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

Over 100 individuals attended last week's EWA-hosted webinar entitled "Do We Still Have a 470-512 MHz Wireless Home?" The webinar reviewed the potential consequences of the enactment of "The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012" specifically on industrial, business and commercial 470-512 MHz licensees, significant tenants of this band that were not specifically mentioned within the Act itself.  The webinar presented both near term and long term alternatives that may be proposed by the FCC as it proceeds to enact this legislation, and also addressed how certain spectrum repurposing approaches may affect incumbent licensees. A copy of the webinar presentation may be viewed at T-Band Webinar.  

EWA Supports CDMA 800 MHz Deployment 

EWA has filed comments supporting Sprint Nextel's proposal to deploy CDMA technology in the 800 MHz band, and in a related matter, also supported Sprint's request that seeks wavier of the 25 kHz channel bandwidth limitation to enable the deployment of 1.3 MHz bandwidth CDMA channels within the 817-821/862-866 MHz portion of the ESMR band in 11 Basic Economic Areas. EWA stated that if the "FCC satisfied itself that deployment of CDMA on EMSR spectrum would not cause harmful interference to other users in the 800 MHz band, then the Alliance believed the public interest would be well-served by the availability of this more advanced technology."    

FCC Freezes Certain 470-512 MHz Applications 

In a Public Notice released late last week, the Wireless Telecommunications and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureaus effective immediately suspended the acceptance and processing of certain applications for 470-512 MHz (T-Band) spectrum. According to the FCC, this action was necessary to "stabilize the spectral environment while the Commission considers issues surrounding future use of the T-Band, solicits input from interested parties, and works to implement the directives" contained within the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.  MORE 

FCC Waives Narrowbanding Obligation at T-Band 

In a related action, and on the same day the FCC imposed its 470-512 MHz application freeze, the agency issued an Order waiving the January 1, 2013, deadline for private land mobile radio licensees in the T-Band to migrate to 12.5 kHz or narrower technology.  MORE 

NTIA Releases Phase II, III Test Plan for Spectrum Sharing 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) test plan for its UHF spectrum sharing pilot program will evaluate the ability of certain spectrum sensing devices/technology to share spectrum with LMR systems in the 410-420 MHz federal band and the 470-512 MHz non-federal band.

800 MHz Application Freeze Extended 

Citing the need to preserve vacant channels for licensees re-tuning their systems in accordance with the reconfigured band plan adopted by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), the agency announced that any new non-rebanding related 800 MHz applications along the U.S.-Canadian border will undergo an application freeze until October 15, 2012.  MORE 

Ted McNaught Elected President of CMA 

EWA's board member Ted McNaught was elected as President of the Critical Messaging Association (CMA). McNaught is the President/COO of Critical Alert Systems, a provider of critical messaging technology to over 500 hospitals across the nation.   CMA Release 

More Vacated Sprint Spectrum 

Because Sprint Nextel did not request a further extension of its obligation to vacate all interleaved 800 MHz spectrum, the remainder of this spectrum will become available for public safety applicants nationwide outside the Canadian and Mexican Border areas.  MORE 

Managing Public Safety's Broadband Spectrum 

The FCC has invited comments on how to implement the legislative direction to effect a transfer of the now 20 MHz of public safety broadband spectrum to FirstNet, the independent agency within NTIA that is charged with designing, building, maintaining and operating the National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN).  MORE 

LMCC Adopts "Adjacent Channel Affected Party" Table 

The LMCC unanimously adopted an "Adjacent Channel Affected Party" table that may be used to determine the availability of exclusive use channels (FB8) channels used in trunked radio communication systems in the VHF/UHF bands.  MORE  

LMCC Pursues Strict Adherence to Narrowband Requirement 

The LMCC plans to officially inform the FCC that effective February 1, 2013, its certified frequency advisory committees will not consider for purposed of identifying the availability of exclusive channels for use within trunked radio systems, any co-channel or adjacent channel incumbent systems that are not in compliance with the FCC's narrowbanding requirements.  MORE 

Jamie Barnett, Chief of PSHSB, Leaves 

Jamie Barnett, Rear Admiral USNR (Retired), Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), will leave his position at the end of the month to return to the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a leading science and technology policy think tank. David Furth, currently a Deputy Chief in PSHSB, will serve as Acting Bureau Chief.

TETRA Community Forms North American Forum 

A community of manufacturers and service providers has formed the North American TETRA Forum. TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) is an open standard for digital voice and data, and is supported by the TETRA and Critical Communications Association, and includes notable EWA members as Hytera and Sepura.   

Google Charged for Impeding Investigation 

Google, Inc. received a Notice of Apparent Liability and Forfeiture for deliberately hindering the investigation regarding their possible violation of the Commission's rules regarding the collection of Wi-Fi "pay load" data.  Pay load data includes "e-mail and text-messages, passwords, Internet usage history" and other sensitive data gathered from users of Wi-Fi networks.  MORE 

 

Visit EWA at these Upcoming Events 

WMSP Annual Meeting

Phoenix, Arizona

May 2-3, 2012   Learn more 

SEMSS Annual Meeting 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

June 20-22, 2012  

Enterprise Wireless 2012 Leadership Summit
Nashville, TN
October 10-12, 2012   Learn more