"Do We Still Have a 470-512 MHz Wireless Home?" 

EWA will be hosting a free webinar on April 25th at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) entitled "Do We Still Have a 470-512 MHz Wireless Home?"

"The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012" was signed into law earlier this year. Among its critical provisions, public safety licensees operating within the 470-512 MHz band (T-Band) in eleven designated metropolitan areas are to relocate to alternative bands within eleven years with financial assistance provided by the Federal Government. Whether it was unintentional or purposeful, no mention of the fate of over 900 Industrial/Business systems that also utilize this spectrum will be found in the legislation's provisions. The EWA webinar will present both near term and long term alternatives that may be proposed by the FCC as it proceeds to enact this legislation, and will address how certain spectrum repurposing approaches may affect Industrial/Business T-Band licensees. 

This webinar will be hosted by Mark Crosby, EWA President/CEO, and Liz Sachs, EWA Regulatory Counsel. Space is limited - Register Today!  

T-Band Uses Statistics 

As part of it preparation in advance of anticipated FCC proceedings concerned with repurposing the 470-512 MHz (T-Band) band for eventual broadband purposes, EWA is gathering industrial/business (I/B) system deployment statistics.  In the eleven metropolitan areas where T-Band has been in use since the early 1970s, EWA's research indicates that there are 281 I/B entities operating 910 systems employing 7,566 frequency pairs at 410 sites.  MORE 

PCIA Admonishes EWA - Really! 

In an ex parte filing with the FCC, EWA countered PCIA comments that had mischaracterized EWA's position with respect to a waiver request filed by American Time & Signal Company (ATS). ATS' waiver seeks approval from the FCC to license as mobile only private carrier systems, up to 40 watt ERP fixed location data systems that control clock systems that are owned and operated by educational institutions. EWA had recommended to the FCC that rather than waive the rules to accommodate the technical parameters ATS has chosen for its products and customer operations, it would seem a better solution for ATS to conform those operations to the existing Part 90 licensing requirements or modify its products to operate in alternative spectrum.  MORE 

APCO Requests Narrowbanding Break at T-Band 

On March 14th, in light of provisions within the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, that requires public safety entities to vacate the 470-512 MHz band (T-Band) within eleven years, APCO has recommended that the Commission consider modifying its narrowband rules, or adopting an expanded wavier policy to relieve public safety licensees from any obligation to narrowband their existing T-Band radio systems. APCO added that it supports the narrowbanding rules in all other affected band.  MORE 

City of Chicago Seeks FCC Advisory Opinion 

In a March 12th letter to the FCC, the City of Chicago outlined the harsh financial reality of its requirement to vacate the 470-512 MHz band where is has in use over 350 channels. Basically, the City asked what spectrum would be available to accommodate its future requirements and what the source of funding would be for such a spectrum transition.  MORE 

Changes in TV White Space Rules 

The FCC adopted a Third Memorandum Opinion and Order governing its TVWS rules, specifically, increasing the permissible maximum Height Above Average Terrain for sites where fixed devices may operate; modifying the adjacent channel emission limits to specify fixed, rather than relative levels; and increasing the maximum permissible power spectral density (PSD) for each category of TV bands device.  MORE   

Sprint Seeks Waiver to Deploy CDMA 

The FCC is seeking comment on Sprint Nextel's request for waiver to enable it to deploy CDMA technology in the 862-866 MHz band in 11 Economic Areas. If granted, the waivers would be subject to technical restrictions that were applicable to previously granted STAs so as to prevent interference to public safety or other licenses.  MORE 

Public Safety Broadband Interoperability 

The FCC has moved quickly in response to public safety broadband network legislative directives, establishing a Technical Advisory Board for First Responder Interoperability and announcing that there will be a public workshop on the issue on April 23.  MORE   

More than a Dollar Now? 

In a recent Order, Dollar Rent-A-Car (Dollar) was issued a $12,000 fine for operating an unlicensed transmitter on their airport shuttle bus at the San Diego International Airport.  After being advised that its unlicensed operations were causing interference to various airline ground frequencies, and following FCC inspection, Dollar's manager took the next logical step and removed the equipment from service.  MORE 

Visit EWA at these Upcoming Events 

EDMSSA Annual Meeting

Dover, Delaware

April 11-13, 2012.  Learn more  

WMSP Annual Meeting

Phoenix, Arizona

May 2-3, 2012.  Learn more 

SEMSS Annual Meeting 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

June 20-22, 2012