FCC

FCC Dismisses Colorado FirstNet Filing

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The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today dismissed as premature a request by the Colorado Public Safety Broadband Governing Body (CPSBGB) that the Commission clarify guidelines and requirements concerning interoperability and roaming between the nationwide public safety broadband network being built by AT&T, Inc., for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and wireless carriers (TR Daily, July 9). The order adopted today in PS dockets 16-269, 12-94, and 06-229, and WT docket 06-150 noted that the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology subsequently asked the FCC not to take any action at this time on the CPSBGB’s filing (TR Daily, July 16).

“Consistent with Colorado’s decision to Opt-In to the NPSBN [National Public Safety Broadband Network] on December 18, 2017, the Broadband Office will work collaboratively with the CPSBGB and FirstNet to resolve the concerns raised regarding interoperability and ensure the Colorado first responder community has access to a state of the art communications system,” the latter filing added. “In light of our dismissal of the Request, we also find the filings by other parties supporting the Request to be moot,” today’s order said. “If other parties have concerns that they believe warrant Commission action, they may petition accordingly.”

Courtesy TRDaily

 

Pai: Wireless Resiliency Framework Needs Evaluation

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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who has criticized wireless carriers’ efforts to restore networks in the wake of Hurricane Michael, said today there is a need to review the adequacy of the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework. “I believe that it is time for a comprehensive reevaluation of the last administration’s Wireless Resiliency Framework,” Mr. Pai told reporters during a news conference after today’s monthly FCC meeting.

Among the questions that should be asked include whether wireless carriers are following the framework, should the framework include backhaul providers, are power companies and wireless carriers communicating effectively, and does the FCC have the authority to ensure there is speedy restoration of communications networks after disasters or should Congress provide additional authority, Mr. Pai said. “These are just a few of the questions that I think need to be asked,” he added.

Mr. Pai visited hard-hit areas of Florida on Friday, and he said he had separate discussions with representatives of the four national wireless carriers, Comcast Corp., and a small fiber provider. He said the carrier representatives said there has been poor communication between carriers and power companies and a problem of fiber lines being cut accidently by power and debris-removal crews. Continue reading →

FCC Adopts 800 MHz Band Item

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The FCC today deleted from its agenda for tomorrow’s meeting an 800 megahertz band report and order and order after it adopted the item on Friday in WP dockets 15-32 and 16-261. The text of the item was released this afternoon.

A fact sheet released when the item was circulated earlier this month (TR Daily, Oct. 2) noted that it:

(1) adds “318 new interstitial channels in the 800 MHz Mid-Band, the portion of the 800 MHz band used most extensively for PLMR”; (2) directs “Commission staff to announce when applications for 800 MHz Expansion Band, Guard Band, Sprint-vacated, and interstitial channels may be filed in the 44 of 55 National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee regions where 800 MHz rebanding has been completed”; (3) declines “to give incumbent 800 MHz licensees filing priority for 800 MHz Expansion Band and Guard Band over non-incumbents after such an announcement”; (4) terminates “the 1995 freeze on inter-category sharing of 800 MHz channels, making it no longer necessary for applicants to seek a waiver of the freeze”; (5) makes “available new 450-470 MHz Industrial/Business Pool channels in gaps located between Industrial/Business Pool spectrum and spectrum designated for other services”; (6) authorizes “trackside boosters on PLMR railroad channels to facilitate communication between the front and rear of trains where direct communication is unsatisfactory because of the length of the train or intervening terrain”; (7) extends “conditional licensing to PLMR stations that operate in the 700 MHz public safety narrowband and the 800 MHz band”; (8) and makes “underused Central Station Alarm channels available for other PLMR purposes provided that the Central Station Alarm frequency coordinator concurs.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily

Florida Cell Site Outages Drop

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The FCC reported today that as of 11 a.m., 5.2% of cell sites were out of service as a result of Hurricane Michael in the impacted area of Florida, down from 5.5% yesterday. But in Bay County, Fla., which includes Mexico Beach, near where the hurricane made landfall on Oct. 10, 29.7% of cell sites remained down. Gulf County was second at 26.1%.

Today’s FCC Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) report also said that no public safety answering points (PSAPs) were reported down this morning and two had calls being rerouted with ALI (automatic location identification). As for cable and wireline system outages, 55,006 subscribers had no service in Florida. Nine TV stations were reported operational, and one was reported out of service. The FCC said that 29 FM radio stations were reported operational and seven were reported out of service. Six AM radio stations were reported operational, while two were reported out of service.

Courtesy TRDaily

FCC Addresses Maine Waiver Request

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The Mobility Division of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued an order and proposed order on modification today concerning a waiver request submitted by the state of Maine seeking an extension of the construction deadline for 10 part 22 paging licenses used in the Maine State Communications Network (MSCommNet), which is a statewide, interoperable public safety communications system.

In the order, the division denied the state’s extension request, concluding that Maine failed to satisfy the construction requirements. Continue reading →

Hurricane-Related Cell Outages Decrease

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The FCC reported today that as of 11 a.m. this morning, 2.7% of cell sites were out of service as a result of Hurricane Michael in the 110-county impacted area of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, down from 3.2% yesterday. The totals for each state were 8.0% in Florida, 0.1% in Georgia, and 0.1% in Alabama.

But in Bay County, Fla., which includes Mexico Beach, near where the hurricane made landfall on Oct. 10, 47.0% of cell sites remained down today. Gulf County was second at 34.8%.

Today’s FCC Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) report also said that no public safety answering points (PSAPs) were reported down this morning and two had calls being rerouted with ALI (automatic location identification).

As for cable and wireline system outages, 103,811 subscribers had no service in Florida, 38,693 had no service in Georgia, and 18 had no service in Alabama, according to the report. Continue reading →

FCC Grants EAS/WEA Test Waiver

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The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released an order today in PS dockets 15-94 and 15-91 granting Routt County, Colo., a limited waiver of the agency’s wireless emergency alert/Emergency Alert System rules to allow a joint WEA/EAS test on Oct. 24 at 8:30 a.m. Mountain Time.

Courtesy TRDaily

Groups Press FCC to Modify 800 MHz Band Item

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Part 90 frequency coordinators are urging the FCC to adopt a Land Mobile Communications Council proposal in the draft 800 megahertz band item that the agency plans to consider at its Oct. 23 meeting (TR Daily, Oct. 16). In an ex parte filing in WP docket 16-261, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, Forest Industries Telecommunications, and the Utilities Technology Council noted that in the draft order, “the Commission was declining to adopt the Land Mobile Communications Council (‘LMCC’) recommendation to use F(50,50) curves to assess both coverage and interference contours for 800 MHz interstitial channel assignments.” They urged the FCC to adopt that proposal.

Courtesy TRDaily

Sprint Seeks Waiver of Rules for IP CTS 911 Calls

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Sprint Corp. has asked the FCC for a waiver of its rules governing IP (Internet protocol) captioned telephone service (IP CTS), similar to the relief requested by fellow IP CTS providers CaptionCall LLC and Hamilton Relay.

In its petition for waiver filed yesterday in CG dockets 13-24 and 13-123, Sprint said that it is in compliance with the requirements in section 64.605(a)(2)(iv) of the FCC rules to deliver “at the outset of the outbound leg of an emergency call: the name of the relay user and location of the emergency as well the name of the relay provider, the CA’s callback number and the CA’s identification number.” However, it said, “Sprint’s experience has shown that adherence to the rules actually slows down the delivery of emergency calls and results in the delivery of unnecessary information.” Continue reading →

UTC Seeks Reconsideration, Clarification of 900 MHz Band Freeze

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The Utilities Technology Council has filed a petition for reconsideration or clarification of a September public notice in which the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announced an immediate, temporary freeze on the filing of applications for new or expanded use of part 90 900 megahertz band channels (TR Daily, Sept. 13).

In its petition in WT docket 17-200, UTC said it “requests that the Commission reconsider or clarify the Bureau’s decision so that the 900 MHz freeze would only apply to applications by entities that are not affiliated with current licensees in the 900 MHz band (i.e., non-incumbents). This would effectively serve the purpose of the freeze by preserving the 900 MHz band and limiting the potential for speculative applications while the Commission considers possible rule changes affecting the band. At the same time, it would enable utilities and other incumbent licensees with legitimate needs for the spectrum to continue to upgrade their networks, thereby ensuring reliable communications and avoiding stranded investment that is currently being made in the band.

“In this regard, it is important to note that proponents of realigning the 900 MHz band likewise suggested in their petition to limit the freeze to apply only to non-incumbents and that none of the comments that were filed in response to the petition supported expanding the freeze more broadly to incumbents,” UTC added. “Finally, it would be consistent with Commission precedent and would serve the public interest, as well as avoid causing undue burden and overbroad application to incumbents in the band.” —Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com