FCC

FCC Tentatively Plans to Consider FirstNet, Blue Alert, Caller ID Items at June 22 Meeting

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June 1, 2017–The FCC tentatively plans to consider at its June 22 meeting three public safety items dealing with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), a new Emergency Alert System (EAS) notification, and the agency’s caller ID rules to help authorities investigate threatening calls. Also on the eight-item tentative agenda released today are items dealing with granting a company access to the U.S. market for a satellite broadband network, facilitating greater consumer choice for broadband deployment in multiple tenant environments, eliminating payphone regulations, and clarifying information that cable providers must provide subscribers. Commissioners also are tentatively scheduled to consider an enforcement action.

In the FirstNet report and order in PS docket 16-269, the Commission tentatively plans to establish procedures for reviewing alternative plans filed by states that want to “opt out” and contract to build their own radio access networks (RANs) rather than have FirstNet’s partner, AT&T, Inc., build them. “The FCC’s Report and Order is an important step in the state plans process and FirstNet looks forward to reviewing the draft,” a FirstNet spokesperson said today.

Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which established FirstNet, governors have 90 days after receiving the FirstNet state plan to notify the government that they want to opt out of having FirstNet’s partner build a RAN in their states. Continue reading →

Small Carriers Seek Indoor 911 Waivers

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May 31, 2017–In separate petitions filed in PS docket 07-114, Windy City Cellular, Inc., and Manti Tele Communications Company, Inc. (d/b/a Breakaway Wireless) have asked the FCC to grant them temporary waivers of the indoor 911 accuracy and reporting requirements because no public safety answering points in their areas have requested Phase II enhanced 911 (E911) service. Windy City operates in Alaska, and Manti operates in Utah.

Courtesy TRDaily

FCC Receives Additional 3.5 GHz Band Applications

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May 31, 2017–The FCC has received additional applications to serve as 3.5 gigahertz band spectrum access system (SAS) administrators and environmental sensing capability (ESC) operators. Today was the deadline for a “second wave” of proposals (TR Daily, April 7).

Last December, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology conditionally approved seven SAS proposals from the first wave of applications (TR Daily, Dec. 21, 2016). Additional applications to be both SAS administrators and ESC operators have been submitted in GN docket 15-319 by Rivada Networks LLC and Nokia, while Fairspectrum LLC and RED Technologies have submitted SAS administrator proposals.

Courtesy TRDaily

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, June 1, 2017

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June 2017 is an important month for Public Safety communications. In the United States we have the Single (State) Point of Contact (SPOC) meeting in Texas where FirstNet, AT&T, and the SPOCs and their teams will gather. Then we have the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) meeting that is billed as the 2017 Public Safety Stakeholder meeting. In France, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) will hold a PTT over LTE plug-test. Each of these significant events and meetings will move us closer to the reality of the FirstNet network deployment. Read on here Allthingsfirstnet ‎

One item that did not make it onto the news listing this week but is very important for public safety. This appeared in Mission Critical and public safety needs to pay close attention to this since the LMCC has filed objections because the satellite industry wants to get 460-470 MHz approved as a Satellite Downlink world-wide. This would elevate satellite downlinks to the status of primary license holder and result in public safety having to worry about interference in one of the most important Land Mobile Radio bands that public safety uses nationwide. The article is here: Mission Critical Magazine Continue reading →

FCC Urged to Permit ‘Surgical Jamming Technology’

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May 30, 2017–The FCC should seek comment in the further notice of proposed rulemaking in its contraband cellphone proceeding on the use of “surgical jamming technology,” according to the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA). In an ex parte filing in GN docket 13-111 commenting on the item adopted in March (TR Daily, March 23),  Leann Bertsch, president of ASCA and director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, noted that state correctional administrators and others have failed to get legislation through Congress to permit states to use jamming technology. The Communications Act bars the use of jamming by non-federal government entities, the FCC has noted.

“I am writing today to ask that you amend your proposed rule to include surgical jamming technology, and to provide stringent measures to ensure carrier cooperation with beacon technology, managed access technology and future technologies,” the filing said. “While there are some risks to uncontrolled or unmonitored use of some jamming devices, those risks can easily be mitigated. Section 333 of the Federal Communications Act does not prevent the FCC from authorizing the use of jamming illegal wireless device signals. Section 333 merely prohibits the ‘willful or malicious interference to authorized radio communications.’ Since cell phones are contraband within correctional facilities, their use constitutes unauthorized communications; jamming those illegal signals could not violate Section 333. Additionally, I am hopeful that you will consider requiring that wireless carriers cooperate and participate in the development of beacon technology, as referenced in your proposed rule. It is my understanding that this technology would use software embedded in phones to provide a 100% solution, while allowing ‘whitelisting’ by correctional agencies as appropriate.

“Finally, as we have learned from multiple deployments of managed access technology, all technological solutions require meaningful carrier action and cooperation; not mere lip-service,” Ms. Bertsch stressed. “As the history of this issue demonstrates, your regulated carriers have proven largely disinterested in solving this critical public safety problem: apparently only the FCC or congressional action will compel meaningful cooperation in the wireless industry.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily

FirstNet Responds to Southern Linc Arguments on Core Network, Other Issues

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May 30, 2017–The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) says it disagrees with Southern Linc’s contention that the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which established FirstNet, permits states to propose alternative plans to deploy both a radio access network (RAN) and a core network.

In an ex parte filing in PS docket 16-269 reporting a meeting with representatives of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FirstNet said it “emphasized that a number of Southern Linc’s concerns are outside the scope of this proceeding and should have instead been raised with either Congress prior to enactment of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the ‘Act’), or FirstNet, the entity Congress charged with taking ‘all actions necessary to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the [NPSBN].’

“Notably, Southern Linc began its most recent filing with a lengthy legal analysis of section 6202 of the Act,  but in that analysis failed to acknowledge the basic and fundamental premise of section 6202, which mandates that ‘[FirstNet] shall ensure the establishment of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network.’  Regardless of this omission, it is disingenuous for Southern Linc to now raise its concerns related to the provisioning of multiple core networks with the Federal Communications Commission (‘Commission’), having failed to do so when FirstNet, the entity tasked by Congress with taking all actions necessary to build and operate the NPSBN, sought comment on this specific question more than two years ago.” Continue reading →

Comments Sought on 800 MHz Waiver Request

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May 25, 2017–The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau sought comment today on an application and waiver request submitted by the Washington County, Ore., Consolidated Communications Agency seeking permission to license two 800 megahertz band business/industrial/land transportation pool (B/ILT) channels. Comments are due June 9 and replies June 23 in FCC file number 0007375570.

Courtesy TRDaily

 

FCC Rejects Miami-Date TIS Application, Waiver

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May 25, 2017–The Policy and Licensing Division of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today denied a waiver request and dismissed an application filed by Miami-Dade County, Fla., seeking authorization to modify its traveler information station (TIS) by expanding its service area. The order in file no. 0007127177 noted that the TIS is situated at Miami International Airport and that the city of Fort Lauderdale submitted a petition to deny.

Courtesy TRDaily

Parties Offer Advice for FCC Action in Broadband Health Care Initiative

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May 25, 2071–Parties are calling for the FCC to take a number of actions as part of its Connect2Health initiative, including making more spectrum available for broadband services, streamlining infrastructure deployment, and modernizing its Rural Health Care Program. The comments were filed in response to a 25-page public notice released in April that solicited views on ways in which the FCC can further the seven objectives of the initiative, as well as on the source of authority for FCC action in these areas (TR Daily April 24). FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced in March that the Connect2HealthFCC Task Force, which was established by former Chairman Tom Wheeler in 2014, would continue its work during his chairmanship, and that Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn would continue to lead the effort (TR Daily, March 16).

The objectives outlined in the April 24 public notice are “promoting effective policy and regulatory solutions that encourage broadband adoption and promote health IT”; “identifying regulatory barriers (and incentives) to the deployment of radio frequency (RF)-enabled advanced health care technologies and devices”; “strengthening the nation’s telehealth infrastructure through the FCC’s Rural Health Care Program and other initiatives”; “raising consumer awareness about the value proposition of broadband in the health care sector and its potential for addressing health care disparities”; “enabling the development of broadband-enabled health technologies that are designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities”; “highlighting effective telehealth projects, broadband-enabled health technologies, and mHealth applications across the country and abroad—to identify lessons learned, best practices, and regulatory challenges”; and “engaging a diverse array of traditional and non-traditional stakeholders to identify emerging issues and opportunities in the broadband health space.” Continue reading →

FCC Issues Non-Compliance Letters

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May 24, 2017–The Policy and Licensing Division of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today released letters of non-compliance to Marion County, S.C.; Pinellas County, Fla.; and Pendleton County, Ind., for failing to comply with the agency’s rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal environmental laws as well as FCC antenna structure registration and licensing rules.

Courtesy TRDaily