EWA Requests Clarification on T-Band Order

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May 24, 2012
Volume 6, Issue 11

EWA ON YOUR SIDE

EWA Makes Advocacy Plans at Spring Meeting

EWA's Board of Directors will be convening its 2012 Spring Meeting from May 30-31in Asheville, North Carolina. During its deliberations, the Board will be reviewing a number of critical advocacy issues, including the repurposing of T-Band spectrum at 470-512 MHz and the continued and burdensome FCC freeze on new system applications that seek to use the Industrial/Business 900 MHz band that is now approaching four years. MORE

IN THE NEWS

LMCC Adopts Policy Regarding Non-Compliant Narrowband Systems

The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) has advised the FCC in comments that its Business/Industrial and Public Safety frequency advisory committees, effective February 1, 2013, will essentially ignore non-compliant narrowband systems in the 150-470 MHz bands during frequency coordination analyses. MORE

Motorola Solutions Seeks T-Band Freeze Relief

Motorola Solutions (MSI) advised the FCC in a recent meeting that the agency's T-Band licensing freeze has raised substantial concerns regarding an incumbent's ability to update their communications systems until such time as they may be relocated to spectrum that has yet to be identified. MORE

TIA Seeks T-Band Clarification

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) asked the FCC to clarify that it is "waiving the ban on 25 kHz technologies in radios for use in the 470-512 MHz band portion of the Part 90 VHF/UHF in (equipment) certification applications filed on or after January 1, 2011." MORE

FCC Establishes Rule Review Process

The FCC has released its "Final Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules" in response to a July 2011 Executive Order. The plan establishes a process by which the agency will "periodically review its existing significant regulations to determine whether any such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded or repealed" and includes an inventory of regulations the FCC has already eliminated and some that it is considering jettisoning. This effort is in addition to the FCC's ongoing Biennial Review process.

David Turetsky Named PSHSB Bureau Chief

David Turetsky will be the new Bureau Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), effective the end of May. Acting Chief David Furth will resume his role as Deputy Bureau Chief of the PSHSB. MORE

New FCC Commissioner Goals

FCC Commissioners Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel have released statements about their nominations, revealing their expectations in their new positions. MORE

More Spectrum for Wireless Medical Devices

The FCC has announced that it will consider adopting rules permitting more intensive use of spectrum for wireless medical devices, making the U.S. the first country in the world to dedicate spectrum for Medical Body Area Networks in hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. MORE

FCC Fees Decrease

It doesn't happen often in Washington, DC, but regulatory fees are going down. It was reported in the last issue of Enterprise Wireless Insider™ that regulatory fees for industrial, business, and private carrier applications would not change later in 2012, while, in fact, they will decrease. The fees, effective September 2012, for a shared VHF or UHF channel will drop from $260 to $210; and an exclusive channel in 800 and 900 MHz will drop from $460 to $410.

Federal Agencies Told to Go Mobile

In a press release from the White House, President Obama issued a directive requiring federal agencies to make key government services available on mobile phones within the next 12 months. MORE

NARROWBANDING CORNER

What licensing bands are affected by the narrowband mandate?

On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the VHF 150-174 MHz and UHF 421-512 MHz radio bands will need to stop operating on older 25 kHz technology, and begin using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. The FCC's effort began in the early 90's to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for business/industrial and public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology, once referred to as Refarming, but now referred to as Narrowbanding, will allow for more capacity within the same radio spectrum, and will therefore support more users. After the January 1, 2013 deadline, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.

Visit EWA's Narrowbanding FAQs for more answers to often raised narrowbanding questions. If you don't see your specific question, click on the "Send Us Your Narrowband Questions" link.

EVENTS

Register now for the Enterprise Wireless 2012 Leadership Summit, to be held October 10-12. This annual conference, co-hosted by the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and USMSS, will be held at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, and will feature:

Exhibits of the latest technologies and solutions for your business and customers;
Educational sessions on business practices, spectrum strategies, new regulations;
Motorola Solutions Service Partner Program;
Fall meetings for EDMSSA, GLMSS, SEMSS and WMSP;
Annual EWA and USMSS membership meetings; and
Networking and motivational opportunities with the industry's leading communications sales and service providers, manufacturers, and resellers

Visit the event website for a schedule of events, to register, and to book your hotel. Early registration is $375 for EWA and USMSS members.

For additional information about the conference and information on exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities, contact Elaine Walsh at Elaine.Walsh@enterprisewireless.org.

Visit EWA at these Upcoming Events

SEMSS Annual Meeting

Chattanooga, Tennessee

June 20-22, 2012