EWA President Mark Crosby and Regulatory Counsel Liz Sachs recently met with  Senate Commerce Committee staff to discuss the FCC's recent decisions designed to "stabilize the T-Band spectral environment" until such time as the Commission determines how to implement critical provisions of the Spectrum Reform Act. The impact of the FCC's recent activities on the operations of Industrial/Business/SMR T-Band licensees and the lack of any known comparable replacement spectrum were covered.  The Senate Commerce Committee staff noted that the FCC had been advised that the legislation was not intended to include the repurposing of Industrial/Business/SMR T-Band spectrum.  EWA will continue its advocacy efforts on behalf of its members who have been trapped within this unfortunate spectrum quid pro quo.   

A Few Waivers Issued for the State of Maine

Some spectrum relief was provided to the State of Maine towards the construction of its statewide, trunked VHF communications system as a result of the FCC issuing waivers that will permit the State to operate on certain Industrial/Business and Part 22 paging frequencies.  MORE 

Spectrum Freezes Have Shelf Lives Longer Than Twinkies 

Proving that spectrum freezes can have shelf lives even longer than Twinkies, the FCC recently denied the State of Ohio's request for waiver of the 1995 (!) freeze on 800 MHz inter-category sharing.  MORE 

FCC Seeks Comment on T-Band Channel Swap Waiver Request 

On July 23, the FCC issued a Public Notice requesting comments on the Township of Woodbridge, New Jersey's waiver request to exchange its existing T-Band channels, which apparently are subject to intermittent interference due to ducting, for alternative T-Band channels.  In response to EWA's clarification request, however, the FCC recently confirmed that the T-Band freeze includes channel swaps even when the total number of channels licensed would not change.  MORE     

T-Band Concurrence is too Late 

In another T-Band freeze related matter, and proof that real life is stranger than fiction, the FCC denied a waiver request filed back in 2007 (!) by Roselle Park, New Jersey seeking three T-Band channels at a site outside the authorized 50-mile radius that also would short-space both co-channel and adjacent channel TV stations.  MORE 

TETRA Decisions Pending

An Order went on circulation at the FCC on July 26 entitled "Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission's Rules to Permit Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Technology." This presumably is part of a 2011 regulatory proceeding during which the Commission proposed to modify its rules to permit the certification and use of TETRA on Part 90 frequencies. Currently, TETRA equipment that does not meet FCC emission and bandwidth limits is allowed to be used pursuant to waiver on 450-470 MHz I/B channels and on ESMR spectrum.  MORE  

NPSTC Creates T-Band Working Group 

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) recently created a T-Band working group to review matters associated with the Spectrum Reform Act, specifically the repurposing of the T-Band public safety spectrum.  EWA was recently asked and agreed to join the Working Group's proceedings.  

The FCC in a recent Order, approved a Wayne County, Indiana Sheriff Department's waiver request that sought authority to use the Industrial/Business low power, telemetry frequency 173.210 MHz for vehicular repeater service (VRS) voice operations. While this news was initially viewed as a major step forward towards accommodating VRS spectrum needs, EWA has since advised several of its members that it would be best to pursue all other alternatives prior to attempting a similar waiver at the FCC.  MORE  

Second Refusal Earns $7,000 Forfeiture

Nine Years of Unlicensed Operations Generates $20,000 Forfeiture

Q:  Will the FCC still accept and grant a waiver requests seeking an extension of the January 1, 2013, narrowbanding deadline? 

A:  They may accept them, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they will grant such requests given the date. In a Public Notice released in July 2011, the Commission provided specific guidance on suggested content and filing procedures.  

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. 

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