Pending 800/900 MHz Initiatives 

EWA continues to await FCC action in response to its request for rulemaking to permit the assignment of full-power interstitial channels between authorized 25 kHz bandwidth channels at 864-861/809-816 MHz that was filed two years ago in June 2010.   MORE 

A 900 MHz Case Study - Johns Hopkins Hospital 

The Johns Hopkins Hospital just went live with a state-of-the art, critical alerting communications system that has been installed in its new Johns Hopkins Sheikh Zayed Tower and its Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children's center, a 1.6 million square-foot medical and academic facility. The data alerting technology and infrastructure called SPARKGAP, has been provided by Critical Response Systems and provides service to over 350 employees.  MORE   

Board Authorizes T-Band User Forum 

During its meetings last week, the EWA Board of Directors endorsed the formation of an EWA T-Band Users Forum for the purpose of alerting interested members about news concerning the FCC's efforts to implement the repurposing of the 470-512 MHz spectrum used by Public Safety and the impact that initiative may have on business/industrial and commercial licensees.  MORE 

Delta Narrowband Extension Granted 

The FCC granted Delta Air Lines' request to extend its narrowbanding deadline to December 31, 2013, in order to provide additional time to complete licensing and system narrowbanding of its communication facilities at over 120 separate airport locations. Delta's request for extension was supported by EWA.   

EWA Support Comments    FCC Order 

Non-Compliant Narrowbanded Systems Beware? 

The Land Mobile Communications Council submitted a letter to the FCC in late May advising that, effective February 1, 2013, both public safety and Business/Industrial frequency advisory committees intend to ignore for coordination purposes, including identifying FB8 channels, any license that does not evidence compliance with the narrowbanding requirement and that does not have a pending or granted waiver request for extension on file.  The FCC has not yet responded to this LMCC notification.   

Allocating Interference Rights 

The FCC released a Working Paper entitled "Using a Market to Obtain the Efficient Allocation of Interference Rights".  According to the news release, "The paper shows how the efficient allocation of such rights can arise from a multi-player game embedded into an auction where participants place bids reflecting the benefit or harm they would expect to incur due to signal interference".  MORE  

NY City Transit Authority Requests Narrowband Waiver 

The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) has requested a 42-month waiver of the narrowband requirement - until June 30, 2016.  NYCTA's request stated that it began an extensive, multi-year program to modernize and upgrade the system in 2003, which included procuring approximately 15,000 portable radios capable of operating in narrowband mode.  MORE   

800 MHz Guard Band Interference Protection 

In a response that EWA supports, the FCC stated that it would adopt appropriate rules to protect systems operating in the Guard Band (861-862 MHz) when that spectrum is made available.   Recently, the FCC approved rules authorizing the deployment of broadband technology on 800 MHz ESMR spectrum in response to a request from Sprint Nextel to deploy CDMA technology in the 800 MHz band.  MORE        

Nextel Network to Shut Down Next Year 

Sprint has announced that it will cease operating its iDEN network effective June 30, 2013. Sprint will transition its subscribers to its 3G push-to-talk service called Sprint Direct Connect and noted that this decision may save the company $10B over a seven year period.  Sprint News Release  

Construction Extensions/Substantial Service Requests Denied 

The FCC recently rejected several long-pending construction extension requests or substantial service showings filed by various 220 MHz, PCS, and other licensees.  The FCC determined that construction extensions were not warranted because the licensees had failed to demonstrate that the delays were due to circumstances beyond their control.  MORE    

Data Security Practices 

In a request for comment that could have impact on EWA communications service  provider members, the FCC wants to know about the  privacy and data-security practices of mobile wireless service providers with respect to customer information stored on their users' devices, and the application of existing privacy and security requirements to that information.  The Public Notice asks for comment on the applicability of existing CPNI obligations.   

$4,000 Times Three Unlicensed Channels 

After an extensive investigation and on-site research, the Commission discovered that Aramark was operating 469.9875 MHz and 155.355 MHz at one hospital facility and 464.9875 MHz at another hospital. Unfortunately, these frequencies were not authorized under Aramak's Land Mobile Station license WQFC968.  MORE   

Q:  After we convert our radio system and licenses to 12.5 kHz narrowband use, do we keep the 25 kHz spectrum we were once authorized to use? 

A:  No. A license will keep the identical channel assignments, but will not be authorized to use spectrum no longer in use.  If licensees need additional capacity, requests for additional narrowband channel assignments may be submitted.  

Visit EWA's Narrowbanding FAQ's 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.

Also visit us at these events: 

EWA will be attending the Washington, DC stop of theNorth American TETRA tour, a series of five road shows to be held throughout the U.S. and Canada June 12-21. Visit with EWA staff while you learn more about TETRA.  

SEMSS Annual Meeting 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

June 20-22, 2012  

Learn more