black line

independent news

black line

FRIDAY — SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 — ISSUE NO. 525

black line

Paging and Wireless Messaging Home Page image Newsletter Archive image Carrier Directory image Recommended Products and Services
imageimageimageimage
Reference Papers Consulting Glossary of Terms Send an e-mail to Brad Dye

black line

Dear Friends of Wireless Messaging,

Greetings from Southern Illinois.

black line

MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR

Lots of rain, but the beautiful fall weather is about to begin.

(Lots of rain = Severe Thunderstorms, Tornado Warnings, and Flash Flood warnings.)

black line

NO OPINION ON THIS TOPIC
(AREN'T YOU GLAD?)

Do you want to read the latest news or views about US politics? You won't find them here!

black line

SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR YOU
(AND ENJOYABLE TOO)

Do you want to read a heart-warming short story that may bring tears to your eyes? Read the short story, in this issue, written several years ago by Ron Mercer.

“TO RUFFIAN WITH LOVE

black line

WIRELESS TEXT MESSAGING CAN KILL YOU
(OR SOMEONE ELSE)

Be sure to read the remarks of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, "No Text On Board."

black line

THE DANGER OF IT ALL
(AGAIN)

My broken record follows this week, right after the article claiming a survey of hospital IT professionals shows texting to replace paging in the next three years. This is important.

black line

LAST WEEKEND A DISASTER

I used to think that a happy life would be one with no problems. Over the years, I have discovered that was an unrealistic expectation. Gaining the “life skills” to deal with problems as they arise is the key.

First my e-mail (brad@braddye.com) account quit working and when I finally sent out Friday's newsletter (a little late) it went out “blind” on a different server, so I had no way of knowing if it had been received by anyone.

Then the company that hosts the whole Paging Information Resource web site (www.braddye.com) told me that they couldn't fix my e-mail account and that they we discontinuing the service of hosting e-mail and web sites.

Now don't get me wrong, iland Internet Solutions (located in Houston and in Europe) is a super company run by a couple of friends of mine and they have given me great service for approximately fifteen years. Not the least part of the greatness was that it was free.

That began a mad scramble to relocate to a new web hosting company and a new server. No small feat. (Somewhere around 10,000 files were involved.) I think on the weekends, the most junior people have to work. Several calls to customer service resulted in long conversations with friendly and courteous young-people who clearly didn't have much experience.

Finally on Sunday afternoon we got everything working on the new site. Hopefully, you won't be able to tell the difference. All the web addresses and my e-mail brad@braddye.com will remain the same. If you do notice anything that has changed, please let me know.

So the moral of this story, “stick with the problem until you get it solved.”

The only negatives are, some subscribers may have been unable to access last week's newsletter, and most of the e-mail messages that were sent to me over the weekend were lost. And, oh yes, my cost of doing business has gone up.

So here's the solution, if you couldn't find last week's newsletter, try again here . left arrow

If you sent me an e-mail, over the weekend, and I haven't responded, please send it again by clicking here .

DISASTER MITIGATED — YEA!

black line

DAVISCOMMS USA

Bob Popow of Daviscomms USA has a new e-mail address. Please update your address book, and thank him for his support of the newsletter.

bobpopow@daviscommsusa.com left arrow

black line

EXPERT OPINIONS

We are fortunate to continue receiving opinion pieces from our industry's leading experts. I draw your attention this week to the following Exclusive to the Wireless Messaging News:

“News and Comment on the FCC's Reform Order” by Vic Jackson, President of Interconnection Services, Inc.

black line

EARLY THIS WEEK

I am sending out this week's newsletter early so I can take a few days off to relax and have some fun. Fun? Remember fun? Even seniors like to have fun!

Now on to more news and views.

Wayne County, Illinois Weather

black line

Wireless Messaging News
  • Location-Based Services
  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Paging
  • WiMAX
  • Wi-Fi
WIRELESS
wireless logo medium
MESSAGING

black line

Wireless Messaging News
This is a weekly newsletter about Wireless Messaging. You are receiving this because I believe you have requested it. This is not a SPAM. If you have received this message in error, or you are no longer interested in these topics, please click here then click on "send" and you will be promptly removed from the mailing list.

black line

About Us

A new issue of The Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account.

There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get readers' comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.

black line

Editorial Policy

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association.

black line

left arrow

You can help support the Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above.

Voluntary Reader Support

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ a copy and they hardly ever mention paging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $25.00 would represent approximately 50¢ a copy for one year. If you are willing and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above.

black line

pagerman

black line

Subscriptions

signup left arrow CLICK HERE

CLICK ON THE LOGO ABOVE FOR A FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

free There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.

black line

lopok

Newsletter Advertising

advertise here

If you are reading this, your potential customers are probably reading it as well.

black line

The Dean Mercer Memorial Fund:

www.DeanMercerMemorial.com left arrow

black line

ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER

black line

Please Support Our Advertisers
They Make This Newsletter Possible

Advertiser Index

American Messaging
Critical Response Systems
Daviscomms USA
Easy Solutions
Hahntech-USA
Hark Technologies
Ira Wiesenfeld & Associates
Ivycorp
Leavitt Communications
Preferred Wireless
Prism Paging
Ron Mercer — Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC
PSSI — Product Support Services
Critical Alert Systems d/b/a Northeast, UCOM & Teletouch Paging
WiPath Communications

black line

From Pagers To Text Messages: Healthcare's Next Security Challenge

Survey of hospital IT professionals shows texting to replace paging in next three years

Sep 25, 2012 | 11:57 AM

By Kelly Jackson Higgins
Dark Reading

Paging all doctors: you'll be checking text messages rather than your pages within the next three years, a new study finds.

More than 70% of IT decision-makers in hospitals in North America say they expect secure text messaging to replace paging in the next three years, as smartphones become more of a tool in the hospital environment. Close to half of the respondents say they expect texting to be used for communicating with patients in the next 12 months, and 65 percent say that will be the case within three years.

"Our 2012 survey indicates that most hospital IT leaders believe text messaging has tremendous potential to impact patient care, extending well beyond care team communications," says Ed Gaudet, chief marketing officer at Imprivata. "Smartphones have the ability to transform healthcare by driving efficiencies in an industry that is undergoing dramatic change in automation. Our research shows that secure text messaging represents a viable option today for meeting the unique healthcare communication needs and enabling more efficient ways to collaborate between physicians, nurses and patients."

But with the convenience comes potential security tradeoffs. More than 95 percent of the hospital IT pros say they are worried about HIPAA compliance and messaging patient information, with 63.9 percent saying they are "very concerned," and 31.5 percent, "somewhat concerned" about it.

More than 70 percent say they already have policies that prohibit patient health information from being transmitted via text.

HIPAA has many hospitals already considering secure text-messaging options. Nearly 42 percent say compliance with HIPAA is the top reason for this, and 30.3 percent say secure messaging initiatives to replace paging is mainly for boosting communications among their healthcare workers.

Only about 20 percent of the 114 hospital IT decision-makers surveyed say they are currently using secure text messaging. Interestingly, physicians for the most part are not requesting it: nearly 65% say their of doctors aren't asking for this feature. Less than 24% say their nurses are asking for secure texting.

A copy of the full "2012 Text Messaging in Healthcare Survey" report is available here for download (PDF).

Source: Dark Reading

black line

Editor's Comments on the Report Above:

Too bad these folks don't read this newsletter. Last week's issue had a major engineering analysis of the issue of emergency communication network traffic by Allan Angus.

pagerman
Your's truly has been on the soapbox about these issues for several years. In fact I have mentioned it so many times, I am afraid that my readers have gotten tired of it. I guess the problem continues to be like "preaching to the choir." The ones who are not reading the message — don't know about this newsletter — and I believe, should know. That is where I need your help. Please recommend the newsletter to your friends and colleagues . . . maybe even to your enemies and competitors as well! If you believe that paging technology still has some advantages over all other wireless technologies, help me get the message out.

Remember none of us are making the claim that paging is the "one size fits all" wireless communication solution, only that it will work when almost all other means of communication that we rely on will not function. That includes, smartphones (cellphones of all types), and conventional wire-line telephones.

Did you ever hear of the old childish prank when a large group of young people got together and agreed that everyone would flush their toilet at exactly the same time and cause a mass flood of the city's sewage system? This is the same principle that is applied to emergency communications, when everyone tries to use a system at the same time, it breaks down because it just wasn't designed to work that way. It was designed to operate in an acceptable manner during the busiest hour (of the day, week, month, or year) for a certain percentage of the total possible users , and no more. This is right out of telecommunications 101. I don't know how so many have missed this important fact.

urban dictionary
Broken Record: One who continually repeats the same statement with little variation, if any. Derives directly from the (slightly inaccurate) term involving polyvinyl record albums, where such a "broken" record would repeatedly skip back a moment in what being played. (The term was inaccurate — usually such skippage was caused by debris on the disc.) [ source ]

The Broken Record definition is for those young people who never had a record player.

My broken record: click, click, click, click. . .

THE DANGER OF IT ALL
The false sense of security * we get when we routinely and casually use our telephones and cellphones, gets totally destroyed if and when we really need to use them. It is truly ironic that when we need them the most, they won't work. Sort of like the sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic.

* To make someone feel safe when they are not.

I can remember reading articles that were published before World War II, warning about the danger of the USA selling tons of our scrap iron to Japan. They gave it back to us!

This is a grossly exaggerated example, but it is possible that if every person in the United States had a pager, a common message (not individual messages) could be sent to almost all of them at essentially the same time.

It would be easy. It's just “common-capcode-group call” that we have been using for years.

black line

black line

Daviscomms USA

black line

daviscomms PAGERS & Telemetry Devices
FLEX & POCSAG

(12.5 kHz or 25 kHz - POCSAG)

br502 numeric
Br502 Numeric

br802 front
Br802
Alphanumeric

tmrp-1
Telemetry

 

Contract Manufacturing Services
Board Level to complete “Turn-Key”

Bob Popow
Scottsdale, AZ
www.daviscommsusa.com
480-515-2344

 

Daviscomms (S) Pte Ltd-Bronze Member-CMA

New e-mail address:
bobpopow@daviscommsusa.com

black line

Daviscomms USA

black line

black line

Easy Solutions

black line

easy solutions

Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.

  • We treat our customers like family. We don't just fix problems...
    • We recommend and implement better cost effective solutions.
  • We are not just another vendor — We are a part of your team.
    • All the advantages of high priced full time employment without the cost.
  • We are not in the Technical Services business...
    • We are in the Customer Satisfaction business.

Experts in Paging Infrastructure
Glenayre, Motorola, Unipage, etc.
Excellent Service Contracts
Full Service—Beyond Factory Support
Contracts for Glenayre and other Systems starting at $100
Making systems More Reliable and MORE PROFITABLE for over 28 years.

Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or e-mail us for more information.

Easy Solutions
3220 San Simeon Way
Plano, Texas 75023

Vaughan Bowden
Telephone: 972-898-1119
Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com
E-mail: vaughan@easysolutions4you.com

black line

Easy Solutions

black line

American Messaging

black line

amsi

black line

American Messaging

black line

black line

Interconnection Services, Inc.
Telecommunications Industry Consulting

black line

Exclusive to the Wireless Messaging News

News and Comment on the FCC's Reform Order

Vic Jackson, Interconnection Services, Inc.

September 26, 2012

Way back last November, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a "Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" otherwise known as the "Reform Order", regarding a bundle of telecommunications industry disputes and issues dating back more than ten years. (Obviously this docket was not part of the Commission's "Rocket Docket" procedures) (See the November 25, 2011 issue of this Newsletter) Of importance to all wireless carriers, the new FCC directive made some sweeping changes to their prior rules regarding reciprocal compensation for terminating voice telephone calls (They eliminated it for wireless carriers in the form of Bill and Keep!) and "clarified" a rule dating back to 1996 that was mostly ignored by the landline local exchange telephone companies, specifying what is, or is not, a local telephone call. The Commission also commented at length on their plans to encourage the conversion of the entire landline telephone network to Internet Protocol (IP) interconnection.

Bill and Keep Reciprocal Compensation

Reforming inter-carrier compensation has been a very controversial issue in the telecommunications industry for many years. The incumbent rural telephone companies did not relish the idea of losing a significant source of revenue. Cellular carriers have been clamoring for years that the fees they were paying to terminate calls stifled the wireless industry. Arbitrage of the various and arbitrary termination fees allowed some inter-exchange carriers (affiliated with rural local exchange carriers) to profit handsomely. The FCC, after ten years of debate and hand wringing, decided that instead of the legacy system where the originating carrier was responsible for all of the costs of transporting calls to the ultimate destination, they would use the Internet model that basically says all carriers connect to each other using a common protocol and interchange traffic without charge to each other. The FCC made the change to Bill and Keep effective July 1, 2012 for wireless carriers, but the conversion to compensation reform for the landline telephone industry will be a nine year process. Oh, by the way, the FCC's "new" way of thinking also created a slush fund (whoops, my error! They call it the "Connect America Fund") to spread the many billions of dollars collected from cell phone users (check your bill for those pesky "fees" and "taxes" tacked on the bottom) around to those poor rural carriers (and maybe some not so poor large carriers!).

The part of the FCC's new order pertaining to reciprocal compensation for wireless carriers, at first glance, appeared to be a negative for the entire paging industry because it mandated a Bill and Keep regime for all call traffic. In essence, this means that any paging carrier that was receiving revenue from the local exchange carrier(s) for terminating paging calls would henceforth get a big fat zero amount. The reality is that most of the smaller paging carriers don't actually receive any revenue for terminating paging calls anyway, so this aspect of the FCC's new order is of no great concern to them. However, some years ago a few of the larger paging carriers cut a "deal with the devil" to avoid litigation and agreed to pay for the LEC network facilities used by the LECs to deliver call traffic to them in exchange for some terminating compensation that roughly equaled the billed facilities costs. This was a reasonable deal at the time but the FCC's new Bill and Keep Order has now made that into an ongoing bad deal. Now, those paging carriers will have to negotiate, and possibly do some litigating, to obtain a new interconnection agreement that specifies LEC responsibility for facilities on their side of the point of interconnection, if they want to avoid ongoing monthly charges for what is lawfully part of the LEC network. Cellular carriers, on the other hand, will be benefiting greatly from the Bill and Keep regime because they no longer have to pay the landline companies for terminating mobile to land calls. Statistically, the cellular carriers originate in the neighborhood of sixty to seventy percent of the exchanged call traffic with LECs, so the Bill and Keep regime will result in a net savings. The new Bill and Keep regime was to go into effect on July 1, 2012, but many cellular carriers are still negotiating with the landline telephone companies over the details of the new "Local Calling" rules as described below.

"Local" Calling and the MTA Rule

Of great importance to all wireless carriers, their subscribers and the people who call wireless phones or pagers from a landline phone, is the FCC's "clarification" of their long standing Major Trading Area (MTA) rule in the Reform Order. One of the wireless industry's major issues involving the definition of a local call was resolved in the FCC's 1996 Local Competition Order when the Commission declared that the geographic local calling area for a wireless carrier would be the MTA, one of fifty-one large geographic areas dividing up the USA and US Territories. Most MTAs encompass parts of several states. Based on a plain reading of the Commission's Orders, both past and present, the local exchange area for a telephone number assigned to a pager or cell phone is the MTA. This is not new news. What is new and interesting is that the FCC reiterated in their Order that the MTA rule is "without exception", meaning ostensibly, that the rule applies to both mobile-to-land calls and land-to-mobile calls. The Commission also commented extensively on their authority to preempt state commissions on this call rating issue (i.e. the criteria used to determine whether a call is local or toll) (For more detail on this see FCC 11-161, Paragraphs 979, 992 and 993). Currently, most LECs are, and have been, treating calls that were dialed to numbers outside of their state approved local exchange area as chargeable (to the landline caller) toll calls. The FCC's new Order clearly states that all Intra-MTA calls to or from wireless carriers are "non-access" meaning they are not toll calls and are to be treated and billed as local calls. This reiteration of an old rule has some far reaching implications. For example, the Los Angeles MTA is a very large geographic area covering approximately the southern half of the states of California and Nevada along with the northwest corner of Arizona. A paging or cellular carrier based in Los Angeles can, according to the FCC Order, expect that a landline telephone, or for that matter any wireless phone in Los Angeles or Las Vegas or San Diego, or in all places in between, should be able to dial a pager or cellular telephone number as a local, non-toll, call. One of the more interesting aspects of the "clarified" wireless local calling area is that (in theory at the moment, because this aspect of the FCC's rules is still being debated) a paging or cellular carrier could now utilize just one NPA-NXX code and have toll-free calling from all landline local exchanges throughout an entire MTA. It will be interesting to see how this new FCC "clarification" of local calling will play out in the real world of rural local exchange carriers, cellular companies faced with some head scratching routing issues, Inter-Exchange companies losing some lucrative revenue, state utility commissions that do not like to be "preempted" by a Federal agency, and a whole new meaning for "local" calling. Who knows, maybe this local calling issue will have to go through the US Supreme Court before it becomes a reality throughout the land.

IP Interconnection

IP stands for Internet Protocol, the system used by the Internet to send data packets that collectively can contain all manner of data including text, voice, pictures and video .

The FCC's new Order extensively discusses a future conversion to change the entire USA public telephone network to IP-to-IP interconnection between carriers. This development should be of great interest to paging carriers, especially in conjunction with the MTA rule discussed above, because it could radically decrease their interconnection costs, allow new services and create new markets for the traditional pager or a new breed of pager. Currently, paging carriers physically connect with LECs using either old fashioned analog phone lines or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), a 1950's era protocol, otherwise known as T-1 or DS-1 to send voice or modem data destined for paging receivers. Previously, the Local Exchange Carriers have refused to consider connecting with paging or cellular carriers using IP interconnection.

IP interconnection does not mean that a paging operator would necessarily interconnect with an LEC using the public Internet although that would be technically possible and may be the de facto connection method in the not too distant future. More likely, at least in the short term, an LEC would connect to a paging system using IP over a dedicated circuit similar to the way TDM or analog is sent now. Obviously, a paging system would require a paging switch that is capable of receiving IP call traffic and processing calls. The technical folks will have to weigh in on this issue, but it appears the conversion of a legacy paging switch to IP could be as simple as plugging in a new "trunk" card or might involve a separate "converter" box to change the IP calls to legacy signaling protocols. Or perhaps one could purchase a new paging switch, such as the Prism IP Message Gateway advertised in this newsletter that allows direct IP interconnection and does some other wonderful things for your telecommunications business as well.

An IP connected paging switch could receive Caller ID, Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and other information currently contained in the Common Channel Signaling, Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol via the IP connection. SS7 is not directly available in the analog or TDM connections currently in use by paging systems. The calling telephone line information could be useful in providing selective paging or automatic "tone only" paging where any caller can simply dial the pager number and then hang up the phone to get a call back. Think of caller ID on each page you receive and what revenue generating uses this might have.

Additionally, if one were to think out of the box, you could imagine an IP pager that instead of using POCSAG or FLEX signaling protocol, the pager would respond directly to an IP address sent via one-way TCP/IP packet data over the air. Crazy as it seems, packet to a pager could be an interesting device. The pager would be able to display text, pictures, even video. An IP pager could then be built into devices that need synchronization, status updates or control. Think of situations where a bunch of devices need to be turned on or off at the same time and the Internet is not an option. How about simultaneous video to a zillion street signs?

The FCC's recent orders are slated to have a significant impact on the telecommunications industry. All indications point to a new order of business. Paging operators might be well pressed to make a great leap into the future of IP connections and the changing telephone network.

black line

2377 Seminole Dr. • Okemos MI  48864 • Telephone 517-381-0744
E-Mail vic@interconnectionservices.com

black line

Product Support Services, Inc.

black line

 

Wireless and Cellular Repair — Pagers, Coasters, Handsets, Infrastructure and other Electronics

pssi logo

pssi

repairmanrepairman

Product Support Services, Inc.

511 South Royal Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 462-3970 Ext. 261
sales@pssirl.com left arrow
www.pssirl.com left arrow

PSSI is the industry leader in reverse logistics, our services include depot repair, product returns management, RMA and RTV management, product audit, test, refurbishment, re-kitting and value recovery.

PSSI Offers Customers —

  • Centralized Returns and Repair Services at our 125,000 Sq. Ft. Facility, in a Triple Free Port Zone, 3 Miles North of DFW Airport.
  • Experience, PSSI repairs 5,000 units a day and has capacity for more.
  • ISO9001:2008 Certified Operation, with integrated Lean Manufacturing processes and systems for best-in class performance and turn-times.
  • Authorized Service Center for Level I, II and III Repair by a wide variety of OEMs including LG, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia and others.
  • State-of-the-art facility for multiple wireless test environments, including infrastructure and board-level test and repair capabilities.
  • Serialized Tracking through PSSI’s proprietary Work-In-Process (WIP) and shop floor management system PSS.Net. This system allows PSSI to track each product received by employee, work center, lot, model, work order, serial number and location, tracking parts allocated, service, repair and refurbishment actions through each stage of the reverse logistics process. Access to order status and repair reports can be transmitted electronically in formats like FTP, EDI, API, XML or CSV.
  • Expertise, PSSI’s executive team has 125+ years of industry experience.

black line

RIM says subscriber base grows to 80 mln; shares climb

By Poornima Gupta
SAN JOSE | Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:13pm IST

(Reuters) — Research In Motion Ltd said on Tuesday its BlackBerry subscriber base has risen to 80 million from the 78 million it reported earlier this year, surprising many on Wall Street and sending its shares up more than 3 percent.

Most analysts had expected RIM, for the first time in its history, to begin losing subscribers in the recently completed quarter as it has rapidly lost market share in North America to Apple's snazzier iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy devices.

RIM has been completely focused in recent months on launching its new line of completely revamped smartphones that will run on the new BlackBerry 10 operating system. Its aging line-up of devices, currently on the market, have struggled to compete against the recently launched iPhone 5 and a slew of new Android devices.

RIM Chief Executive Thorsten Heins, addressing a gathering of developers in San Jose, California on Tuesday, said despite these challenges the company was able to add subscribers in the quarter ended September 1.

Even as it has ceded ground in the crucial North American market, RIM still has been able to lure buyers with its lower-end devices in emerging markets, where consumers are much more price conscious and where RIM's much-admired BlackBerry messaging platform gives it a big edge.

But growth from last quarter's base of roughly 78 million subscribers may come at a price, with gains skewed toward lower-end devices. That will hurt the closely watched average selling price.

RIM is expected to announce results for its fiscal second-quarter on Thursday.

The company's Toronto-listed shares rose 3 percent to C$6.37 in midday trading, while its Nasdaq-listed shares rose 5 percent to $6.60.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

Heins said the company is also getting positive feedback on its new BlackBerry 10 devices from the carriers that have had previews of the new smartphones.

"We are making believers out of our partners. We are making believers out of those who had previously written BlackBerry off," Heins said.

"BlackBerry 10 is our most important launch ever. And it is the most exciting launch I have ever led in my career," he said.

The BB10 devices, set to be launched in early 2013, will run on a new operating system that RIM says will offer a faster and smoother user interface, and a better platform for apps that are critical to a smartphone's success.

At an extended demonstration, RIM executives showed off the new devices' 'flow' and 'peak' features, which enable users to access important features without leaving the current application or to move quickly to another function.

"The user experience is unique. I think sufficient initial developer support is assured," said CCS Insight mobile analyst John Jackson.

"The question now is whether the devices will be sufficiently competitive and that is in no small way a function of RIM's ability to spend massive marketing dollars to cut through the competitive noise," said Jackson, who is attending the event.

($1=$0.98 Canadian)

Source: Reuters

black line

LEAVITT Communications

black line

its stil here

It's still here — the tried and true Motorola Alphamate 250. Now owned, supported, and available from Leavitt Communications. Call us for new or reconditioned units, parts, manuals, and repairs.

We also offer refurbished Alphamate 250’s, Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging!

E-mail Phil Leavitt ( pcleavitt@leavittcom.com ) for pricing and delivery information or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

black line

Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

leavitt logo

7508 N. Red Ledge Dr.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
www.leavittcom.com

black line

PREPARED REMARKS OF FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
'NO TEXT ON BOARD' PLEDGE DAY EVENT, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

We're here today to talk about the dangers of texting and driving, but before I do, I want to be clear that mobile communications have changed our lives for the better in many profound, important ways.

Mobile phones are the most widely adopted technology in human history because of the value they provide.

In the U.S., there are more connected mobile phones than there are people — the majority of which are now smartphones.

Most of us can't imagine life without our mobile phone.

We rely on them to stay connected to family, friends and work, to stay informed, to participate in our democracy.

With the apps revolution, we now also use our phones in ways few could have imagined 5 years ago — whether it's a health care app to help a diabetic check her insulin levels, an education app to help kids with their schoolwork, or an energy app to help manage the smart appliances in your home.

These mobile marvels not only improve our lives, they improve our economy.

The U.S. has regained the global lead in mobile.

Mobile innovation has created nearly 1.6 million U.S. jobs over the past 5 years.

And all indications are that this sector will only continue to grow.

New technological innovations like mobile communications are creating new opportunities.

But they also are creating new challenges.

Texting and driving is one of those challenges. And a very, very serious one.

You've heard the numbers.

People who drive while texting are 23 times more likely to have an accident than a non-distracted driver.

An estimated 160,000 accidents were caused by texting and driving in 2010, and 11 percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who were involved in an automobile accident and survived admitted they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed.

More than 3,092 people lost their lives in 2010 as a result of distracted driving.

More than 3,000 people. That's more than 51 city buses full of people.

Text messaging allows people to stay in touch anytime, anywhere.

But anytime, anywhere should not extend to when you're behind the wheel.

These deaths and injuries are tragic and preventable.

How do we stop them?

Three things.

First, let's change the laws.

President Obama has made combating distracted driving a national priority.

In 2009 he issued an Executive Order banning federal employees from texting while driving.

At the FCC, consistent with President Obama's Executive Order on distracted driving, we've made it official agency policy to prohibit employees from texting while driving on the job and when using government vehicles.

And thanks to the leadership of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the number of states with distracted driving laws on the books has more than doubled, from 18 states in 2009 to 39 states today.

Let's convince the remaining 11 states to make it unanimous.

Second, this problem that sprang from technology requires technological solutions.

In 2009, I challenged our nation's innovators and entrepreneurs to develop technological tools and services to mitigate the problem of distracted driving.

At the FCC, we convened a workshop to spur action.

And we're beginning to see a wave of innovation.

Answering the challenge, wireless carriers, handset designers, software developers and automobile manufacturers are developing technological tools and services to decrease distractions to help keep our roads safe, some of which are operational already, with more to come.

AT&T just launched a new mobile application called "DriveMode" that prevents incoming telephone calls or text messaging while driving, while sending auto-reply notifications to anyone trying to contact the driver.

Sprint and T-Mobile also offer services that automatically disable text messaging when a cell phone is moving at car-like speeds.

Other new apps that block texting or web surfing when a phone is in motion — such as iZup, tXtBlocker, ZoomSafer and CellSafety — are available for download now.

New products also aim to minimize in-car distractions by taking devices out of the hands of drivers.

Products such as Apple's Siri, Samsung's Galaxy and a mobile app called Vlingo enable consumers to interact with their smartphones using only their voice.

I encourage innovators to develop new, creative solutions that build on this progress. And I encourage drivers to use these solutions.

The lives that are saved could be our parents', our children's, our friends'.

Third, and most important, we need to change social norms around texting and driving.

Who here watches Mad Men?

I can't even begin to remember how many times Don Draper — the show's main character — has gotten behind the wheel when he's three sheets to the wind.

People who are familiar with the show know how ridiculous those scenes seem.

What's ridiculous is that it was socially acceptable for people to do this.

We need to get to the point where watching somebody text and drive seems just as outrageous and anachronistic as seeing Don Draper downing a bottle of whiskey during his evening commute.

Laws and technology are necessary but not sufficient.

We need social norms to change.

We need to make texting and driving as unacceptable as drunk driving.

Changing social norms starts with better public education.

The FCC, along with the Department of Transportation and other government agencies, has been working to educate the public about the dangers of texting and driving through every means we can think of.

We have encouraged the wireless industry to follow suit, and they have.

A growing number of drivers are getting the message.

An encouraging new trend among some teen drivers is having a "designated texter" in the vehicle when they go out. Let's get all drivers on board.

Another important and very encouraging development is AT&T's new "It Can Wait" initiative.

This effort is about action as well as education.

It's my pleasure to stand with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, and George Washington University President Steven Knapp and call on all Americans to pledge never to text and drive.

You can do this at ItCanWait.org .

I've taken the pledge, and then asked every employee at the FCC to do the same.

It took some time to get the message about drinking and driving to sink in.

In the United States, the number of drunk driving deaths is less than half what is used to be, even as our population has grown.

It took laws, ads, and a widespread change in social norms.

It took a lot of work, and there's more to do to further reduce drunk driving.

We need to tackle texting and driving with the same urgency and purpose.

Texting and driving can wait.

Tackling this issue can't.

Source: FCC.gov

black line

black line

IVYCORP

black line ivytalk

black line

IVYCORP

black line

Consulting Alliance

black line

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects. Click here left arrow for a summary of their qualifications and experience. Each one has unique abilities. We would be happy to help you with a project, and maybe save you some time and money.

black line

Consulting Alliance

black line

 

 

advertise

black line

Preferred Wireless

black line

preferred logo

Terminals & Controllers:
1Motorola ASC1500
2GL3100 RF Director 
7SkyData 8466 B Receivers
1GL3000L Complete w/Spares
1GL3000ES Terminal
2Zetron 2200 Terminals
 Unipage—Many Unipage Cards & Chassis
Link Transmitters:
4Glenayre QT4201 & 6201, 25 & 100W Midband Link TX
2Glenayre QT6201 Link Repeater and Link Station in Hot Standby
1Glenayre QT6994, 150W, 900 MHz Link TX
3Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
2Motorola 30W, Midband Link TX (C42JZB6106AC)
2Eagle Midband Link Transmitters, 125W
5Glenayre GL C2100 Link Repeaters
VHF Paging Transmitters
6Glenayre GLT8411, 250W, VHF TX
3Motorola VHF 125W Nucleus NAC Transmitters
12Motorola VHF 350W Nucleus NAC Transmitters
10Motorola VHF 350W Nucleus C-Net Transmitters
3Motorola PURC-5000, VHF, 350W, ACB Control 
UHF Paging Transmitters:
20Glenayre UHF GLT5340, 125W, DSP Exciter
3Motorola PURC-5000 110W ACB Transmitters
900 MHz Paging Transmitters:
3Glenayre GLT 8600, 500W
2Glenayre GLT8200, 25W (NEW)
15Glenayre GLT-8500 250W
2Motorola Nucleus 900MHz 300W CNET Transmitters

SEE WEB FOR COMPLETE LIST:

www.preferredwireless.com/equipment left arrow

Too Much To List • Call or E-Mail

Rick McMichael
Preferred Wireless, Inc.
10658 St. Charles Rock Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63074
888-429-4171 or 314-429-3000
rickm@preferredwireless.com left arrow

black line

Preferred Wireless

black line

preferred wireless

black line

black line

UCOM Paging

black line

satellite dish ucom logo

Satellite Uplink
As Low As $500 /month

  • Data input speeds up to 38.4 Kbps
  • Dial-in modem access for Admin
  • Extremely reliable & secure
  • Hot standby up link components

Knowledgeable Tech Support 24/7

Contact Alan Carle Now!

1-888-854-2697 x272
acarle@ucom.com www.ucom.com

black line

UCOM Paging

black line

subscribe free

black line

HAHNTECH USA

black line

hahntech
 
www.hahntechUSA.com

black line

HAHNTECH USA

black line

black line

Selected portions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, a newsletter from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP are reproduced in this section with the firm's permission.

black line

Sec. 706 Continues To Be Manipulated To Promote Deregulation, Broadband

Comments have been filed in the FCC's Telecommunications Act Section 706 Notice of Inquiry (NOI) concerning the current state of the broadband market (GN Docket No. 12-228). Section 706 directs the FCC to determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a timely and reasonable manner. If the FCC finds that broadband deployment is not timely and reasonable, then the FCC is directed to take action to accelerate deployment by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.

In the last three Section 706 reports, the FCC has found that advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed in a timely and reasonable manner. The FCC has used this finding to justify its restructuring of Universal Service Fund (USF) support in the USF/ICC Order and to promote its broadband agenda.

In the current proceeding, NTCA and OPASTCO filed comments criticizing the FCC for "erect[ing], rather than remov[ing], barriers to further broadband investment and deployment by rural local exchange carriers through its changes to universal service and inter-carrier compensation (ICC) rules," without explaining "how RLECs [rural local exchange carriers] are expected to maintain current networks and affordable rates, much less expand broadband availability, while the cost recovery mechanisms they rely upon are subject to cuts and caps that are at odds with the Commission's mandate to establish universal service mechanisms that are sufficient and predictable."

Commenters, including the US Telecom Association, AT&T and CTIA, also have criticized the FCC's position that broadband deployment is not timely. However, USTelecom argues that if the FCC continues to insist that broadband deployment is not timely and reasonable, it should remove legacy regulations, which are barriers to infrastructure investment. AT&T argues that the FCC should set a date to sunset the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and eliminate carrier of last resort (COLR) and eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) obligations.

Other commenters, like the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), agree with the Commission's conclusion that broadband has not been deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely manner. In the case of WISPA, this argument then leads to its request that the Commission promote broadband by making more unlicensed spectrum available for fixed broadband; further limit support where there is an unsubsidized competitor; and not require broadband providers that are ineligible to receive Connect America Fund (CAF) funds to contribute to the fund.

In short, the Section 706 proceeding has become a vehicle to promote any agenda and, as a result, participation in the proceeding is critical. Accordingly, we are looking toward preparing reply comments in this proceeding to support the interests of our clients. We encourage you to take a hard look at the document. Reply comments in this GN Docket No. 12-228 proceeding are due October 22.

LAW & REGULATION

FCC WORKSHOP ON TEST BED TO IMPROVE INDOOR LOCATION ACCURACY FOR WIRELESS 9-1-1 CALLS: The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will host a workshop focusing on the upcoming Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) test bed, and issues related to improving indoor location accuracy for wireless 9-1-1 calls. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters, located at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington, DC 20554.

FCC DEFENDS DECISION TO GRANT LIGHTSQUARED WAIVER: Julius Knapp, Chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), and Mindel De La Torre, Chief of the International Bureau (IB), last week submitted a joint statement to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in defense of the Commission's decision to grant LightSquared a conditional waiver to allow terrestrial-only devices on its hybrid satellite-terrestrial network. And as FierceWireless has reported, the FCC said that the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) industry did not raise their concerns that GPS receivers would be overloaded with LightSquared's signals from its 1.6 GHz L-band spectrum until months before the waiver was granted. The FCC said that the GPS industry did not raise their concerns in the months leading up to the grant of the waiver. The FCC said the interference resulted from unfiltered or poorly filtered GPS legacy devices bleeding into the spectrum LightSquared had licensed, with the result being receiver overload. Therefore, the Commission said, the interference was not from L-band users emitting signals into the GPS spectrum but rather from legacy GPS devices listening into the band next to them, effectively treating the GPS spectrum and the L-band spectrum as one band. Last February, the FCC revoked the waiver for LightSquared to build a wholesale Long Term Evolution (LTE) network due to the GPS interference concerns related to the spectrum, a move that subsequently forced LightSquared into bankruptcy. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC LAUNCHES UNLICENSED WIRELESS MICROPHONE REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN EAST COAST REGION: The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) have announced the launch of the new unlicensed wireless microphone registration system. This registration system will enable qualifying parties to register major event/production venues with the TV bands database systems so that operations of unlicensed wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary station devices at specified times will be protected from potential interference caused by other unlicensed devices ("white space devices") that also may operate on unused broadcast TV channels. The registration system is available online at http://www.fcc.gov/uls/login . At this time, the FCC is only accepting applications for registration for venues located in one of the following States (plus Washington D.C.) in the East Coast region — New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and North Carolina. Once the FCC determines that the system is functioning properly, it will open up registrations for all of the other regions of the country. The Commission anticipates opening up registration across the country later in the fall, and will announce this process in a subsequent public notice. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, Richard Rubino, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC SAYS IT WILL IMPLEMENT mHEALTH TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS: On September 24, 2012, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced FCC plans to act on recommendations from a new mHealth Task Force report unveiled at an event hosted at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Chairman Genachowski also announced that the FCC would collaborate with its federal partners and the private sector to make mHealth technology a routine medical best practice within five years. At the event, the mHealth Task Force released its report outlining recommendations to the FCC, other federal agencies, and to industry, to accelerate the adoption of mHealth technologies for improved health outcomes and reduced costs across the health care system. The independent mHealth Task Force released its recommendations to the FCC, other federal agencies, and to industry, with the goal of making mHealth a routine medical best practice by 2017. Recommendations include actions to increase inter-agency collaboration and information sharing, expand on existing programs to encourage mHealth adoption, and build on government and industry efforts to increase capacity, reliability, interoperability, and safety of mHealth technologies. The report can be accessed at: http://www.itif.org/events/recommendations-mhealth-task-force.

FBI WANTS NEW INTERNET SURVEILLANCE LAWS: FBI Director Robert Mueller has renewed his request for new Internet surveillance laws. In prepared testimony, Mueller told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Affairs that technological advances hinder surveillance and warned that companies should be required to build in back doors for police. He said that "as technology advances, both at the FBI and throughout the nation, we must ensure that our ability to obtain communications pursuant to court order is not eroded. The increasingly mobile, complex, and varied nature of communication has created a growing challenge to our ability to conduct court-ordered electronic surveillance of criminals and terrorists. Many communications providers are not required to build or maintain intercept capabilities in their ever-changing networks. As a result, they are often not equipped to respond to information sought pursuant to a lawful court order." He warned that the gap between technology and the law means that law enforcement is increasingly unable to access the information it needs to protect public safety and the evidence it needs to bring criminals to justice.

DEADLINES

FEBRUARY 1: FCC FORM 502, NUMBER UTILIZATION AND FORECAST REPORT. Any wireless or wireline carrier (including paging companies) that have received number blocks—including 100, 1,000, or 10,000 number blocks—from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), a Pooling Administrator, or from another carrier, must file Form 502 by February 1. Carriers porting numbers for the purpose of transferring an established customer's service to another service provider must also report, but the carrier receiving numbers through porting does not. Resold services should also be treated like ported numbers, meaning the carrier transferring the resold service to another carrier is required to report those numbers but the carrier receiving such numbers should not report them. Reporting carriers are required to include their FCC Registration Number (FRN). Reporting carriers file utilization and forecast reports semiannually on or before February 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending December 31, and on or before August 1 for the preceding six-month reporting period ending June 30.

Source: BloostonLaw Telecom Update Vol. 15, No. 34 September 26, 2012

 

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm. For additional information, contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or halmor@bloostonlaw.com

black line

VOLUNTARY NEWSLETTER SUPPORTERS BY DONATION

black line

Kansas City

mobilfone

Newsletter Supporters

mobilfone

black line

gcs logo

Newsletter Supporter

black line

CANYON RIDGE Communications

canyon ridge

Premium Newsletter Supporter

black line

ProPage Inc.

propage

Newsletter Supporter

black line

black line

Communication Specialists

communication specialists

Newsletter Supporter

black line

Cook Paging

cook paging

Newsletter Supporter

black line

MethodLink

methodlink

Newsletter Supporter

black line

PAGE ONE OF WYOMING

page one wyoming

Newsletter Supporter

black line

black line

FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

black line

Complete Technical Services For The Communications and Electronics Industries Design • Installation • Maintenance • Training • Engineering • Licensing • Technical Assistance

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Registered Professional Engineer

Tel/Fax: 972-960-9336
Cell: 214-707-7711
Web: IWA-RADIO.com
7711 Scotia Dr.
Dallas, TX 75248-3112
E-mail: iwiesenfel@aol.com

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

black line

subscribe free

black line

Wireless Network Planners

black line

WIRELESS NETWORK PLANNERS LLC
WIRELESS SPECIALISTS

www.wirelessplanners.com
rmercer@wirelessplanners.com

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Consultant
217 First Street South
East Northport, NY 11731
ron mercer

Cellphone: 631-786-9359

black line

Wireless Network Planners

black line

black line

black line

PRISM PAGING

black line

prism
white line

PRISM IP MESSAGE GATEWAY

white line

THE ULTIMATE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE RADIO PAGING SYSTEMS

prism
  • VoIP telephone access — eliminate interconnect expense
  • Call from anywhere — Prism SIP Gateway allows calls from PSTN and PBX
  • All the Features for Paging, Voicemail, Text-to-Pager, Wireless and DECT phones
  • Prism Inet, the new IP interface for TAP, TNPP, SNPP, SMTP — Industry standard message input
  • Direct Connect to NurseCall, Assisted Living, Aged Care, Remote Monitoring, Access Control Systems
prism
prism

black line

black line

WiPath Communications

black line

wipath header

Intelligent Solutions for Paging & Wireless Data

WiPath manufactures a wide range of highly unique and innovative hardware and software solutions in paging and mobile data for:

  • Emergency Mass Alert & Messaging
  • Emergency Services Communications
  • Utilities Job Management
  • Telemetry and Remote Switching
  • Fire House Automation
  • Load Shedding and Electrical Services Control

black line

PDT3000 Paging Data Terminal

pdt 2000 image

  • FLEX & POCSAG
  • Built-in POCSAG encoder
  • Huge capcode capacity
  • Parallel, 2 serial ports, 4 relays
  • Message & system monitoring

black line

Paging Controlled Moving Message LED Displays

welcom wipath

  • Variety of sizes
  • Indoor/outdoor
  • Integrated paging receiver

black line

PDR3000/PSR3000 Paging Data Receivers

paging data receiver

  • Highly programmable, off-air decoders
  • Message Logging & remote control
  • Multiple I/O combinations and capabilities
  • Network monitoring and alarm reporting

black line

Specialized Paging Solutions

paging data receiver

  • Emergency Mass Alerting
  • Remote telemetry switching & control
  • Fire station automation
  • PC interfacing and message management
  • Paging software and customized solutions
  • Message interception, filtering, redirection, printing & logging Cross band repeating, paging coverage infill, store and forward
  • Alarm interfaces, satellite linking, IP transmitters, on-site systems

black line

Mobile Data Terminals & Two Way Wireless  Solutions

mobile data terminal

radio interface

  • Fleet tracking, messaging, job processing, and field service management
  • Automatic vehicle location (AVL), GPS
  • CDMA, GPRS, ReFLEX, conventional, and trunked radio interfaces

black line

Contact
Postal
Address:
WiPath Communications LLC
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Street
Address:
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Web site: www.wipath.com left arrow CLICK
E-mail: info@wipath.com left arrow CLICK
Phone:770-844-6218
Fax:770-844-6574
WiPath Communications

black line

black line

Hark Technologies

black line hark logo Wireless Communication Solutions black line USB Paging Encoder paging encoder

  • Single channel up to eight zones
  • Connects to Linux computer via USB
  • Programmable timeouts and batch sizes
  • Supports 2-tone, 5/6-tone, POCSAG 512/1200/2400, GOLAY
  • Supports Tone Only, Voice, Numeric, and Alphanumeric
  • PURC or direct connect
  • Pictured version mounts in 5.25" drive bay
  • Other mounting options available
  • Available as a daughter board for our embedded Internet Paging Terminal (IPT)

black line Paging Data Receiver (PDR) pdr

  • Frequency agile—only one receiver to stock
  • USB or RS-232 interface
  • Two contact closures
  • End-user programmable w/o requiring special hardware
  • 16 capcodes
  • POCSAG
  • Eight contact closure version also available
  • Product customization available

black line Other products

  • Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.
Contact
Hark Technologies
717 Old Trolley Rd Ste 6 #163
Summerville, SC 29485
Tel: 843-821-6888
Fax: 843-821-6894
E-mail: sales@harktech.com left arrow CLICK
Web: http://www.harktech.com left arrow CLICK
black line

HARK—EXHIBITS AT CONFERENCE

hark David George and Bill Noyes
of Hark Technologies.

black line

Hark Technologies

black line

advertise here

black line

CRITICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS

black line

top background

Over 70% of first responders are volunteers.
Without an alert, interoperability means nothing.

Get the Alert.

M1501 Acknowledgent Pager

With the M1501 Acknowledgement Pager and a SPARKGAP wireless data system, you know when your volunteers have been alerted, when they've read the message, and how they're going to respond – all in the first minutes of an event. Only the M1501 delivers what agencies need – reliable, rugged, secure alerting with acknowledgement.

Learn More

FEATURES
  • 5-Second Message Delivery
  • Acknowledged Personal Messaging
  • Acknowledged Group Messaging
  • 16 Group Addresses
  • 128-Bit Encryption
  • Network-Synchronized Time Display
  • Simple User Interface
  • Programming/Charging Base
  • Secondary Features Supporting Public Safety and Healthcare

black line

“TO RUFFIAN WITH LOVE

A Short Story by Ron Mercer

By about 8:30 on the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving the errands were completed and we started home. Me at the wheel, She, as had become her habit, sitting stoically beside me. We drove slowly, each enjoying the company of the other, each engrossed in their own thought. As we drove, my thoughts turned to her and how our time together was drawing to an end.

The house had been sold, the kids had moved on to lives of their own and I had become involved in an enterprise which required extensive travel. With all this change there was no place for her. Oh, we'd tried to find her a new home. Throughout the summer friends had expressed their love and desire for her, "If ever you must give her up, we'll take her", they'd proclaim. But, as the moment drew near, each of these promises evaporated — as such heady promises are prone to evaporating in the stark face of reality. Many landlords don't allow dogs and her age, she was 3 or so, along with her Pit Bull breeding, raised concern for her ability to adapt to new surroundings. True, she seemed gentle — gentle to the point of timidity. But there was a side to her personality, a side which while surfacing only occasionally was sufficient to remind one of the reputation of her breed. They scared me, these occasional outbursts did. They made me cautious when bringing her into contact with strangers — particularly young strangers. So a new home was very doubtful and ours no longer a viable option.

As we drove home, I knew that this next week I'd have no choice but to take her to an animal shelter. "Next week I'll take care of it — next week for sure" — I promised myself.

At a traffic light, I patted her head and, in the childish dialect men often resort to when dealing with painful issues, I spoke to her: "Won't be many more rides Ruffian." "Not many more at all."

Not understanding, of course, she just licked my hand, wagged her tail and stared at me. The wide-eyed innocence of that stare, the silent gratitude it represented, upset me and I had to look the other way.

"Little does she know" I thought. "Little indeed does she know. Thanksgiving! What does she have to be thankful for?"

I've often heard how the Lord works in strange ways; but strange indeed was the way in which this little creature of God's creation, whose entry into to my life had been so unsolicited, so unwelcome, had grown to be such a part of me.

She'd come home with my daughter from college more than a year and a half earlier. Ruffian, my daughter had named her. When first they arrived, I wanted no part of her; no part of any dog. Had it been up to me, to me alone, I'd have banished her immediately. But they loved one another — my daughter and this little dog. They loved one another and daughters have a way with fathers. So Ruffian stayed. Not totally welcome, but she stayed.

This past year has been difficult for many — me included. Most everything I've ever deemed important has just slipped away. A business, a beautiful home, friendships aplenty, all just vaporized. At times, it seemed, the only news I ever got was bad news — day after day after day.

Through all of this anguish, even in the darkest hours, Ruffian was there. In the beginning I was indifferent toward her. But she was undaunted by my self-indulgent attitude. As dogs are given to doing, she poured out love — without question, without qualification until, in time, her persistence melted my indifference and I grew to accept her, to like her, to love her.

Yes, gradually she taught me to love her and she became my friend — my ever-present, ever-loving friend. At times she seemed to sense that my burden had become too heavy, too painful to bear and she'd nudge me with her nose, wag her tail, lick my hand and we'd "go for a ride." Often, with nowhere to go, we'd just ride around and I'd talk to her in foolish baby-talk until I felt better. So many rides we'd taken, Ruffian and I. Lord how those rides helped me through difficult days. But now, now that things were getting a little better, there was no place for her. Sad I thought. strange and sad.

But there was no room for sadness that night. It was Saturday, Thanksgiving Saturday and we'd had a wonderful day together. Raking leaves, running through the leaf piles, chasing sticks and routing in parts of the garden from which, absent the leaf raking exercise, she would have been excluded. Perhaps fittingly, here we were, closing out the day with a ride. No, there was no room for sadness that night!

Home again, she bounded through our front door—tail wagging, full of exuberance, full of love, full of life. She inspected each room and, satisfied that all was in order, she curled up on her favorite sofa to lapse into contented sleep.

I guess the TV bored me, or maybe the day's activity had made me sleepy. In any event I too soon dozed off to sleep. But not for long. In about an hour I was awakened by loud thumping noises from the next room. Frightened, I ran to the sofa where Ruffian had been sleeping.

And there she was! Engulfed by some horrible sort of seizure she lay on the floor writhing in obvious agony. Legs flailing at the air, mouth snapping as if attacking some invisible demon, body thumping the floor so it sounded like a drum. My little friend was hurting, hurting badly. Instinctively, I reached down to comfort her. But with a snarl, more vicious than any I could remember, she forced me back. There I stood; helpless; horror-struck and helpless!

After several minutes the thrashing subsided a little. Back on her feet, she sipped from the dish of water I gingerly pushed in front her. "Maybe," I prayed. "Maybe she's over it."

But in another minute her legs again buckled under her and as she lay on her side the thrashing returned with renewed fury. She'd try to regain her footing — desperately she'd try; but the legs just refused to support her. Snapping and flailing she slid tight against the wall and white foam began oozing from her mouth. My daughter arrived and we called the police. "Not much we can do" they responded — "try to slip a pillowcase over her head so she can't bite and take her to the emergency clinic." Knowing they were right, I copied the address and stripped a pillowcase from the bed. But the thrashing was so violent that I was afraid to try slipping it over her head. So I just stood there. Helpless, mystified and terrified I stood there — trying to comfort her with talk. "It'll be OK Ruffian — easy girl, you'll be OK." But as I watched I knew that she was getting worse — much worse.

We stood there together, my daughter and I. We stood and sobbed and wreaked our brains trying to understand what was wrong, trying to think of something to do. Try though we did, we could think of nothing. Nothing but to be there; to be there lest she be left to suffer alone. And I couldn't help but thinking, Ruffian never let me suffer alone.

As we stood, frozen in horror, my mind drifted back to my childhood and an ancient Ojibway Indian legend my Grandmother told me a long time ago. As best I can remember, the legend went like this:

In the beginning, all animals were part of a Great Law which governed the universe but none had unique characteristics or special powers. Each species was called to approach Kitche Manitou , Ojibway for "Great Spirit," to receive the gifts and power which made them unique:

Nahhak, "the bear," was given great strength and a talent for leadership. Megeesee, "the eagle," received strong wings, keen sight and responsibility to maintain vigil over all beings. To "the vulture," Kaikaik, Kitche Manitou gave patience and the chore of keeping the earth clean. Maheengun, "the wolf," received the gift of unbending fidelity and, to this day, wolves are greatly revered for their tendency to mate for life. Ahmik, "the beaver" received strong sharp teeth and the job of dam building to provide a habitat for the swimming creatures. The cardinal received great beauty to uplift the spirit of all who saw him, the robin, the ability to foretell the coming of winter; Wuzhushk, "the muskrat," fur which would repel frost and thus could be used to trim parka hoods; and so on, with each creature receiving a gift of unique ability and matching responsibility with a time and place to meet that responsibility.

Toward the end of the line, after most had been granted their gifts, fretted Shunka, "the dog," — "What gift can I possibly hope for. I'll never be as strong as Nahhak, the bear, or as graceful as the deer, Wawaushka she; and I'll certainly never be able to soar like Megeesee, the eagle. What indeed can Kitche Manitou grant to the likes of me."

Then Kitche Manitou approached saying: "Do not fear! For you I have reserved a most wonderful gift; the gift of love. And it shall be your responsibility to share this gift with all creatures; but above all, you are to share this love with mankind. For you alone among the animals shall be capable of sharing human love."

Now, in the earliest times, mankind and all animals spoke a common language and all could communicate directly. Animals were dedicated to serving mankind. But people became lazy and indifferent to the needs of the animals. Instead of working, people imposed the burden on animals. When fish was wanted they would dispatch an otter to catch fish for them; instead of hunting, they ordered the wolves and fox to hunt and return the spoils of the hunt to the lodges of man; when a new lodge was required, man would command the beaver to cut and haul the saplings. The animals did all the work, people did none. And, worst of all, the people turned animal against animal. Mankind became self-centered and neglected to provide for the animals so that in the long, cold winters, the animals suffered while the people led an easy life.

For a long time the animals served in this way without complaining. Eventually, however, they grew weary. All the animals gathered together to discuss and put an end to the injustice. Many suggestions were put forth — some quite violent. But finally, a seemingly workable idea developed: The animals would distance themselves from mankind. No longer would they sacrifice themselves for mankind's good. No longer would they make their unique attributes freely available. The animals would live for themselves leaving mankind to fend for themselves. Moreover, to make it difficult for mankind to enslave them again, the animals agreed to speak in different languages which man could not understand. All animals agreed with the plan. All, that is, except the dog!" "I am for mercy" said the dog. "While it is true that people have been unkind, they deserve to live and to have our support."

The other animals were furious and branded the dog a traitor. Speaking on behalf of the other animals, Nahhak, the bear turned to the dog and said: "For your betrayal, you shall no longer be regarded as a brother among us. From now on you shall live in the company of men, eating whatever man leaves for you, thankful for such scraps as are thrown you. You shall sleep wherever man allows you to sleep and you shall provide such service as man demands of you. As reward for your dedication, your role shall be to endure mankind's injustice; his indifference; his selfish carelessness and neglect."

The gathering then dispersed with each animal returning to their separate ways. From that day forward, dogs were dedicated to mankind and mankind was dependent on dogs for knowledge of the natural world.

"That's why," my Grandmother said, "Your Grandfather feeds and cares for the dogs even before taking care of himself. For we can't allow carelessness, neglect or our selfish nature to destroy this one friendship left with the creatures who share in the Great Law — which includes the gift of precognition of events."

The memory of my Grandmother's words ebbed from my mind and I turned again to my little friend struggling there on our floor. Gradually, her struggle subsided. The thrashing, the thumping, the terror subsided and as they subsided so also did my fear. Less fearful, I reached down to try slipping the pillowcase over her head. Her little body was hot to my touch. Full of fever and hotter than any living thing I can ever remember touching. But she let me touch her. As I started to move the pillowcase over her she lifted her head and,with what seemed to be her last ounce of strength, she licked my hand. . .

Limp and shapeless was the hooded little body that I carried to the car. As limp as the bread dough I'd watched bakers lift from kneading machine to rising table. Limp and shapeless. And hot — her tiny body was flaming hot.

We started toward the emergency veterinarian clinic the police had recommended. But before we'd gone two blocks the struggle was over. The thrashing, the thumping, the breathing all stopped and it was over.

"We don't really know why this happens. We had another just last night. Some sort of seizure, but we don't know why. We could do an autopsy, of course. But short of that there's no way to know; And even an autopsy may not tell us much." The vet consoled.

"No, there would be no purpose to that. We'd like to treat her with respect, with the respect she earned. So we'd prefer you to cremate her remains. Please cremate them with respect." With this tearful instruction we left the Vet and started home; and a long, lonesome ride home it was.

Two weeks have now passed since that terror filled Saturday night. Two busy weeks and yet, never was I so busy that Ruffian was completely off my mind. No, I thought of her often. And each time she entered my thoughts I'd ask myself why. Why did this happen? What caused it? Was it something she ate? Something I'd given her? And why then — on Thanksgiving Weekend?

Ruffian was on my mind earlier today too when, for the first time in two weeks, I was able to return to the leaf raking at which we'd spent our last day together. I needed to get the leaves finished before the really cold weather set in and rain was predicted for later in the day. So I raked with a purpose; not because it was fun, as it had been two weeks earlier, but simply because it needed to be done. As I raked I thought about Ruffian, her death and how mysterious it was — at least how mysterious it had been until that moment!!

I was raking right in front of the garage doors when first it caught my eye. A spot of cherry red liquid, visible only when my rake removed the upper layer of leaves and even then in a spot so small I don't know how it caught my eye. But catch my eye it did and I wondered what it was. Curiosity aroused, I probed into the leaves until my rake touched upon a plastic container. Across the bottom of the container were a dozen tooth marks — and from the tooth marks oozed the red liquid — and from the label on the container came the explanation for Ruffian's agony on that Saturday night two weeks earlier — Transmission fluid!

Some six weeks ago I'd added fluid to my car's leaking transmission. Misjudging the distance, I'd tossed the empty container toward the garbage can causing it to bounce from the can's rim to the ground. "Must pick that up when I'm finished" I thought. And I intended to. I truly intended to!

Standing there, with the container still dripping in my hand, the closing lines of my Grandmother's legend echoed in my mind: "And, as reward for your loving dedication, your role shall be to endure mankind's injustice; his indifference; His selfish carelessness and neglect."

How true, I thought. How tragically true. Ruffian's role had been just that. She gave me love; and devotion; and loyalty beyond human comprehension. In spite of all that she was forced to endure my careless neglect. To be sure, she died as a result of that carelessness. But I don't believe she died in vain. No, Ruffian did not die in vain. For, in those last terrifying hours, this little creature without pedigree or obvious distinguishing characteristic, whose love, dedication and simple presence had so aided me through difficult days, awakened my senses to what is surely the most important of truths. And that truth is this:

In every life setting, even the most troubled life at its most difficult moment, we are never alone. For regardless of the name we give to it, there is within each of us a spirit, a force, a higher power which is with us always. Through even the most terrible difficulties, this higher power provides support. And this presence, this support, may take a form which is difficult to recognize or understand. But each live form has a purpose and a time and place to enact that purpose.

So, at future Thanksgivings, regardless of other circumstances, I'll need not ask what I should be thankful for. For love, for guidance, for ever-present support and for all the good with which live is enriched — I'll remember to be thankful. But above all, I'll be thankful for life. For life itself, in all the forms in which it has been provided, thank God for life, for life such as Ruffian's.

Author's Footnote: The Ojibway legend portion of this story has been reconstructed from the author's memory of its original telling more than 60 years ago. As a consequence, certain inaccuracies may have entered the retelling. Of particular concern are the attempts at transliterating animal names from the original Anishnabeg language. The author apologizes for any error or inaccuracy which may be obvious to members of the Ojibway community who have maintained closer contact with their history. Furthermore, in the hope that more accurate versions of this as well as other legends may be recorded lest they be forever lost, the author would encourage comments and dialogue with all who have an interest in the subject.

Source:Ron Mercer, rmercer@wirelessplanners.com

A Reader's Comment:

What a wonderful story! Really makes me think about how [my dog] is so faithful to me and I am not always so kind to her. Hope this will make me be a much better person. Thanks for sharing.

black line

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

black line

Anonymous Messages:

[...], that was a really wonderful thing for you to do. On behalf of the Mercer family, thank you very much.

Best regards,

Brad Dye

black line

Hi Brad, it was the right thing to do.

And I did it anonymously, as I believe that character is what you do when no one is watching!

I heard that the other day, and it is so true.

Hope all is well.
[...]

black line

Many other asked me to forward their condolences to Ron Mercer and that was done.

black line

From: Ronald Mercer
Date: September 26, 2012 12:02:27 PM CDT
To: Brad Dye

To: The Editor, Wireless Messaging News

Heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Wireless Messaging community who responded so wonderfully to the death of my son Dean. Your condolences, personal support and generous contributions to the Dean Mercer Family Assistance fund are deeply appreciated.  The last two-plus years have been very difficult for Dean and his family and it is at times like this, brokenhearted though we all are, that we are reminded of the goodness in people that is too often overlooked.

Thanks again to all.

Ron Mercer

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC
217 1st Street, East Northport, NY 11731
Tel: (631) 266-2604
Cell: (631) 786-9359
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

black line

UNTIL NEXT WEEK

black line

brad dye

With best regards,
brad's signature
Newsletter Editor
73 DE K9IQY

Wireless Messaging News
Brad Dye, Editor
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

mensa member animated gif
xxii

Skype: braddye
Twitter: @BradDye1
Telephone: 618-599-7869
E–mail: brad@braddye.com
Wireless Consulting page
Paging Information
Home Page

Marketing & Engineering Papers

pagerman WIRELESS
wireless logo medium
MESSAGING

black line

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

black line

“ Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”

—Proverbs 19:20, New International Version (©1984)

[I think that this applies to technology as well as to life in general.]

black line

advertise with us

signup

CLICK ON THE LOGO ABOVE FOR A FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

black line

left arrow Newspapers generally cost 75¢ a copy and they hardly ever mention paging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $25.00 would represent approximately 50¢ a copy for one year. If you are willing and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button to the left.

black line

THE WIRELESS MESSAGING NEWSLETTER & THE PAGING INFORMATION RESOURCE

black line

Home Page | Directory | Consulting | Newsletters
Products | Reference | Glossary | Send e-mail