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November 26, 2013
Volume 7, Issue 22

EWA ON YOUR SIDE

Opportunities Abound at 4.9 GHz

It wasn't EWA who claimed back in 2012 that the 4.9 GHz band, a 50 MHz swath of spectrum "repurposed" from Federal Government to public safety use, appeared to be underutilized by the public safety industry. It was the FCC and a number of interested parties, including EWA, which have since supported the notion that eligibility to this band should be expanded to include non-public safety licensees but not commercial entities. Recognizing that the CII community, EWA and FCC sentiment was favoring changes to public safety's grip on the 4.9 GHz band, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) spent half the year drafting a "4.9 GHz National Plan Recommendations Final Report" which the FCC released for public comment. MORE

State of Maine Sticks to Public Safety

In a recent Order, the FCC granted a waiver to the State of Maine to use a public safety one-way paging frequency for two-way communications in its new statewide VHF radio system. The State explained that it was the only licensee in Maine authorized to use the frequency. The FCC agreed this "repurposing" of an available public safety frequency for this purpose was in the public interest. MORE

IN THE NEWS

Admiral David Simpson Named Chief of PSHSB

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced that Admiral David Simpson will be the new Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Chairman Wheeler stated that "Admiral Simpson's extensive experience managing and securing complex and disparate information environments worldwide makes him exceptionally well suited to lead PSHSB." FCC News

ENFORCEMENT CORNER

If Caught - It's Best to Stop Using the Unlicensed Channel

Lakewood Transportation, Lakewood, New Jersey was fined $6,000 for operating on an unlicensed VHF channel after they had previously received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation and after they had filed for and received a proper license on another VHF channel. When the FCC caught them the second time, it was reported that Lakewood tuned their system to their authorized channel before the FCC's agents had left, but by then the FCC had had enough and applied a $2,000 upward adjustment to the initial $4,000 forfeiture on the basis that Lakewood was aware that it was operating without proper FCC authority.

If Transferring Data - Then License Data Usage (And Monitor!)

Maher Terminals, Elizabeth, New Jersey received a Notice of Violation after the FCC had received a complaint of harmful interference. In response to the complaint, FCC agents observed that Maher was not monitoring the channel for communications in progress and was transmitting digital data on their UHF system, but their license only authorized digital voice. Maher was given twenty days to explain each violation and to provide a statement of specific actions taken to correct each violation.

I Was Sick, No My Students Are At Fault, No ...

At first, Glen Rubash advised the FCC on the phone that he would refuse to surrender any equipment located in his detached garage in Manhattan, Kansas that was used to operate an unlicensed radio station on 88.3 MHz. Of course, that was before the FCC actually showed up at his door and later issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $15,000. MORE

Darn Those Former Employees

UNS Electric, Tucson, Arizona was hit with a $25,000 Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for operating pursuant to a license that had been expired for nineteen months. After UNS Electric discovered that its license had expired, they filed for and received a Special Temporary Authority. When asked to explain what happened in a Letter of Inquiry, UNS Electric stated that they continued to operate the station "on a more or less daily basis" with the belief that a former employee had mistakenly indicated that the former license had in fact been renewed. MORE

EVENTS

EWA Webinar Recordings Available

If you happen to miss an EWA webinar, for example the recent Hytera session on TETRA Trunking systems, you can listen to and view a recording here.

Companies interested in hosting a webinar to educate EWA's members and customers about important topics in our industry are encouraged to sign up for the online Enterprise Wireless Solutions Center� or contact Kyle Kaiser, 703-797-5108.

Visit with EWA at these upcoming events:

Great Lakes MSS Association Annual Meeting
Loews Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach, FL
February 6-8
Learn more

International Wireless Communications Expo 2014
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
March 24-28
Learn more

SAVE THE DATE

WELCOME NEW EWA MEMBERS

Area Wide Communications - Medina, TN

Bandt Comm, Inc. - Janesville, WI

Communications Direct, Inc. - Batavia, IL

Northern Door Communications - Sister Bay, WI

Piedmont Communications - Durham, NC

PMC Associates - Hazlet, NJ

Reidy Rhodes & Taylor - Jacksonville, FL

Terrycomm - Melbourne, FL

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