar Gollnick would never have dared to undertake this activity if they had not been able to add to their special mobile radio, financial and operational expertise, in the form of Helmut Köchler, the necessary special expertise in paging that was a leader in Europe. Helmut Köchler, Barthold von Ribbentrop and Dietmar Gollnick, together with their families, were the founders and are still shareholders of e*Message Wireless Information Services GmbH in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. With not only one crying eye, Helmut has ensured excellent succession arrangements. In 2019, the Swissphone Group went to the Rigeto-Group in Munich, thus becoming rather even more “German” than it had been before. In 2022, under the leadership of Dietmar Gollnick, the transfer of the operational e*Message companies in France and Germany to the Liberta Group (also in Munich) was completed. e*Message WIS GmbH supports the technology and market positioning of the (now former) subsidiaries in the two main continental European countries. See also CRITICAL MESSAGING ASSOCIATION and #ZOES for more information. Helmut Köchler was a great entrepreneur. His living place gave him the honorary name “Bill Gates”. Without Helmut, many initiatives for second secured and specialized infrastructure and terminals would not have been so successful. Helmut died after a long illness on Christmas Eve 2022. He was a super husband to Erika, great father to Corina, Cecile and Michael. His children were and are also my colleagues as co-founders of the e*Message group. Helmut, I bow down to you. Learned a lot from you. Much tried to implement from your spoken and unspoken suggestions. Our in e*Message and CMA and especially my deeply connected with our friendship greetings to your wife, children and grandchildren. My deepest condolences and the certainty that much of what Helmut Köchler created in his life will continue to be important after his lifetime. Some things — for example the principle of always having a second infrastructure — will become even stronger. Thank you, Helmut. Take care. Deepest possible bow. Your friend Dietmar |
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| Leavitt Communications |
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| Inside Towers Newsletter |
Florida Boynton Beach to Build New TowerThe city of Boynton Beach, FL has announced its intention to invest $1,025,000 to build a new communications tower. A recent inspection determined that the town's 32-foot radio tower has suffered significant damage and deterioration in its 35-year history. The federal Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill provided the funding that will make a new radio tower possible. The City Commissioners made a point of thanking Congresswoman Lois Frankel for her support in obtaining the monies needed to replace the aging tower. With a population of over 80,000, Boynton Beach noted what a boon the new tower will be to public safety. |
| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer. Inside Towers is a daily newsletter by subscription. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
Rip and Replace Spending Reports Due February 10On January 11, the FCC issued a Public Notice reminding recipients in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (Reimbursement Program) of their obligation to file reimbursement spending reports with the FCC by February 10, 2023. Specifically, recipients that have been notified of the approval of a reimbursement claim request must submit their first spending report on February 10, 2023 through the Supply Chain Reimbursement Program Online Portal. BloostonLaw attorneys are available to assist recipients with filing requirements such as these. BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell and Sal Taillefer. HeadlinesFAA Wants Airline Industry to Install 5G-Safe Equipment by 2024The FAA last week proposed that all passenger and cargo aircraft be required to have 5G-safe equipment by February 2024. This includes installation of C-band tolerant radio altimeters or an approved radio frequency (RF) filter. The requirement is designed to end a dispute between the aviation and wireless industries which has prevented AT&T and Verizon from fully deploying 5G on the C-Band spectrum near certain airports. “Some radio altimeters may already demonstrate tolerance to the 5G C-Band emissions without modification,” the FAA said. “Some may need to install filters between the radio altimeter and antenna to increase a radio altimeter’s tolerance. For others, the addition of a filter will not be sufficient to address interference susceptibility; therefore, the radio altimeter will need to be replaced with an upgraded radio altimeter.” Airplane altimeters rely on a spectrum from 4.2 GHz to 4.4 GHz, but some are not capable of filtering out 5G transmissions from the carriers' spectrum in the 3.7–3.98 GHz range. This led the airline industry last January to warn of “catastrophic disruption” when Verizon and AT&T were preparing to launch C-band 5G service. The carriers voluntarily agreed to delay their C-band deployment near airports until mid-2023 to avoid the possibility of flight cancellations. At the time, the FAA said that airlines must replace or retrofit faulty altimeters “as soon as possible” but the FAA’s notice last week said February 1, 2024, "is the date the FAA has determined to be as soon as reasonably practical, consistent with FAA policy." Out of almost 8,000 airplanes on the U.S. registry, approximately 180 of them would need radio altimeter replacement and 820 airplanes would need radio altimeter filters to be added to comply with the proposed modification requirement. The total estimated cost of this compliance is approximately $26 million. In contrast, the nation’s largest wireless carriers paid more than $80 billion for C-band spectrum plus up to $9.7 billion in accelerated relocation payments to clear the band of satellite incumbents. The C-band radio altimeter debacle led the FCC to adopt a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on promoting improvements in RF receiver performance last Spring. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell FCC Issues Cease-and-Desist Letters to Voice Providers for Carrying Robocall TrafficOn January 11, the FCC announced the latest batch of cease-and-desist letters warning voice service providers to end their apparent support of illegal robocall traffic or face serious consequences. Specifically, FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal wrote to two voice service providers suspected of facilitating robocall campaigns: SIPphony LLC and Vultik, Inc. He wrote, in part: “You should investigate the identified traffic and take the steps . . . , including blocking the traffic if necessary, and take steps to prevent your network from continuing to be a source of apparently illegal robocalls. Failure to comply with the steps outlined in this letter may result in downstream voice service providers blocking all of [the company’s] traffic, permanently.” As we have reported in previous editions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, more than twenty providers have received similar warning letters, and in almost all cases the FCC indicates that the robocall traffic was cut off or the recipients indicated they would be ceasing all operations. Where recipients did not take responsive action following cease-and-desist letters, the FCC has ordered telecommunications companies to stop carrying illegal robocalls from cited providers. There has been no affirmative block recommendation or requirement for traffic from SIPphony LLC and Vultik, Inc. as of yet. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. Comments on ACP Transparency Data Collection Due February 13On January 13, the FCC announced that comments in response to the Fourth Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Transparency Data Collection are due no later than February 13, and reply comments are due no later than February 27. As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the FNPRM seeks comment on the statutory requirement to revise the ACP Transparency Data Collection rules the FCC adopted in the Report and Order to verify the accuracy of the data submitted. Comment is also sought on collecting additional information, including subscriber-level data and data on subscriber interactions with provider representatives. Specific questions posed by the FCC include:
BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. Law and RegulationFCC Extends Online Public Inspection File Deadline to Jan 31On January 6, the FCC issued a Public Notice extending the deadline by which all broadcast, cable, and satellite entities must upload required documents into their Online Public Inspection File (OPIF) to January 31. According to the FCC, the extension is the result of technical issues adversely affecting the responsiveness of the OPIF system. All documents that were due to be placed in an entity's OPIF since January 1, 2023, must be filed no later than January 31, 2023. While the FCC is extending OPIF filing deadlines, the agency encourages licensees to file all documents as soon as practicable. BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer. FCC Establishes Space Bureau and Office of International AffairsOn January 9, the FCC issued an Order establishing a Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs. As a part of this reorganization, the agency will be eliminating the current International Bureau and incorporating that team into the new bureau and office. The FCC will next seek Congressional and other approvals for the planned reorganization and make formal notice in the Federal Register. “The satellite industry is growing at a record pace, but here on the ground our regulatory frameworks for licensing have not kept up. We’re working to change that. Today, we are moving forward with our plan to prepare for what comes next,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “A new Space Bureau at the FCC will ensure that the agency's resources are appropriately aligned to fulfill its statutory obligations, improve its coordination across the federal government, and support the 21st century satellite industry. I also thank my fellow Commissioners for their support.” BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell. IndustryFCC Authorizes RDOF Support for an Additional 1,764 Winning BidsOn January 13, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the authorization of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (Auction 904) support for the winning bids identified here. For each of the winning bids identified, the FCC reviewed the long-form application information, including the letter(s) of credit and Bankruptcy Code opinion letter(s) from the long-form applicant’s legal counsel and, based on the representations and certifications in the relevant long-form application, formally authorized and obligated support. In the near future, the FCC will post a state-level summary under the “Results” tab on the Auction 904 webpage at https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904/round-results. The summary will provide for each long-form applicant included in this Public Notice: 1) the total support amount over 10 years and total number of locations that the long-form applicant is being authorized for in each state, 2) the total number of locations to which the authorized support recipient must offer the required voice and broadband services for each performance tier and latency in each state, and 3) the eligible census blocks included in the winning bids that are being authorized in each state. The FCC included a summary of the various obligations of authorized Auction 904 support recipients, but caveated that this list is not comprehensive:
RDOF recipients with questions about these or other obligations may contact the firm for more information. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. President Biden Weighs in on Big Tech in WSJ Op-EdOn January 11, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed article by sitting President Joe Biden calling for Republicans and Democrats to unite against “Big Tech” abuses. The President called out three specific areas of concern: federal protections for Americans’ privacy; accountability for Big Tech companies for the content they spread and the algorithms they use; and finally, increased competition among Big Tech companies, with added space for smaller operations to compete. The op-ed piece does not address ongoing calls for Big Tech to be required to contribute to Universal Service or other funding programs that support the networks from which they profit. DeadlinesJANUARY 31: Form 855 HAC Compliance Certification. The next Hearing Aid Compatibility regulatory compliance certification, certifying compliance with the FCC’s HAC handset minimums as well as enhanced record retention and website posting requirements for the 2022 calendar year, will be due Tuesday, January 31, 2023, for all CMRS service providers (including CMRS resellers) that had operations during any portion of 2022. Companies that sold their wireless licenses during the 2022 calendar year are still obligated to file a partial-year HAC compliance certifications if they provided mobile wireless service and sold wireless handsets at any time during the year. BloostonLaw has prepared a 2023 HAC Regulatory Compliance Template to facilitate our clients’ compliance with the revised HAC rules. Contact Cary Mitchell if you would like to obtain a copy of the HAC Regulatory Compliance Template. BloostonLaw Contact: Cary Mitchell. JANUARY 31: FCC FORM 555, ANNUAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER CERTIFICATION FORM. All Lifeline Program service providers are required to file the FCC Form 555, except where the National Verifier, state Lifeline administrator, or other entity is responsible. Since January 31 falls on a weekend or holiday this year, Form 555 may be filed by February 1. The FCC Form 555 must be submitted to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) electronically via USAC’s E-File (One Portal). Carriers must also file a copy of their FCC Form 555 in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System, Docket 14-171, and with their state regulatory commission. The form reports the results of the annual recertification process and non-usage de-enrollments. Recertification results are reported month-by-month based on the subscribers’ anniversary date. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and John Prendergast. FEBRUARY 1: FCC FORM 499-Q, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. All telecommunications common carriers that expect to contribute more than $10,000 to federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support mechanisms must file this quarterly form. The FCC has modified this form in light of its decision to establish interim measures for USF contribution assessments. The form contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. Form 499-Q relates only to USF contributions. It does not relate to the cost recovery mechanisms for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP), which are covered in the annual Form 499-A that is due April 1. BloostonLaw contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. FEBRUARY 1: FCC FORM 502, NUMBER UTILIZATION AND FORECAST REPORT. Any wireless or wireline carrier (including paging companies) that have received number blocks—including 100, 1,000, or 10,000 number blocks—from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), a Pooling Administrator, or from another carrier, must file Form 502 by February 1. Carriers porting numbers for the purpose of transferring an established customer’s service to another service provider must also report, but the carrier receiving numbers through porting does not. Resold services should also be treated like ported numbers, meaning the carrier transferring the resold service to another carrier is required to report those numbers but the carrier receiving such numbers should not report them. Reporting carriers are required to include their FCC Registration Number (FRN). Reporting carriers file utilization and forecast reports semiannually on or before February 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending December 31, and on or before August 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending June 30. BloostonLaw contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer. FEBRUARY 1: Live 911 Call Data Reports — Non-Nationwide Providers that do not provide coverage in any of the Test Cities must collect and report aggregate data based on the largest county within its footprint to APCO, NENA, and NASNA on the location technologies used for live 911 calls in those areas. Clients should obtain spreadsheets with their company’s compliance data from their E911 service provider (e.g., Intrado / West). BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell. MARCH 1: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT FORM FOR CABLE COMPANIES. This form, plus royalty payment for the second half of last year, is due March 1. The form covers the period July 1 to December 31, and is due to be mailed directly to cable TV operators by the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office. BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer
Calendar At-a-GlanceJanuary February March Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, & 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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| LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
Hi Brad, I am very sad to inform you that our dear colleague Linda Hoover has passed away after a brief illness. Linda was a great friend to all of us and a tireless support of the CMA. She will be sadly missed by everyone that knew her. Please go to the following link for more details. HERE Best Regards, Jim Nelson
T: +1 678 242 5290 |
LINDA HOOVER OBITUARY
Linda Hoover, age 52, of Wilmington, NC, died on December 15, 2022, due to complications from multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. Her life, though too brief, was filled with love, passion, adventure and was marked by many significant personal and professional achievements. Linda was born on April 25, 1970, in Easton, PA. As a middle child of four, she learned from an early age to make her voice heard, to be resilient and persistent, and the value of teamwork. Even as a child, her exuberant personality exceeded her small stature. These traits served her well as the family moved multiple times-across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York-throughout Linda's childhood. Growing up, she was a successful competitive swimmer and would often recount harrowing memories of her mother's brief coaching stint. During summers, the family would visit relatives at Conneaut Lake, PA, and a small piece of property in the woods of Shanksville, PA, lovingly named Lurland. It was at these special places Linda was first introduced to the thrill of outdoor adventures. Upon graduation from high school, her love of family was tested as her parents and younger siblings followed her when she left New York for college in Blacksburg, Virginia. Linda soon learned, however, that having family close had many benefits for a young college student, such as access to food, laundry services, and the occasional source of bail money. Linda graduated from Virginia Tech with both a bachelor's and master's degree. She loved being a VT Hokie, a source of pride she happily shared along with many of her dearest friends and three generations of family members. After graduation, Linda embarked on a brief but successful career in higher education administration, working at Winthrop University and being named one of the youngest assistant deans at the University of Oregon. In Oregon, Linda's passion for outdoor adventure was reignited. She returned east to become a rafting guide and counselor at the wilderness camp Alternative Youth Adventures. During this time, she met her beloved partner, Jason, formed important lifetime friendships, and reaffirmed that fresh mountain air fed her soul. After moving around for much of her life, Linda was happy to make her home in Wilmington, NC. She became an entrepreneur and established her own conference planning business, Event Planning Solutions, in 2005. Capitalizing on her strength with logistics, she grew EPS into a successful small business and hosted events throughout the country and many international destinations. Linda was active in the community and volunteered her time at the humane shelter and Pawz in the Park. She especially enjoyed spending time on the trails at Blue Clay Park followed by going to one of Wilmington's many restaurants and breweries. Linda created a strong circle of friends that both supported her and that she supported selflessly. She was particularly proud of her partner's many years of service in the Wilmington Fire Department and felt a special kinship within the WFD family. Linda's love of adventure resulted in many trips throughout the country and beyond. She achieved a lifetime goal of visiting all 50 states by her 50 birthday. She enjoyed regular visits to mountain destinations and loved spending time at her family's house at Sunset Beach, NC. Linda was an avid hiker, biker, and swimmer. She often challenged her body-and mind-through a variety of endurance competitions, particularly those hosted at spectacular locations. Among her many accomplishments, she ran a marathon around Kiawah Island, SC, swam around Key West, conquered a fourteener (Pikes Peak in CO), biked from Telluride, CO to Moab, UT, and completed a 28 mile hike in less than 15 hours. Linda was happiest with a dog snuggled by her side. She treasured her years of companionship with her own pups: Anela, Loke, Tasha, and Peanuts. One of her lasting legacies will be teaching her family—particularly her father—the joy provided by loving a furry companion. Linda's final test of endurance was not one of her own choosing, though she handled her April 2022 cancer diagnosis with characteristic grit, grace, and determination. As she documented her journey, she noted the many life lessons that cancer was providing, always searching for opportunities for personal growth. Notoriously stubborn, she learned to be more flexible and to ask for and receive help. Ever the endurance athlete, she walked a marathon through the hallways of the hospital during her bone marrow transplant. Throughout her months of treatment, Linda's dimpled smile and emerald eyes could brighten a room and lift her loved ones' spirits. Linda is survived by her partner, Jason; her parents Mae and Bob; her older sister Lisa and brother-in-law Tony; her younger brother Dan and sister-in-law Laura; her younger sister Katie; her nieces Maggie and Caroline; her nephews Joey and John; and many members of Jason's (very large) family. She is also survived by numerous friends, though several notable friends preceded her in death. Linda was so much to those who loved her: partner, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, confidant, advisor, mentor, dog mama. She is missed. A celebration of life is planned for Saturday 2/4. In lieu of flowers, Linda's loved ones request donations be made to one of the many charitable causes for which Linda volunteered her time, money, skills, and sweat, including: Canines For Service, Inc., Open Gate Domestic Violence Shelter and Service, Inc., Team in Training Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Published by Wilmington Funeral & Cremation - Wilmington Chapel on Jan. 3, 2023. |
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