FCC Chairman Ajit Pai today solicited nominations to serve on the agency’s Native Nations Communications Task Force. During remarks at a meeting at the FCC of the National Congress of American Indians’ Executive Council, Mr. Pai noted that the FCC has announced “the renewal of what we call the Native Nations Communications Task Force [TR Daily, Feb. 8] and [is] seeking member nominations.

Originally created in 2011, this latest renewal recognizes the importance of Tribal input on Commission matters that impact Americans living on Tribal lands. I’m grateful to the Tribal officials who have served on the Task Force in the past and encourage you to submit nominations from your Tribes to serve on the latest iteration.”

Courtesy TRDaily

The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau sought comment today on Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend LLC’s request for a waiver to license UHF public safety channels in Minnesota. Comments are due March 16 and replies April 2 in File 0008061316.

The Land Mobile Communications Council has asked  for a meeting with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau “for the purpose of identifying public relations, educational, enforcement and other potential activities that will serve to address the wide-spread use of non-rule compliant wireless devices, whose access, illegal use and distribution has reached epidemic proportions.”

In a letter yesterday to Rosemary Harold, chief of the Enforcement Bureau, LMCC said it suspects “that the Enforcement Bureau is fully aware of this problem which has affected both Public Safety and Business/Industrial wireless sectors. Devices produced in Asia by multiple manufacturers are often sold through the internet, including Amazon, as well as from retail outlets. The accompanying materials note, at most, that the devices have received FCC type-acceptance for use under Part 15 of the rules for amateur operations. In fact, the devices are marketed for use by any entity, for any purpose, complete with programming instructions for operation on any channel from 136-174 MHz and 400-520 MHz without regard or critical information relating to Federal and non-Federal spectrum allocations, user eligibility or licensing requirements. Continue reading →

The diversion by states of 911 fees and surcharges for other purposes remains “a drag on progress,” Lisa Fowlkes, chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, said in remarks today at the National Emergency Number Association’s 911 Goes to Washington event.  In a report released last week, the FCC said that six states diverted 911 funds for other purposes in 2016 (TR Daily, Feb. 7). The total amount diverted by reporting jurisdictions was $128.9 million, or about 5% of the total collected in 911/enhanced 911 (E911) fees that year, the report said.

The states identified in the report as diverting 911 fees for other purposes were New Jersey, West Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and New York. New York was the only one of the six states that did not submit a report to the FCC. But the Commission said that “sufficient public record information exists to support a finding that New York diverted funds for non-public safety uses.” Continue reading →

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SERVICE RULES GOVERNING PUBLIC SAFETY NARROWBAND OPERATIONS IN THE 769-775/799-805 MHZ BANDS.   The Commission amends and clarifies 700 MHz narrowband interoperability and technical rules. (Dkt No.  RM-11433 13-87 06-229 RM-11577 96-86 ). Action by:  the Commission. Adopted:  02/08/2018 by R&O. (FCC No. 18-11).

PSHSB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-18-11A1.docx
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-18-11A1.pdf