FCC

From FCC’s Daily Digest July 26, 2017

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RAVI’S IMPORT WAREHOUSE, INC., DALLAS, TEXAS.   The Enforcement Bureau proposes a monetary forfeiture of $22,000 against Ravi’s Import Warehouse,  Inc., for operating a jammer in apparent violation of Sections 301, 302(b), and 333 of the Act, and Sections 2.805(a) and 15.1(c) of the Commission’s rules. Action by:  Regional Director, Region Two, Enforcement Bureau. Adopted:  07/25/2017 by NAL. (DA No. 17-677).  EB

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-677A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-677A1.pdf

 

House Committee to Hold FCC Hearing

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The House communications and technology subcommittee plans to hold a hearing July 25 on oversight and reauthorization of the FCC. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building and will feature all three Commissioners. “I look forward to having FCC Chairman [Ajit] Pai and Commissioners [Mike] O’Rielly and [Mignon L.] Clyburn join us to testify before the subcommittee next week,” said subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.).

“This hearing is an opportunity for our members to discuss and provide input on priorities for the agency, most importantly, creating the right conditions for expanding broadband’s reach across America. I’m hopeful that this hearing will also allow for a robust discussion regarding efforts to modernize the FCC’s structure and build on the steps Chairman Pai has already taken toward transparency and accountability.” A news release said that “members will consider legislation that will reauthorize the FCC while implementing a number of reforms aimed at improving the agency’s processes and practices. Finally, members will use this hearing as an opportunity to discuss the FCC’s critically important Lifeline program and the needed improvements identified recently by the GAO.”

Courtesy TRDaily

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, July 20, 2017

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MCPTT over LTE and Direct Mode
[Not quite] Mission Critical PTT over LTE is being tested and put into service for live network beta testing. Two things are missing from these trials and tests: a mission-critical or public safety-grade network for the Mission Critical Push-To-Talk application to run over and perhaps more importantly, the way forward to provide direct-mode communications. The UK’s LTE system for public safety to go live in 2020 and replace its existing Tetra system is probably, at the moment, the most robust of the existing LTE networks available.

Recently in France, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) held MCPTT testing sessions and a number of vendors participated to see how well they performed and if they met the 3GPP Release of LTE version 13, which includes specifications for on-network push-to-talk services but does not yet address the issue of direct-mode on and off-network communications. In many instances, direct-mode PTT is as important and in some instances, more important than network-based PTT services. While I recently wrote an Advocate about PTT over LTE and over Land Mobile Radio (LMR) that detailed some of this information, there are a number of things happening in Europe and especially the United Kingdom that could have far reaching effects on how and when PTT services are actually deployed over LTE on and off-network systems.  Read the full blog here Continue reading →

FEMA Plans Nationwide EAS Test September 27

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has informed the FCC that it plans to conduct another nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on September 27. A secondary date for the test would be October 4, FEMA told the Commission in a July 14 ex parte filing in PS docket 15-94.

The second nationwide EAS test was held last September (TR Daily, Sept. 28, 2016). In April, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a report that recommended the agency take several actions in the wake of last year’s nationwide EAS test, including encouraging the use of FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) as the primary source of alerts and examining how to improve and expand IPAWS alert content (TR Daily, Apr. 21).

Courtesy TRDaily

 

NAB Blasts Microsoft TVWS Proposal

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The National Association of Broadcasters today reiterated its criticism of Microsoft Corp.’s call for the FCC to reserve three TV white spaces channels nationwide for unlicensed devices. In an ex parte filing in MB docket 15-146 and GN docket 12-268 reporting on meetings with FCC officials, NAB said that “Microsoft’s proposal will cause direct and immediate harm to translators and low power television stations displaced by the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction.

These stations will need to find new channels in a smaller, more congested television band. Microsoft proposes to remove one available channel that could otherwise be used to keep such stations on the air. Microsoft attempts to dispute this harm by asserting that there will be plenty of spectrum for everyone — but that argument only demonstrates that the proposal is unnecessary. If there is plenty of spectrum for everyone, there is no need to reserve it for Microsoft. Literally the only reason to reserve spectrum for unlicensed use is precisely because Microsoft is concerned there will not be enough vacant spectrum following the television repack.”

Courtesy TRDaily

Parties Disagree on Suitability of FirstNet Interoperability Matrix

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The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T, Inc., FirstNet’s network partner, are urging the FCC to endorse FirstNet’s interoperability compliance matrix. But other parties are raising some concerns about it, or at least that the FCC’s review of alternative state plans will overlap with that of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

An order adopted last month setting procedures for Commission review of alternative state FirstNet plans instructed the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to seek comments on the matrix in an expedited fashion (TR Daily, June 22 and 23).

Congress has charged the FCC with reviewing whether alternative state plans would comply with minimum technical interoperability requirements. If the FCC approves a state plan, the state has to apply to NTIA for authority to secure a spectrum capacity lease agreement with FirstNet. States seeking to build their own radio access networks (RANs) may also apply to NTIA for grant funds to help cover those costs. In reviewing alternative plans, NTIA will seek to ensure that states make five technical and financial demonstrations. Continue reading →

T-Mobile Offers to Pay Costs of LPTV Station Moves from Temporary to Permanent Channels

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T-Mobile US, Inc., announced today that it would help pay the relocation costs of low-power TV stations that can’t relocate to another permanent channel quickly enough to accommodate T-Mobile’s deployment of 600 megahertz band licenses it won in the FCC’s incentive auction. The commitment is the latest T-Mobile has made to help facilitate the 39-month repacking transition.

In an ex parte filing today in MB docket 16-306 and GN docket 12-268, T-Mobile informed the FCC of its commitment to “pay the reasonable costs associated for such stations to move from a temporary channel to a permanent channel. While these stations are required to vacate the 600 MHz band when the broadband provider is ready to initiate service, T-Mobile recognizes that some of these stations may need to move twice, and T-Mobile is willing to go beyond what is required and compensate these stations for the additional move. T-Mobile’s voluntary commitment will significantly ease the burden on these stations and help ensure that their service to the public is not disrupted.” Continue reading →

FCC Releases Revised 911 Reporting Template

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The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a revised reporting template for wireless carriers to use in filing live indoor 911 location accuracy call data reports. The next reports are due Aug. 1. The bureau also reminded non-nationwide carriers that their location accuracy implementation plans and initial reports are due Aug. 3.

Courtesy TRDaily

FCC Urges Adoption of Outages Best Practices

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The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a public notice today urging service providers to adopt best practices to avoid network outages. “Based on submissions to the Commission’s Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) and publicly available data, the Bureau has observed a number of major service outages caused by minor changes in network management systems,” the bureau said in the public notice, which was released in PS docket 17-68. “These so-called ‘sunny day’ outages do not result from a natural weather-related disaster or other unforeseeable catastrophe, and can result in ‘silent failures,’ which are outages that occur without providing explicit notification or alarm to the service provider. In 2014, the Bureau first highlighted the occurrence of major ‘sunny day’ outages affecting users in multiple states. These major outages continue to occur, some affecting users nationwide. Outages that impact 911 service are of particular concern, given the importance of ensuring continuity of 911 service. Continue reading →

FCC Fines Robocalling Platform $2.88 M

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Over the dissent of FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, the FCC today imposed a $2.88 million fine against Dialing Services LLC for “facilitating” unlawful robocalls. Commissioner O’Rielly argued that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s provisions against unauthorized robocalls apply to entities that actually place calls, whereas Dialing Services provided technology and services to customers that actually made the calls.

He said that he did “not have sufficient confidence that some of the allegations [made against Dialing Services] are correct.”  He added that the Commission “seeks to punish a technology and its operator,” rather than the companies making the unauthorized calls.  He said that the technology offered by Dialing Services could be put to legitimate uses, which “opens a huge can of worms.”

Commissioner O’Rielly also said he was concerned about the precedential value of the action, saying that “the guidance provided by this item will affect other technology platforms.” Continue reading →