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| Wireless News Aggregation |
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Dear Friends of Wireless Messaging, Welcome back to The Wireless Messaging News. Last week Vaughan Bowden, president of Easy Solutions, reported the following in a LETTER TO THE EDITOR :
Although this was a “non event” for most paging systems, unfortunately some systems were seriously affected. (Depending on several factors.) Vaughan has been very busy helping clients resolve issues with their GPS synchronization this week. I suggest that you contact him immediately if you need assistance with your C2000 equipment. Here is his contact information: Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com P.S. Vaughan Bowden, a good friend and a loyal supporter of this newsletter, was formerly vice president of engineering at PageNet—the world's largest paging system at that time. Now on to more news and views. | Wayne County, Illinois
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. I spend the whole week searching the Internet for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.
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. Subscribe IT'S FREE * required field If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter just fill in the blanks in the form above, and then click on the “Subscribe” button. 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. Back To Paging
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The Board of Advisor members are people with whom I have developed a special rapport, and have met personally. They are not obligated to support the newsletter in any way, except with advice, and maybe an occasional letter to the editor. |
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Advertiser Index
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Microsoft, Facebook to lay massive undersea cableElizabeth Weise, USA TODAY 5:23 p.m. EDT May 26, 2016
And those are only the public deals. “There are others that aren’t public,” he said. Currently, two-thirds of all traffic on undersea Atlantic cables is from private networks and not telecommunications companies, up from 20% in 2010, according to TeleGeography data. Driven by data demands In the past five years, demand for bandwidth has shifted from traditional telecom companies to large content providers. Their need for bandwidth is growing so rapidly that it makes economic sense for them to invest in their own infrastructure, said Gartner analyst David Smith. “Rather than pay a telco, they’re going to build their own,” he said. The Microsoft/Facebook cable will be called "Marea," which means "tide" in Spanish. The companies are collaborating in order to accelerate the development of the next-generation of Internet infrastructure and support the explosion of data consumption and rapid growth of each company’s respective cloud and online services, Microsoft said in a statement to USA TODAY. While the cable's actual width is about the size of an ordinary garden hose, its capacity is "massive," able to transmit 160 terabytes per second, said Mauldin. Currently there are about 337 terabytes of potential capacity across the Atlantic. When the Marea cable comes online in 2017 with 140 terabytes per second of capacity, “this one cable will be able to do almost half of what all the cables do,” he said. Marea will be operated and managed by Telxius, a telecommunications infrastructure company owned by Telefónica, a large, Spanish telecommunications company with a significant presence in Europe and Latin America. The cable will also provide redundancy for companies increasingly dependent on information being instantly transmittable worldwide. Marea will be the first southern European cable route. No one wants to have their capacity dependent on just one cable, "because if it breaks, you’re in trouble,” said Mauldin. Being physically separate from these other cables helps ensure more resilient and reliable connections for both companies' customers in the United States, Europe, and beyond, Microsoft said in a statement. While many still imagine that traffic between the continents runs via satellites, they’re neither fast nor good enough. “There a huge delay with satellites,” said Smith. Cables are almost instantaneous, more robust and cheaper. As tech companies increasingly become international, "the cloud is under the ocean," he said. The cable will help the companies meet growing customer demand for high speed, reliable connections for cloud and online services, Microsoft said in a post on its website. Microsoft said it needed the increased bandwidth to it could provide high speed, reliable connections for customers using Microsoft cloud services, which include its search engine Bing, Office 365, Skype, Xbox Live, and Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure. MAREA will be the highest-capacity subsea cable yet laid across the Atlantic, It will feature eight fiber pairs and have an initial estimated capacity of 160 Tbps. |
| Source: | USA TODAY |
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How to go back to Windows 7 or 8 after an unwanted Windows 10 upgradeIt’s now possible for your computer to be updated to Windows 10 without your explicit content. By Brad Chacos Microsoft’s putting away the carrots and breaking out the sticks in its quest to migrate 1 billion users to Windows 10 over the next couple of years. After pushing out the free upgrade as a Recommended update to Windows 7 and 8 users earlier this year—which means that you downloaded the initial installation bits if you use the default Windows Update, like most people should—Microsoft changed its nagging pop-up prompt in an insidious way over the past week. For the past six months, the “Get Windows 10” pop-up asked permission to start an update, but lacked a “No thanks” option, so the only way to avoid it was to close the window by pressing the X in the upper-right hand corner. Now, the pop-up says “We will upgrade you at this time,” and pressing the X counts as consent. You need to click a small, easily missed link in the pop-up to cancel the upgrade, instead.
It’s a nasty bait-and-switch after months of using an incessant pop-up—which can’t be disabled without the help of registry hacks and other advanced tricks—that wore down users, encouraging them to simply X out of the irritant when it appeared each and every time they opened their computer. Worse, it’s now possible for your computer to be updated to Windows 10 without your explicit content. Judging by the hundreds of comments on Reddit , Twitter , PCWorld , my inbox, and other places across the web in response to the situation, a lot of people are finding themselves upgrading unintentionally. And, well, a lot of them are pissed. Fortunately, it’s easy to roll your PC back to Windows 7 or 8 after installing Windows 10. How to reverse a Windows 10 upgrade The easiest time to say “No” is during the initial setup process. If you decline Windows 10’s end user license agreement, it’ll bring you back to your older operating system. But what if it’s too late for that?
You’re allowed to roll back to your previous Windows version for 30 days after upgrading to Windows 10. Simply open the Start menu and head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. If you’re eligible to downgrade, you’ll see an option that says “Go back to Windows 7” or “Go back to Windows 8.1,” depending on which operating system you upgraded from. Simply click the Get started button and go along for the ride. Once you’ve returned to your previous version of Windows, you need to tinker with it to perfect your setup once again. In particular, you may need to reinstall some programs, and don’t forget to use your Windows 7 password rather than your Windows 10 password if you created a Microsoft Account for the new operating system during the set-up process. Stop it from happening again Once you’ve upgraded a PC to Windows 10, you’ll always be able to do so again in the future. But if you aren’t enticed by Windows 10’s best features and more subtle awesome tweaks —a feeling I completely understand after a non-consensual upgrade—you can turn to a pair of helpful tools to disable the Windows 10 upgrade prompts from returning. GWX Control Panel was the first anti-Windows 10 pop-up tool on the block, and it works marvelously, though its complicated user interface is full of granular options and may turn off some people. Never10 by noted security researcher Steve Gibson performs the same basic task in a much simpler way. Either program does the trick. GWX Control Panel and Never10 will also prevent your computer from being upgraded to Windows 10 if it hasn’t yet. Installing one of those is a much better option than disabling Windows Updates completely to avoid Microsoft’s pestering, as disabling patches can leave you vulnerable to new security flaws. Now for the good news: Microsoft says it plans to phase out the GWX pop-up once it starts charging for the Windows 10 upgrade in July. Fingers crossed. This story, "How to go back to Windows 7 or 8 after an unwanted Windows 10 upgrade" was originally published by PCWorld . |
| Source: | TechConnect |
| Leavitt Communications |
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| Swissphone |
Disaster-Proven Paging for Public SafetyPaging system designs in the United States typically use a voice radio-style infrastructure. These systems are primarily designed for outdoor mobile coverage with modest indoor coverage. Before Narrowbanding, coverage wasn’t good, but what they have now is not acceptable! The high power, high tower approach also makes the system vulnerable. If one base station fails, a large area loses their paging service immediately! Almost every technology went from analog to digital except fire paging. So it’s time to think about digital paging! The Disaster-Proven Paging Solution (DiCal) from Swissphone offers improved coverage, higher reliability and flexibility beyond anything that traditional analog or digital paging systems can provide. Swissphone is the No. 1 supplier for digital paging solutions worldwide. The Swiss company has built paging networks for public safety organizations all over the world. Swissphone has more than 1 million pagers in the field running for years and years due to their renowned high quality. DiCal is the digital paging system developed and manufactured by Swissphone. It is designed to meet the specific needs of public safety organizations. Fire and EMS rely on these types of networks to improve incident response time. DiCal systems are designed and engineered to provide maximum indoor paging coverage across an entire county. In a disaster situation, when one or several connections in a simulcast solution are disrupted or interrupted, the radio network automatically switches to fall back operating mode. Full functionality is preserved at all times. This new system is the next level of what we know as “Simulcast Paging” here in the U.S.
Swissphone offers high-quality pagers, very robust and waterproof. Swissphone offers the best sensitivity in the industry, and battery autonomy of up to three months. First responder may choose between a smart s.QUAD pager, which is able to connect with a smartphone and the Hurricane DUO pager, the only digital pager who offers text-to-voice functionality. Bluetooth technology makes it possible to connect the s.QUAD with a compatible smartphone, and ultimately with various s.ONE software solutions from Swissphone. Thanks to Bluetooth pairing, the s.QUAD combines the reliability of an independent paging system with the benefits of commercial cellular network. Dispatched team members can respond back to the call, directly from the pager. The alert message is sent to the pager via paging and cellular at the same time. This hybrid solution makes the alert faster and more secure. Paging ensures alerting even if the commercial network fails or is overloaded. Swissphone sets new standards in paging: Paging Network
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Swissphone provides a proven solution at an affordable cost. Do you want to learn more? |
Making P25 Work with PagingBy Marco Stadler and Philipp Zimmermann
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| Source: | Swissphone |
| Leavitt Communications |
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Other products Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.
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| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
Selected portions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP — are reproduced in this section with the firm’s permission.
Wireline Bureau Seeks Carrier Affirmations for Lifeline Compliance Plans/ETC PetitionsOn May 18, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice seeking affirmation from any carrier with a currently pending Lifeline compliance plan request or petition for designation as a Lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), containing an affirmative written statement that the carrier remains interested in having the Bureau review its application. This statement must be filed with the Bureau no later than June 7, 2016. According to the Public Notice, the affirmations are being sought in light of the fact that several orders amending the Lifeline rules and requirements, some of which have changed significantly, were adopted during the pendency of these proceedings. HeadlinesNew 700 MHz Construction Notifications Must Comply With Revised Map SpecificationsWe recently sent reminders to our law firm’s Lower 700 MHz Band A- and B-Block licensee clients of a 35% geographic buildout and service obligation that must be completed by December 13, 2016. Our memo also reported that how other clients had encountered technical difficulties when filing required shapefile maps due to discrepancies with FCC datasets. Accordingly, we recommended early submission of these required notifications, if at all possible, to allow time to discover and correct any data issues. By Public Notice (DA 16-563) released late last week, the FCC’s Wireless Bureau adopted refinements to the shapefile map requirements that it initially adopted last fall. These technical changes include
These changes are incorporated into a NEW summary of Shapefile Contents and Submission Process (effective May 19, 2016) in Attachment A of the Public Notice. Those clients with 700 MHz geographic buildout requirements coming due in December should forward the revised standards to their staff and/or RF engineering consultants who are assisting with preparation of the engineering statement and electronic maps in support of their 700 MHz interim construction benchmark showing. We expect that use of the revised template and market-based boundary files will reduce the likelihood of errors that some clients have reported when submitting electronic map files to the FCC. Nonetheless, we continue recommend early submission of 700 MHz construction notifications, if at all possible, to avoid technical problems that might lead to a late filing (and possible regulatory consequences). FCC Seeks Comment on Accessibility for Biennial ReportOn May 23, the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued a Public Notice that seeks comment on the industry’s level of compliance with congressional mandates of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). Comments are due June 13. The CVAA requires telecommunications carriers, interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service providers, advanced communications service (ACS) providers, and equipment manufacturers (collectively known as “covered entities”) to make their services and equipment accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable (defined as “easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense”). It also requires the FCC’s biennial report to contain the following: An assessment of the level of compliance with the CVAA; an evaluation of the extent to which any accessibility barriers still exist with respect to new communications technologies; and an assessment of the effect of the CVAA requirements on the development and deployment of new communications technologies. Therefore, the Bureau is seeking comment on:
The report is to be submitted to Congress by October 8, 2016. The FCC will seek public comment on its tentative findings on these matters before submitting the biennial report to Congress. Ensure your License Purchase Agreement is Reviewed for FCC IssuesThose clients buying or selling spectrum should make sure that the resulting license purchase agreement is reviewed by us for FCC issues BEFORE it is signed. Each such agreement includes potential issues such as buildout showing status, microwave relocation responsibility, liens on the license, FCC approval of the sale, and other matters that must be reviewed for compliance with FCC rules and policies. Such agreements usually require a warranty by the seller that there are no FCC rule violations, and often require an opinion letter by FCC counsel concerning FCC compliance. If there is an issue (such as a missed filing several years ago), we can identify the problem, carve out an exception for it, and take any necessary steps to bring you into compliance. But if these problems are not identified and addressed before you sign the agreement, you will be in breach of the agreement and the buyer will have an opportunity to walk away from the deal and/or seek damages. It is also necessary to ensure that the negotiations will not violate any of the strict FCC restrictions on communications during a spectrum auction, which can result in a hefty FCC fine and other sanctions. While the other party may present you with what it calls a “complete” agreement, such document has been drafted to protect the other party, not your company. Law & RegulationFCC to Hold Open Commission Meeting Wednesday, May 25On May 18, the FCC issued the official agenda for its upcoming Open Meeting of May 25. At the Open Meeting, the FCC will consider the following items:
The Open Meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., and will be broadcast live at that time at www.fcc.gov/live . FCC Releases FY2016 Regulatory Fee Notice of Proposed Rule MakingThe FCC has issued its annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order in connection with the collection of annual regulatory fees for Fiscal Year 2015. Comments on the FCC’s proposals will be due June 20, 2016 and Reply Comments will be due July 5, 2016 . This year, the FCC has proposed to collect $384,012,497 in regulatory fees. Of this amount, the FCC will collect $81.9 million or 21.3 percent from Wireless Telecommunications Bureau regulatees, $146.8 million or 38.19 percent from Wireline Competition Bureau regulatees, $21.4 million or 5.56 percent from International Bureau regulatees, and $133.97 million or 34.95 percent from Media Bureau regulatees.
Last year, the FCC increased the threshold for the de minimis from $10.00 for all fees owed by a regulate to $500.00. Because this exemption can be changed from time-to-time, it is important that regulates review their regulatory fee obligation annually in order to determine if the fee due for that year will exceed the threshold. We also recommend that those clients claiming an exemption under the de minimis rule affirmatively file a letter with the Commission in order to avoid being red-lighted for non-payment of the regulatory fee.
For FY2016, the FCC is proposing to increase regulatory fees for most fee categories. A list of relevant fee categories is listed below:
Last year, the FCC adopted its proposal to establish a regulatory fee for Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) as a subcategory in the CATV and IPTV categories. Based upon the FCC’s experience it has proposed a fee increase for this subcategory from $.12 to $.27 per subscriber per year. This proposed fee includes a base amount of $.24 and a proportional adjustment of $.03 per subscriber. In using this fee structure, the FCC has previously noted that it is important to note that DBS service providers wear two hats — multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) as regulated by the Media Bureau and users of geostationary space stations that are used to provide one-way subscription video service to consumers — which is regulated by the International Bureau. In order to properly allocate costs, the FCC subjects DBS providers to two regulatory fees in order to recover the relevant costs associated with each operating bureau.
The FCC requires facilities based common carriers to pay regulatory fees for terrestrial and satellite International Bearer Circuits (IBCs) that are active as of December 31 of the prior year for the provision of service to an end-user or resale carrier. In FY2015, the FCC asked all facilities based common carriers to review their reporting processes in order to ensure that all common carrier IBCs used by the facilities based carrier or their affiliates were properly accounted for. As part of this process, the FCC is now reviewing the processes for reporting IBCs in order to ensure that all carriers report IBCs in a consistent manner. The FCC is seeking comment on how it can ensure that reporting is consistent from carrier to carrier as well as the criterial providers use to distinguish common carrier circuits from non-common carrier circuits. Additionally, the FCC is asking what the least burdensome methodology for calculating the fee would be if it decides to require the payment of a regulatory fee for non-common carrier IBCs. In this regard, the FCC is asking whether it should require carriers to report total international revenue rather than the number of circuits. If so, how should carriers identify their international revenues and how does the FCC ensure that carriers are accurately reporting both common carrier and non-common carrier international revenues.
Last year, the FCC sought comment on ITTA’s proposals to combine wireless voice and wireline services into the ITSP category (or in the alternative, reassign certain Wireline Competition Bureau FTEs to other fee categories) for purposes of determining the appropriate annual regulatory fee. At this time, the FCC has come to the tentative conclusion that ITTA’s proposals are not consistent with the Commission’s prior orders that implemented the regulatory fee program under Section 9 of the Communications Act. The FCC is seeking public comment on its conclusion.
We remind our clients that effective June 1, 2015, the US Treasury adopted new rules concerning credit card payments. Under these new rules, the maximum amount that can be charged on a credit card for a particular debt is $24,999.99 (which is reduced from $49,999.99). As a result of this change, charges of more than $24,999.99 will be rejected. It is important to note that this limit applies to both single payments and bundled payments of more than one invoice. Additionally, multiple transactions to a single agency in one day will be added together and treated as a single transaction for purposes of this rule. US Treasury has also indicated that debtors may not split payments into more than one payment by using the same or multiple credit card accounts or by spreading the payments over multiple days. Proposed 2017 Financial Services Bill Addresses Multiple FCC IssuesOn May 24, the House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2017 “Financial Services and General Government Appropriations” bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The bill provides annual funding for multiple U.S. agencies, including the FCC. Among other things, the bill contains $315 million for the FCC — a cut of $69 million below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $43 million below the request. It also prohibits the FCC from implementing the net neutrality order until certain court cases are resolved, requires newly proposed regulations to be made publicly available for 21 days before the Commission votes on them, prohibits the FCC from regulating broadband rates, and requires the FCC to refrain from further activity of the recently proposed set-top box rule until a study is completed. A full copy of the draft can be found here . Kelsey Smith Act DelayedOn May 23, news sources are reporting that the U.S. House of Representatives voted down the Kelsey Smith Act, primarily due to Democratic opposition. The vote was 229 in favor and 158 against the bill, with Democrats comprising 108 of the opposing votes. In voting down the legislation, concerns over privacy protections were cited. Unsuccessful amendments had been proposed to address the issue, such as a process to evaluate location information requests after the fact. "Democrats strong support the intention behind this bill, but we cannot support it as currently drafted," Rep. John Sarbanes reportedly said in a floor speech. The Kelsey Smith Act requires wireless carriers to provide call location information upon request of an investigative or law enforcement officer. It amends the Communications Act to require providers of commercial mobile service or IP-enabled voice service to provide, upon request, the call location information (or best available location information) of a telecommunications device that is “used to place a 9–1–1 call requesting emergency assistance” or “reasonably believed to be in the possession of an individual that the law enforcement officer reasonably believes is in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm to the individual.” The Kelsey Smith Act was proposed when the eponymous victim was abducted in June of 2007 and Verizon Wireless allegedly took four days to turn over the location data for her cellphone which reportedly lead to the location of her body in less than an hour. Effective Date Established for Lifeline Modernization OrderOn May 24, the FCC published its Lifeline Modernization Third Report and Order in the Federal Register, establishing an effective date for those rules not requiring approval by the Office of Management and Budget of June 23. Originally released on April 27, the Order allows for Lifeline support for standalone fixed and mobile broadband services, as well as establishes minimum service standards for broadband and mobile voice services offered through the program. The changes will occur over a five and one-half year transition, during which the FCC will gradually increase mobile voice and data requirements and gradually decrease voice support levels. The Order also establishes the National Verifier, which is intended to transfer the responsibility of eligibility determination away from Lifeline providers, thereby lowering costs of conducting verification and reducing the risks of facing a verification-related enforcement action. The Order also creates a streamlined federal Lifeline Broadband Provider designation process as an alternative to the traditional ETC designation process, establishes an annual budget of $2.25 billion, and adopts other reforms to the recertification process. Carriers with questions about the Order should contact the firm for more information. IndustryFCC Offers Guidance on Internet Transparency RulesOn May 19, the FCC’s Chief Technologist, Office of General Counsel, and Enforcement Bureau issued a Public Notice offer guidance regarding acceptable ways to disclose network performance so as to satisfy the enhanced transparency requirements in the 2015 Open Internet Order, including what point-of-sale disclosures will meet the rule’s requirements. Small providers (100,000 or fewer broadband connections) are exempt from the enhanced transparency requirements (but not the original transparency requirements, which include the point-of-sale requirement) until December 2016. Specifically, the 2015 Open Internet Order enhanced the Transparency Rule by clarifying certain aspects of the rule, including disclosure of specific commercial terms, performance characteristics, and network management practices. Among other things, broadband internet access service (“BIAS”) providers are specifically required to disclose expected and actual download and upload speeds, latency, and packet loss, but are no longer required to disclose the typical frequency of congestion. In addition, the 2015 Open Internet Order reconfirmed—but did not modify—the Transparency Rule requirements concerning disclosure at the point of sale, requiring “at a minimum, the prominent display of disclosures on a publicly available website and disclosure of relevant information.” Regarding the disclosure of network performance metrics, the Bureaus offered the following guidance:
The Bureaus also noted that participation in the Measuring Broadband America (MBA) program remains a safe harbor for BIAS providers in meeting the requirement to disclose actual network performance. As a result, fixed BIAS providers may disclose their results from the MBA program, for each service for which the program provides network performance metrics, as a sufficient representation of actual download and upload speeds, actual latency, and actual packet loss of those services. Mobile BIAS providers may disclose their results from the mobile MBA program as a sufficient disclosure of actual download and upload speeds, actual latency, and actual packet loss of a service if the results satisfy the appropriate sample size criteria. Fixed BIAS providers not using the MBA safe harbor may disclose actual network performance metrics based on the MBA methodology for “internal testing; consumer speed test data; or other data regarding network performance, including reliable, relevant data from third-party sources.” Mobile BIAS providers that, instead of taking advantage of the MBA safe harbor, measure network performance by their own or third-party testing may disclose performance metrics for each CMA in which the service is offered, except that actual network performance may be aggregated among CMAs with a population density below 250 people per square mile. Finally, the Bureaus noted that disclosures required under the Transparency Rule be prominently displayed “on a publicly available website” and made at the point of sale, and may be made by directing consumers to a website link. However, while disclosures may be made via a link to a website, for those disclosures to be meaningful, BIAS providers must ensure that consumers actually receive any Open Internet-related information that is relevant to their purchasing decision at all potential points of sale, including in a store, over the phone, and online. FCC Launches Consumer Complaint Data CenterOn May 18, the FCC issued a press release announcing the launch of its new online Consumer Complaint Data Center. Informal complaints submitted to the FCC are added to the database, which is updated on a daily basis. The database includes the service the consumer is complaining about (phone, TV, Internet, radio, emergency, or accessibility), the method by which the consumer receives the service (such as wireless vs. VoIP phone), the issue the consumer is complaining about and the consumer’s general location information. According to the press release, the Consumer Complaint Data Center allows users to “easily track, search, sort and download information … [and] build their own visualizations, charts and graphs.” The data is also available via API, which allows developers to build applications, conduct analyses and perform research, or embed it on other websites. The Consumer Complaint Data Center can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-help-center-data . The FCC reportedly plans to continue to provide more access to more granular data “as appropriate.” DeadlinesMAY 31: FCC FORM 395, EMPLOYMENT REPORT. Common carriers, including wireless carriers, with 16 or more full-time employees must file their annual Common Carrier Employment Reports (FCC Form 395) by May 31. This report tracks carrier compliance with rules requiring recruitment of minority employees. Further, the FCC requires all common carriers to report any employment discrimination complaints they received during the past year. That information is also due on May 31. The FCC encourages carriers to complete the discrimination report requirement by filling out Section V of Form 395, rather than submitting a separate report. JULY 1: FCC FORM 481 (CARRIER ANNUAL REPORTING DATA COLLECTION FORM). All eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) must report the information required by Section 54.313, which includes outage, unfulfilled service request, and complaint data, broken out separately for voice and broadband services, information on the ETC’s holding company, operating companies, ETC affiliates and any branding in response to section 54.313(a)(8); its CAF-ICC certification, if applicable; its financial information, if a privately held rate-of-return carrier; and its satellite backhaul certification, if applicable. Form 481 must not only be filed with USAC, but also with the FCC and the relevant state commission and tribal authority, as appropriate. Although USAC treats the filing as confidential, filers must seek confidential treatment separately with the FCC and the relevant state commission and tribal authority if confidential treatment is desired. JULY 1: MOBILITY FUND PHASE I ANNUAL REPORT. Winning bidders in Auction 901 that are authorized to receive Mobility Fund Phase I support are required to submit to the Commission an annual report each year on July 1 for the five years following authorization. Each annual report must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, clearly referencing WT Docket No. 10-208; the Universal Service Administrator; and the relevant state commissions, relevant authority in a U.S. Territory, or Tribal governments, as appropriate. The information and certifications required to be included in the annual report are described in Section 54.1009 of the Commission’s rules. JULY 29: CARRIER IDENTIFICATION CODE (CIC) REPORTS. Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Reports must be filed by the last business day of July (this year, July 29). These reports are required of all carriers who have been assigned a CIC code by NANPA. Failure to file could result in an effort by NANPA to reclaim it, although according to the Guidelines this process is initiated with a letter from NANPA regarding the apparent non-use of the CIC code. The assignee can then respond with an explanation. (Guidelines Section 6.2). The CIC Reporting Requirement is included in the CIC Assignment Guidelines, produced by ATIS. According to section 1.4 of that document: At the direction of the NANPA, the access providers and the entities who are assigned CICs will be requested to provide access and usage information to the NANPA, on a semi-annual basis to ensure effective management of the CIC resource. (Holders of codes may respond to the request at their own election). Access provider and entity reports shall be submitted to NANPA no later than January 31 for the period ending December 31, and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. It is also referenced in the NANPA Technical Requirements Document, which states at 7.18.6: CIC holders shall provide a usage report to the NANPA per the industry CIC guidelines … The NAS shall be capable of accepting CIC usage reports per guideline requirements on January 31 for the period ending December 31 and no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30. These reports may also be mailed and accepted by the NANPA in paper form. Finally, according to the NANPA website, if no local exchange carrier reports access or usage for a given CIC, NANPA is obliged to reclaim it. The semi-annual utilization and access reporting mechanism is described at length in the guidelines. AUGUST 1: FCC FORM 507, UNIVERSAL SERVICE QUARTERLY LINE COUNT UPDATE. Line count updates are required to recalculate a carrier's per line universal service support, and is filed with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). This information must be submitted on July 31 each year by all rate-of-return incumbent carriers, and on a quarterly basis if a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier (CETC) has initiated service in the rate-of-return incumbent carrier’s service area and reported line count data to USAC in the rate-of-return incumbent carrier’s service area, in order for the incumbent carrier to be eligible to receive Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS). Because July 31 falls on a Sunday this year, the filing will be due August 1. This quarterly filing is due July 31 and covers lines served as of December 31, 2013. Incumbent carriers filing on a quarterly basis must also file on September 30 (for lines served as of March 31, 2014); December 30 (for lines served as of June 30, 2014), and March 31, 2015, for lines served as of September 30, 2014). Calendar At-A-Glance May June July August |
| This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm. For additional information, please contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or halmor@bloostonlaw.com . |
ARRL “Strongly Supports” Petition to Drop 15 dB Restriction for Amateur Amplifiers05/26/2016 In comments (attached below) filed on May 26, the ARRL said it “strongly supports” a petition to the FCC seeking to eliminate an Amateur Service rule, spelled out in §97.317(a)(2), that amateur amplifiers not be able to boost the RF input signal by more than 15 dB. The Petition for Rule Making (RM-11767), was submitted in April on behalf of an amateur amplifier distributor, Expert Linears America LLC of Magnolia, Texas. “The Petition proposes relief that is in the nature of eliminating unnecessary regulatory underbrush, and it continues an effort started by the Commission on its own motion in 2004 … to do precisely that,” the ARRL said in its comments. “The rule proposed to be eliminated is outdated; it constituted over-regulation when it was adopted long ago, and it now substantially limits the flexibility of Amateur Radio operators to experiment with the current generation of software-defined Amateur Radio equipment.” The 15 dB provision came into the rules during an era when the FCC initiated various actions to rein in a major interference problem resulting from the use of illegal 11 meter amplifiers during the Citizens Band radio boom of the 1970s. “In its effort to address that problem, the Commission enacted a series of largely redundant and overlapping regulations that, in their overall effect, unnecessarily (and inappropriately) penalized the wholly innocent Amateur Radio operators,” the League asserted. “There was created a plethora of restrictions on manufacturers of external RF power amplifiers.” The ARRL noted that while the FCC eliminated some of the unnecessary regulations in 2004, others remain, including the 15 dB gain restriction. The rules adopted in 1978 also called for type acceptance (certification) of manufactured RF power amplifiers operating below 144 MHz, including a 50 W minimum drive power requirement and a ban on amplifiers capable of operation between 24 and 35 MHz. “Indeed, precisely the same rationale for elimination of the 50 W minimum drive power rule in 2006 applies to the elimination of the 15 dB gain rule for amateur amplifiers,” the ARRL said in its comments. “There is no continued justification for retaining the 15 dB gain limitation.” The League agreed with the petitioner that a current generation of low-power Amateur Radio transceivers, including software-defined designs, cannot drive an amplifier to full legal power given the 15 dB limitation. “It should not be necessary to configure an Amateur Radio station to include an additional amplifier stage in order to make use of current SDR technology in the Amateur Service,” the ARRL said. |
| Source: | ARRL.org |
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| LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
Hi Brad, I enjoyed your newsletter commentary. It brought back so many memories, so many in fact that I had to send you a note. I remember when we thought that 2way paging would be the wave of the future, and it is, first Blackberry then texting. I always thought it would keep going. I too got out of paging because the declines were fast and sharp. I really enjoyed paging from a technical standpoint. I worked for Metrocall then for TSR Wireless, where I was the VP of engineering for years until the new leadership took over. Then I saw the decline of the company as well as the industry, all at the same time. I was lucky because I was able to keep going. I realize now that I should have gotten into cellular earlier. Big mistake on my part, but I can't believe how it took over the world. All the same, your message about how "wrong" we were hit me like a rock. I remember sitting with Motorola and one guy there told me that paging would go away and be replaced by cellular. I got so mad! I complained to our salesman, but I think that Motorola saw it before we did. They knew that paging was declining. In fact, they shut down their Ft Worth facility pretty soon after that. I could not believe it! It really threw me for a loop. Paging soon died a painful death. At least the business did. People don't realize that the engineers and technicians, at lease the good ones, worked on so many technologies. Think about it. We did the terminals, T1, line interfaces, networking, even back when it was token ring, RF, installations, site design, computer room design, and so much more. It was so exciting and fun. Now it's all gone, pretty much. I do miss it. Just thought I would share my feelings of loss along with you. Wade |
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| THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK |
“So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.” ― Robert Frost, New Hampshire |
| PHOTOS OF THE WEEK |
Golden Sunrise (Tuscany, Italy)
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| Source: | CNN Travel | Photo by Giovanni Modesti |
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