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The Wireless
Messaging News

This Week's Wireless News Headlines

• Send text messages over ham radio with the HamMessenger
• Robert (Bob) Scott Bundy obituary
• How to Get Things Done When You Don’t Want to Do Anything
  • The drive to be your best can be hard to muster right about now. Here are some ways to get your mojo back.
• Spōk Reports 2021 Second Quarter Results
• Inside Towers
  • National Weather Service Relying on Towers to Deliver New Warnings
• BloostonLaw Telecom Update
  • FCC Announces Inactive C-Band Earth Stations; Notice of Operational Status Due October 21
  • FCC Announces Initial RDOF Awards; Letters of Credit, Bankruptcy Opinions due August 9
  • FCC Announces Conditional Forbearance from Lifeline Voice Obligation
  • Emergency Connectivity Fund Service Delivery Date Set for June 30, 2022
  • Comment Sought on Pole Attachment Petition for Declaratory Ruling
  • Senators Propose Legislation to Build on Emergency Connectivity Fund
  • Senators Introduce Bill to Conduct Study on USF Contribution from Big Tech
  • FCC Seeks Information on Status of Robocall Traceback Efforts
  • FCC Grants Auction 107 Licenses
  • Emergency Connectivity Fund Webinar Scheduled for August 3
  • Broadband Data Task Force to Hold Webinar on August 12
  • Next Precision Agriculture Working Group Meeting Scheduled for August 19
  • Deadlines
  • Calendar At-a-Glance
  • BloostonLaw Contacts
• BloostonLaw Private Users Update
  • FCC Reminds EAS Participants that Alerts Must Be Accessible to Persons with Disabilities
  • FCC Releases OET Filing Fee Guides
  • FCC Proposes Updates to Short Range Radar Sensing Technology Rules
  • FTC Charges Broadcom with Illegal Monopolization of Semiconductor Components
  • FCC Conditionally Grants NFL Limited Waiver to Use Citizens Broadband Radio Service Spectrum
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  • Barry Kanne
• Technician's Corner
  • How to install a BNC connector on RG-58 coax
• THIS WEEK'S MUSIC VIDEO
  • “He Ain't Got Rhythm”
  • Maria Muldaur With Tuba Skinny

NO POLITICS HERE

This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.

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. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I do freely express my own opinions.

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There is not a lot of news about Paging these days but when anything significant comes out, you will probably see it here. I also cover text messaging to other devices and various articles about related technology.

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Service Monitors and Frequency Standards for Sale

Motorola Service Monitor

IFR Service Monitor

IFR 500A Service Monitor

(Images are typical units, not actual photos of items offered for sale here.)

Send text messages over ham radio with the HamMessenger

Ham radio, or amateur radio, is a hobby enjoyed by millions of enthusiasts around the world.

The FCC in the US and similar organizations in other countries provide amateur radio licenses that allow hobbyists to communicate on designated radio bands. Most ham radio operators communicate by voice, but ham radios can transmit other kinds of data. Dale Thomas built HamMessenger, which is a portable device that enables users to send text messages through their ham radios.

If you remember the early days of the Internet, you have heard for yourself that audio can carry digital data. Dial-up Internet uses a modem to transmit that audio through standard phone lines.

HamMessenger uses a similar methodology to encode a text message as audio. If someone listening on that frequency also has a HamMessenger device, they can decode the text message. Messages are not encrypted, so you shouldn’t use HamMessenger for sensitive information. But it’s a fun way to chat with your ham radio buddies.

Source: https://www.blogdot.tv/send-text-messages-over-ham-radio-with-the-hammessenger/

50 years experience providing and supporting radio and paging customers worldwide. Call us anytime we can be useful!

			Minitor VI
Leavitt sells and supports most pager brands. We stock Unication G1, G5, Secure and some Elegant pagers. Call or e-mail for price and availability.

Robert (Bob) Scott Bundy August 8, 1948 ~ June 11, 2021 Born in: Regensburg, Germany Resided in: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Robert (Bob) Scott Bundy

Born: August 8, 1948, Regensburg, Germany

Death: June 11, 2021, Dacula, Georgia

Preceded in death by: Father, Captain Walt W. Bundy, US Army (KIA Korea 1950); Mother, Thelma Veal Hudson and brother, Walt W. Bundy, Jr.

He is survived by: Wife, Linda White Bundy; daughter, Stephanie Bundy Hatch; son, Robert Jeffrey Bundy, daughter-in-law, April Bundy; sister, Ann Bundy Russ and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bob grew up in East Point, Georgia. He attended Headland High School then Russell High School where he met his wife Linda when they were 17. They were married on May 17, 1969, and recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Bob attended college in Harrisonburg, VA then studied Electronics Engineering at VA Tech in Roanoke, VA.

Bob enlisted in the US Navy in 1969 and served until 1973. He was based in Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida as well as serving aboard the USS Independence. After the Navy, Bob and Linda moved back to Georgia. Bob had several jobs through the years where he made life-long friends. He had a reputation in the industry for his attention to detail and strong work ethic.

His daughter, Stephanie was born on October 10, 1973, and his son, Robert Jeffrey on February 18, 1977. He loved his children very much and was so proud of them.

His hobbies were running (10Ks, half marathons and marathons). He was especially proud of completing the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, D.C. in less than four hours. He also ran the Peachtree Road Race every year from 1983 to 2018 (for 35 years). His other hobbies were competitive shooting, scuba diving, riding motorcycles (street and dirt bikes), hiking and traveling. He especially loved Yosemite National Park in California. He also enjoyed listening to music, photography, watching movies and reading.

Bob loved his family and friends and very much enjoyed visiting and talking with them. He was proud to be an American and loved the USA. He will be remembered as a good man who loved his wife and children dearly.

God bless you Bob! You will be dearly missed.

Love forever,

Linda, Stephanie and Jeff

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the charity of your choice.

Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz

The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.

• Commercial Paging systems.
• Healthcare Paging systems.
• Public Safety Emergency Services Paging systems.
• Demand Response Energy Grid Management.

Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.

• Use as a stand-alone unit or in wide area network.
• Mix with other transmitter brands in an existing paging network.
• Adjustable from 20-250 watts.
• 110/240 VAC or 48VDC.
• Absolute Delay Correction.
• Remote Diagnostics.
• Configurable alarm thresholds.
• Integrated Isolator.
• Superb Reliability.
• Improved amplifier efficiency.
• Most reliable high-powered paging transmitter available.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 Email: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

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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How to Get Things Done When You Don’t Want to Do Anything

The drive to be your best can be hard to muster right about now. Here are some ways to get your mojo back.

George Wylesol

By Cameron Walker
July 28, 2021 Updated 12:10 p.m. ET

This April, I was feeling good. I’d figured out the public pool’s lane-reservation system and swam several times a week. I couldn’t wait to write new stories once my kids went back to school. With vaccines on their way, I even made travel plans.

Three months later, I’m in a slump. The pool stopped requiring reservations, but I haven’t been since June. Between Covid-19 variants and Western wildfires, I’m not fired up about a family road trip. And when my editor asked me to research a story about motivation, all I could think was: Ugh.

Motivation is the energy that gets us to take action — and I’m not the only one finding it hard to come by. Some of us might have full-on burnout after a year-plus of loss, grief and pandemic challenges. Others could feel more like I do — nothing’s terribly wrong, but we can’t quite find our spark. Whatever situation we’re in, a closer look at motivation might give us more fuel to move forward, both day-to-day and into an uncertain future.

The Forces That Move

As you look for your motivation, it helps to think of it falling into two categories, said Stefano Di Domenico, a motivation researcher who teaches at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

First, there’s controlled motivation, when you feel you’re being ruled by outside forces like end-of-year bonuses and deadlines — or inner carrots and sticks, like guilt or people-pleasing. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re not in the driver’s seat. Often when people say they’ve lost motivation, “what they really mean,” Dr. Di Domenico said, “is ‘I’m doing this because I have to, not because I want to.’”

The second kind, autonomous motivation, is what we’re seeking. This is when you feel like you’re self-directed, whether you have a natural affinity for the task at hand, or you’re doing something because you understand why it’s worthwhile.

I wanted more of that feeling. But when it came to this story, I found that motivation touches so many parts of our lives — school, work, exercise, volunteering, health — that I didn’t know where to begin.

I needed to start small. So I started with a cup of tea.

Tiny, Well-Timed Treats

Looking forward to a reward isn’t the best for long-term motivation. But several studies suggest that pairing small, immediate rewards to a task improves both motivation and fun.

Lora Park, an associate professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo, ran marathons before kids but now finds it can be hard to find a workout window before dark. When she uses the treadmill for an evening workout, she pairs it with Netflix to make running inside more pleasant.

I gave it a try. I found a favorite mug that I only use while writing and made a special tea or hot chocolate to sip in front of the computer.

Find Your Why

Tea can only take you so far, though. Clinical psychologist Richard M. Ryan, one of two scientists who developed a well-known approach to understanding motivation called self-determination theory, encourages those seeking lasting motivation to take a deep dive into their values.

Dr. Ryan, a professor at Australian Catholic University in North Sydney, said that when you connect the things that are important to you to the things you need to do — even the drudgeries — you can feel more in control of your actions. What do you love about your work? What core value does it meet?

Writing about your values can be a good start, said Tanaya Winder, an Albuquerque-based motivational speaker and poet. Ms. Winder, who teaches workshops on reconnecting to your sense of purpose, often has students free write about what makes them come alive.

Go Far, Together

I tried writing down a few words that resonated with my values. One that kept coming up for me was connection — another key part of motivation.

Ms. Winder said she draws her sense of purpose from her community — she is Duckwater Shoshone, Pyramid Lake Paiute and Southern Ute — and suggested considering how your motivation is tied to the people around you, whether that’s your family or your basketball team.

Social connections like this are critical to rekindling motivation, Dr. Park said, especially following the pandemic’s forced isolation. “Without that fundamental connection, motivation just starts to wither.”

Feeling blah at work? Contact colleagues to collaborate on a project or to ask for specific advice relevant to their expertise. Or organize a brainstorming session, after-work meet-up or other activity to create that connection.

Reaching out lifts others, too. “Letting someone know that you are thinking of them is enough to kick-start their motivation,” and reminds them that you care, Dr. Park said.

Recently, she sent a spontaneous thank-you note to a former college professor, thanking her for teaching a challenging, inspiring class. The professor responded quickly, saying that Dr. Park’s e-mail had raised her flagging spirits.

A Friendly Game of Motivation

People also motivate each other through competition. In a 2016 study, researchers grouped students in an 11-week exercise program into small, online social networks: some groups were competitive, others provided support. Students in competitive groups exercised much more often than those in supportive social networks, said Damon Centola, the senior author of the study and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

People around us influence us more than we might like to believe — so harness that influence by seeking out a dose of competition when you need motivation to exercise, said Dr. Centola, whose book, “Change: How to Make Big Things Happen,” looks at how social networks fuel change.

New athletic adventures can be motivational gold, too. A 2020 study suggested that trying out novel activities can help you stick with exercise. I needed a little of both: I haven’t returned to the pool, but I heard about a friend’s half-marathon and got the urge to push myself, so I found a fall trail race and started training.

Have Some Self-Compassion

When it comes to writing, though, competition just stresses me out. My internal monologue becomes a mean-spirited aerobics instructor who says things like, “You’re lazy and ungrateful!” and “Finish this story, or you’ll never work again!”

This doesn’t help. Treating ourselves with compassion works much more effectively than beating ourselves up, said Kristin Neff, an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. “People think they’re going to shame themselves into action,” yet self-compassion helps people stay focused on their goals, reduces fear of failure and improves self-confidence, which can also improve motivation, she said.

To start, Dr. Neff suggested pausing to ask yourself what you need. Maybe you’ll find it’s time to refocus on your purpose, or notice you’re ready to ask for outside support. Sometimes simply acknowledging you’re going through a hard time, and that this is a normal part of life, is all it takes.

Self-compassion doesn’t mean you’ll go soft or lose your drive, Dr. Neff said. Her new book, “Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive,” highlights a study of university students who did poorly on a challenging vocabulary test. Students who were encouraged to be compassionate toward themselves after the test studied longer and performed better on a follow-up test, compared to students given either simple self-esteem-boosting comments or no instruction.

“The key thing about self-compassion and motivation is that it allows you to learn from your failures,” Dr. Neff said.

You’re Not Alone

And I’ve got plenty of failures to learn from, so on a morning run, I gave self-compassion a try. What did I need? First, exercise and more sleep. I could consider new approaches to this story and ask some colleagues for advice. Then I realized what I really needed to do: pay attention.

I looked around. Even at dawn, I wasn’t alone: I saw dog walkers and maintenance workers, people commuting to work, people pulling up their masks. I imagined people in hospitals and homes, starting a new day whether they felt like it or not. The idea of all of us, trying and failing and trying again, carried me to the end of the run and to the end of this story. And if you’re still reading, you’ve found enough motivation to get here, too.

Providing Expert Support and Service Contracts for all Glenayre Paging Systems.

The GL3000 is the most prolific paging system in the world and Easy Solutions gladly welcomes you to join us in providing reliable support to the paging industry for many more decades in the future.

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
• Making systems More Reliable and MORE PROFITABLE for over 30 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
Telephone: 214 785-8255
Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com
E-mail: vaughan@easysolutions4you.com

GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTURE

Service Contracts

I would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging.

GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018.

If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation.

Click on the image above for more info about advertising here.

INTERNET Protocol Terminal

The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages.

An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.

Additional/Optional Features

• Database of up to 5000 subscribers.
• 4 serial ports on board.
• Up to 8 phone lines (DID or POTS).
• Can be configured for auto-fail-over to hot swap standby.
• 1RU rack mount unit appliance—no moving parts.
• Easily secure legacy system messages leaving site for HIPAA compliance.
• Only purchase the protocols/options you need.
• Add Paging Encryption for HIPAA compliance on site.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

Paging Data Receiver PDR-4

The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors.

Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.

• Option—decode capcode list or all messages.
• Large capcode capacity.
• Serial, USB and Ethernet output.
• POCSAG or FLEX page decoding, special SA protocols.
• Receivers for paging bands in VHF, UHF, 900 MHz.
• Message activated Alarm Output.
• 8 programmable relay outputs.
• Send notifications of a system problem.

• Synthesized Receiver Tuning.
• Selectivity better than 60 dB.
• Frequencies 148-174, 450-470, 929-932 MHz.
• Image Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Spurious Rejection better than 55 dB.
• Channel Spacing 12.5 or 25 kHz.
• Power 5VDC.
• Receiving Sensitivity 5µV at 1200 bps.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

Wireless Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

R.H. (Ron) Mercer Consultant 217 First Street East Northport, NY 11731
Telephone: 631-786-9359
www.wirelessplanners.com
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

Spōk Reports 2021 Second Quarter Results

July 28, 2021 04:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Spōk Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPOK), a global leader in healthcare communications, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on September 10, 2021, to stockholders of record on August 17, 2021.

Key Second Quarter 2021 Operating Highlights:

• Second quarter 2021 software revenue of $15.9 million included $9.6 million of maintenance revenue and $6.3 million of operations revenue. This was up from the second quarter 2020 software revenue of $14.7 million, which included $9.5 million of maintenance revenue and $5.2 million of operations revenue.
• Software bookings in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $13.0 million, compared to $15.4 million in the prior year quarter. Second quarter software bookings included two Spōk Go^® deals from existing customers transitioning to the new platform with an aggregate total contract value of approximately $1.3 million. Second quarter software bookings also included $3.0 million of legacy operations bookings and $8.7 million of maintenance renewals. As of June 30, 2021, the software revenue backlog totaled $45.6 million, compared to the backlog of $48.4 million at June 30, 2020.
• The quarterly rate of paging unit erosion was 0.6% in the second quarter of 2021, compared to paging unit erosion of 1.2% in the second quarter of 2020.
• Total paging ARPU (average revenue per unit) in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $7.32, up from ARPU of $7.24 in the second quarter of 2020, primarily due to the recovery of Telecommunications Relay Service Charges (TRS) that began in early 2021, and general increases of Universal Service Fees (USF). USF and TRS fees are effectively pass-through items that have corresponding costs associated with them. Excluding these pass-through items, ARPU would have been in-line with historical trends.
• Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $37.3 million, up from $32.6 million in the second quarter of 2020. Adjusted operating expenses (which excludes depreciation, amortization and accretion charges, and includes capitalized software development costs) totaled $37.6 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to adjusted operating expenses of $34.1 million in the second quarter of 2020.
• Capital expenses were $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2020.
• The number of full-time equivalent employees as of June 30, 2021 totaled 590, compared to 610 at June 30, 2020.
• Capital paid to stockholders in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $2.5 million. This came in the form of the Company's regular quarterly dividend.
• The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance as of June 30, 2021 was $68.1 million, compared to $78.7 million at December 31, 2020.

Management Commentary:

“We made progress in several key performance areas with software revenue up more than 8% from prior year levels, continued improvement in wireless trends, and continued expense management that resulted in declines in many expense categories,” said Vincent D. Kelly, president and chief executive officer. “However, our second quarter results demonstrate the continuation of the very challenging selling environment we are operating in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related impact on our customers budgets and their ability to focus on new projects. While we were not satisfied with the level of software revenue bookings in the second quarter, given the slow recovery in the healthcare industry, we believe that seasonality and timing had a large impact on performance. We remain encouraged by the size and quality of the pipeline of software deals for the second half of 2021 and believe that we will exit the year on very firm footing.”

“We launched Spōk Go^®, our software-as-a-service, cloud-native platform just over a year ago, at the onset of the pandemic. In the second quarter, we added two more Spōk Go^® wins, bringing the aggregate contract value for that product to $3.1 million. Spōk is a company with a strong operational foundation built on three pillars. First is our paging network, the largest in the United States, generating strong margins. Next is our Spōk Care Connect^® suite of products with a valuable maintenance revenue stream that contributed $38.6 million in 2020. Last is our new subscription-based, cloud-native Spōk Go^®platform that we believe has strong potential.”

“Finally, Spōk continues to demonstrate its stable revenue base, with over 82 percent of second quarter 2021 revenues recurring in nature, coming from either our legacy wireless business or software maintenance contracts. This, combined with disciplined expense control, gives us confidence as we enter the second half of the year. Spōk Go^® provides a critical function that we believe will become even more important in this environment. Our clinical communications platform provides hospitals with a system of action, not just of record, delivering reliable communications and clinical information, including clinical test results, to care teams when and where it matters most to improve patient outcomes,” concluded Kelly.

2021 Second Quarter and Year-to-Date Results:

Consolidated revenue for the second quarter of 2021 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) was $35.7 million, compared to $35.7 million in the second quarter of 2020. For the first six months of 2021, consolidated revenue totaled $71.8 million, compared to $73.0 million in the prior year period.

[Financial tables at the source.]

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 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.

Note: We do not like Patent Trolls, i.e. “a person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question.” We have helped some prominent law firms defend their clients against this annoyance, and would be happy to do some more of this same kind of work.

Some people use the title “consultant” when they don't have a real job. We actually do consulting work, and help others based on our many years of experience.

“If you would know the road ahead, ask someone who has traveled it.” — Chinese Proverb

Remote AB Switches

ABX-1 switches are often used at remote transmitter sites to convert from old, outdated and unsupported controllers to the new modern Prism-IPX ipBSC base station controllers. Remotely switch to new controllers with GUI commands.

ABX-1

ABX-3 switches are widely used for enabling or disabling remote equipment and switching I/O connections between redundant messaging systems.

ABX-3

Common Features:

• RJ45 for A, B and Common connectors.
• Manual push button or use Prism IP commands to switch one or more relays.
• Single or Dual Port Control card for IP or Serial connection.
• Form C relay—control local connection.
• Power Loss Indicator.
• Rear Panel Connector for controlling the switch externally.
• Power Source: 5VDC for ABX-1; 12VDC for ABX-3.

Prism-IPX Systems LLC.

11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Ph: 678-242-5290 e-mail: sales@prism-ipx.com
prism-ipx.com

National Weather Service Relying on Towers to Deliver New Warnings

Remembering to set your cell phone to accept government alert notifications of approaching hazardous weather conditions could save lives. As WPMT-TV in York, Pennsylvania reports, the National Weather Service has expanded its Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) storm warnings to include a Destructive category. If a Destructive alert is issued, recipients should brace for dangerous conditions that could include 80 mph winds and baseball sized hail.

Phones within range of cell towers in the danger area will issue wireless emergency alerts similar to tornado warnings giving people time to seek safety. “That would actually send on your cell phone based on the tower that your phone is picking up on within the warning polygon,” Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NWS State College, Jonathan Guseman, explained to a WPMT-TV reporter. “So the warnings are still going to be the same as they have but what’s going to change is there’s these new, what’s called damage threat tags,” he added.

While the new Destructive category is the most severe, Baseline and Considerable damage threats are not as extreme though each describe hazardous conditions. A Baseline threat warns of hailstones up to the size of a quarter with accompanying winds of over 58 mph. The mid-range Considerable category could see hail the size of golf balls with winds over 70 mph.

Guseman said that although the region is not known for violent weather, all National Weather Service alerts should be taken seriously. The revised alert categories will go into effect beginning on August 2.

Selected portions [sometimes more — sometimes less — sometimes the whole updates] 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 of The Wireless Messaging News with kind permission from the firm's partners. The firm's contact information is included at the end of this section of the newsletter.

FCC Announces Inactive C-Band Earth Stations; Notice of Operational Status Due October 21

On July 23, the FCC issued a Public Notice providing notice to operators of certain incumbent FSS C-band earth station antennas recently reported as no longer receiving service from a C-band satellite even though the FCC’s International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) continues to include the antenna as active. The list of station antennas may be found here.

Failure to submit a filing by October 21, 2021 affirming the continued operation of these earth station antennas and the intent to participate in the C-band transition will result in automatic termination by operation of rule.

BloostonLaw Contact: Richard Rubino.

Headlines

FCC Announces Initial RDOF Awards; Letters of Credit, Bankruptcy Opinions due August 9

On July 26, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the initial list of applications for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (Auction 904) that are ready to be authorized to receive support. Those applicants must submit acceptable irrevocable stand-by letter(s) of credit and Bankruptcy Code opinion letter(s) from their legal counsel for each state where they have winning bids that are ready to be authorized prior to 6:00 p.m. ET on Monday, August 9, 2021. The list of applications ready for authorization can be found here.

At the same time, in light of complaints raised about certain applications, the FCC sent letters to 197 winning bidders providing those applicants an opportunity to withdraw their funding requests from those places already with service or where significant questions of waste have been raised. According to the letters, “concerns have nonetheless been raised that certain areas included in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction are already served by one or more service providers that offer 25/3 Mbps broadband service or otherwise raise significant concerns about wasteful spending, such as parking lots and international airports” and, as such, the FCC will “entertain requests for waiver of the penalties normally associated with defaults.” The FCC indicated it “anticipate[s] looking favorably on requests” that show defaulting on these bids will serve the public interest. These applicants also received an extension of the above deadline, and must submit their letter of credit and bankruptcy opinion letter prior to 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 27, 2021.

The FCC also released an initial list of areas where winning bidders have chosen not to pursue buildout (and defaulted on their obligations). According to a Press Release, these areas will immediately become available for other broadband funding opportunities and the defaulting bidders will be subject to enforcement penalties as warranted.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Announces Conditional Forbearance from Lifeline Voice Obligation

On July 23, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the counties in which conditional forbearance from the obligation to offer Lifeline-supported voice service applies, pursuant to the FCC’s 2016 Lifeline Order. The list may be found here. This forbearance applies only to the Lifeline voice obligation of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are designated for purposes of receiving both high-cost and Lifeline support (high-cost/Lifeline ETCs), and not to Lifeline-only ETCs.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the 2016 Lifeline Order established conditional forbearance from Lifeline voice obligations in targeted areas where certain competitive conditions are met. Specifically, the FCC granted forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ obligation to offer and advertise Lifeline voice service in counties where the following conditions are met:

1. 51% of Lifeline subscribers in the county are obtaining broadband Internet access service;
2. there are at least three other providers of Lifeline broadband Internet access service that each serve at least 5% of the Lifeline broadband subscribers in that county; and
3. the ETC does not actually receive federal high-cost universal service support.

The FCC releases a yearly public notice announcing the counties in which the competitive conditions are met.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Mary Sisak.

Emergency Connectivity Fund Service Delivery Date Set for June 30, 2022

On July 22, the FCC issued a Public Notice establishing a June 30, 2022 service delivery date for equipment and other non-recurring services funding requests filed during the initial application filing window of the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, if the equipment or services have not been received at the time the funding request is made. The FCC also modified the certification language associated with the Program to clarify that applicants may request funding for eligible equipment and services that have not yet been ordered for the upcoming school year (i.e., July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022).

The Program is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which appropriated $7.171 billion for eligible schools and libraries for the purchase of eligible equipment and/or advanced telecommunications and information services for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than a school or library. The FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) opened a 45-day Emergency Connectivity Fund application filing window on June 29, 2021, and will close the application filing window on August 13, 2021. During this initial filing window, applicants may request funding for eligible equipment and services that will be received or delivered between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

Comment Sought on Pole Attachment Petition for Declaratory Ruling

On July 23, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on a petition for declaratory ruling filed on April 20, 2021 by The Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Comments are due August 23, and reply comments are due September 7.

In its petition, EEI asks the FCC to declare that: (1) when the FCC determines that a pole attachment rate, term, or condition is unjust and unreasonable and orders a refund pursuant to section 1.1407(a)(3) of the FCC’s rules, the “applicable statute of limitations” is the same as the two-year period prescribed by the Act; and (2) refunds in pole attachment complaint proceedings are not “appropriate” for any period preceding good-faith notice of a dispute.

Carriers interested in filing comments or reply comments in this proceeding may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Mary Sisak.

Law and Regulation

Senators Propose Legislation to Build on Emergency Connectivity Fund

On July 22, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), along with 15 additional senators and 25 House members, introduced the Securing Universal Communications Connectivity to Ensure Students Succeed (SUCCESS) Act to build on the Emergency Connectivity Fund created under the American Rescue Plan and provide schools and libraries with $8 billion a year over five years — for a total of $40 billion — to continue to provide Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and Internet-enabled devices to students, staff, and library patrons following the coronavirus pandemic.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the Emergency Educational Connections Act, which is a part of the American Rescue Plan, provided a one-time, $7.17 billion appropriation to connect students and library patrons struggling to learn at home. According to a press release, the purpose of the legislation is to “ensure that the kids who are finally being connected by the Emergency Connectivity Fund are not disconnected once the original funds run dry.”

“Even after the coronavirus pandemic finally ends, we cannot ignore a key 21st century educational requirement — Internet access. The homework gap is an educational inequity that long predates the current emergency, and we need to put the funding in place to ensure no student is forced to sit in a strip mall parking lot, hoping to connect to a local store’s Internet in order to finish their homework,” said Senator Markey.

This legislation will build upon the crucial resources we secured within the American Rescue Plan and provide additional support directly to our schools and libraries to get more students online. I will continue working to make sure that every student in every household across our state and nation has access to reliable and affordable Internet,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“During the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen how crucial Internet access has been for learning and completing assignments, and as our nation works to move past the pandemic, we must use this opportunity to help all students get online,” said Congresswoman Meng.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.

Senators Introduce Bill to Conduct Study on USF Contribution from Big Tech

On July 21, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Todd Young, R-Ind., introduced the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act. According to a press release, the legislation would direct the FCC to “conduct a study into the feasibility of collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions from Internet edge providers such as YouTube, Netflix, and Google.”

Specifically, the FAIR Contributions Act would direct the FCC to issue a Notice of Inquiry seeking public comment on the feasibility of collecting USF contributions from Internet edge providers, and issue a final report on the matter within 180 days. It would require the FCC to consider possible sources of Big Tech revenue, such as digital advertising and user fees; the fairness of the current system and a system under which contributions could be assessed on Big Tech firms; the feasibility of assessing contributions on such a broad category of firms that do not currently register with the FCC; the effects such a change would have on Tribal, low-income, and elderly consumers; and the changes to current law necessary to implement this system.

“More consumers are moving to Internet-based services,” said Wicker. “This raises concerns about the sustainability of fees collected from consumers’ telephone bills, which support broadband deployment in underserved areas. As online platforms continue to dominate the Internet landscape, we should consider the feasibility of Big Tech contributing to the USF to ensure rural areas are not left behind as we work to close the digital divide.”

“There’s no question the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to close the digital divide—whether you’re working from home, finishing school assignments, or in need of a telehealth appointment,” Capito said. “And, while we’ve made progress, we still have a long way to go. As we all know, building out our Internet infrastructure is expensive, and we have utilized various sources to pay for it. For too long, Big Tech has been able to profit off of the critical infrastructure used for common day-to-day activities while not helping at a sufficient level to improve those capabilities with broadband investment in states like West Virginia.”

Commissioner Brendan Carr praised the introduction of the FAIR Contributions Act. He wrote, “I applaud Senators Wicker, Capito, and Young for introducing the FAIR Contributions Act. For too long, Big Tech has been enjoying a free ride on our Internet infrastructure. The current funding mechanism for the Universal Service Fund—a regressive tax on the monthly bills for traditional telephone service, both wireless and wireline—is unfair and unsustainable. Indeed, it’s like taxing horseshoes to pay for highways.”

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Seeks Information on Status of Robocall Traceback Efforts

On July 20, the FCC issued a Public Notice requesting voice service providers and the registered consortium, USTelecom’s Industry Traceback Group (Traceback Group), to submit any information necessary for the FCC’s annual report on the state of private led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls. The reporting period for this request is from July 27, 2021 to October 31, 2021. Submissions are due by November 15, 2021.

The Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act) requires the FCC to seek additional information from voice service providers and the registered consortium about private-led traceback efforts, and to publish an annual report on the same. Any voice-service provider is required to be given an opportunity to provide information to the FCC to be used in the annual report.

At a minimum, the report must include the following information:

• A description of private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls by the registered consortium and the actions taken by the registered consortium to coordinate with the FCC.
• A list of voice service providers identified by the registered consortium that participated in private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls through the registered consortium.
• A list of each voice service provider that received a request from the registered consortium to participate in private led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls and refused to participate, as identified by the registered consortium.
• The reason, if any, each voice service provider identified by the registered consortium provided for not participating in private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls.
• A description of how the FCC may use the information provided to the FCC by voice service providers or the registered consortium that have participated in private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls in the enforcement efforts by the FCC.

Service providers interested in providing information in response to the FCC’s request may contact the firm for more information.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Grants Auction 107 Licenses

On July 23, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the grant of 19 long-form applications and issuance of 5,676 licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz (3.7 GHz) band from Auction 107. A list of the licenses granted may be found here.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, this auction raised a total of $81,114,481,921 in net bids ($81,168,677,645 in gross bids), with 21 bidders winning a total of 5,684 licenses. Long-form applications for licenses won in Auction 107 were due on March 10, 2021. The FCC accepted Auction 107 applications for filing on April 2, 2021.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell.

Industry

Emergency Connectivity Fund Webinar Scheduled for August 3

On July 26, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing a virtual webinar to provide additional information about the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program, on www.fcc.gov/live. The event is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM EDT on August 3, and registration is not required.

According to the Public Notice, the webinar will highlight frequently asked questions about the ECF Program and application process. Participants will also have an opportunity to submit any additional questions they may have during, or in advance, of the event. The webinar will be recorded and available on the FCC’s website.

As we reported in a previous edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, the Program was established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and will provide $7.17 billion to support the reasonable costs of the purchase of connected devices (i.e., laptop and tablet computers), Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity for off-campus use to serve the unmet needs of students, school staff, and library patrons during the COVID-19 emergency period. The 45-day application filing window is now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 13. During this application filing window, eligible schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries, will be able to submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Broadband Data Task Force to Hold Webinar on August 12

On July 22, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force (Task Force) will host a virtual webinar on Thursday, August 12, 2021, starting at 2:00 p.m. EDT to provide information about the proposed technical requirements for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowd-sourcing processes required under the Broadband DATA Act. The webinar will be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.

At the webinar, staff will provide an overview of the proposals in the Technical Requirements Public Notice of July 16, 2021 on this topic, and will be available to answer participant questions. The schedule for the webinar will be as follows:

• 2:00 p.m.: Overview of Proposed Mobile Challenge and Verification Data Collection Processes
• 3:10 p.m.: Break
• 3:25 – 4:00 p.m.: Question and Answer Period

To register to participate remotely, interested parties should e-mail Susan Fisenne at susan.fisenne@fcc.gov. Questions can be submitted by registered participants before or during the webinar by e-mail to BroadbandDataInquiries@fcc.gov. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the FCC’s website following the event.

Next Precision Agriculture Working Group Meeting Scheduled for August 19

On July 21, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing that the next meeting of the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (Task Force) will be held Thursday, August 19, 2021, beginning at 3:00 p.m. EDT. At this meeting, the Task Force will hear updates from the Working Group leadership and discuss progress towards recommendations. However, this agenda may be modified at the discretion of the Task Force Chair and the Designated Federal Officer. The meeting will be wholly electronic and is open to the public on the Internet via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live.

The Task Force provides advice and recommendations for the FCC on how to assess and advance deployment of broadband Internet access service on unserved agriculture land to promote precision agriculture. Congress directed the FCC, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, to establish the Task Force in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). More information about the Task Force can be found here.

Deadlines

JULY 31: FCC FORM 507, LINE COUNT DATA (A-CAM AND ALASKA PLAN RECPIENTS). Sections 54.313(f)(5) and 54.903(a)(1) of the FCC’s rules requires all rate-of-return telecommunications carriers to provide line count information on FCC Form 507 to USAC, the universal service Administrator. Carriers receiving Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) must submit this information annually on March 31st of each year, and may update the data on a quarterly basis. Carriers that receive Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) I, A-CAM II, or Alaska Plan support are required to file by July 1st of each year. For 2020, the FCC has extended the A-CAM filing deadline until July 31.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

JULY 31: CARRIER IDENTIFICATION CODE (CIC) REPORTS. Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Reports must be filed by the last business day of July (this year, July 31). 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.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

AUGUST 1: FCC FORM 499-Q, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. All telecommunications common carriers that expect to contribute more than $10,000 to federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support mechanisms must file this quarterly form. The FCC has modified this form in light of its recent decision to establish interim measures for USF contribution assessments. The form contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. Form 499-Q relates only to USF contributions. It does not relate to the cost recovery mechanisms for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP), which are covered in the annual form (Form 499-A) that was due April 1.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

AUGUST 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 August 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 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.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

AUGUST 1: LIVE 911 CALL DATA REPORTS – Non-Nationwide Providers that do not provide coverage in any of the Test Cities must collect and report aggregate data based on the largest county within its footprint to APCO, NENA, and NASNA on the location technologies used for live 911 calls in those areas. Clients should obtain spreadsheets with their company’s compliance data from their E911 service provider (e.g., Intrado / West).

BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell.

AUGUST 29: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Copyright Statement of Accounts form plus royalty payment for the first half of year is due to be filed August 29 at the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office by cable TV service providers.

BloostonLaw Contact: Gerry Duffy.

SEPTEMBER 1: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION AND BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. Three types of entities must file this form.

1. Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End User Locations: Entities that are facilities-based providers of broadband connections — which are wired “lines” or wireless “channels” that enable the end user to receive information from and/or send information to the Internet at information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction — must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which the entity provides one or more such connections to end user locations. For the purposes of Form 477, an entity is a “facilities-based” provider of broadband connections to end user locations if it owns the portion of the physical facility that terminates at the end user location, if it obtains unbundled network elements (UNEs), special access lines, or other leased facilities that terminate at the end user location and provisions/equips them as broadband, or if it provisions/equips a broadband wireless channel to the end user location over licensed or unlicensed spectrum. Such entities include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers (LECs), cable system operators, fixed wireless service providers (including “wireless ISPs”), terrestrial and satellite mobile wireless service providers, MMDS providers, electric utilities, municipalities, and other entities. (Such entities do not include equipment suppliers unless the equipment supplier uses the equipment to provision a broadband connection that it offers to the public for sale. Such entities also do not include providers of fixed wireless services (e.g., “Wi-Fi” and other wireless ethernet, or wireless local area network, applications) that only enable local distribution and sharing of a premises broadband facility.)
2. Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Telephone Services: Incumbent and competitive LECs must complete and file the applicable portions of the form for each state in which they provide local exchange service to one or more end user customers (which may include “dial-up” ISPs).
3. Providers of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Service: Interconnected VoIP service is a service that enables real-time, two-way voice communications; requires a broadband connection from the user’s location; requires Internet-protocol compatible customer premises equipment; and permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network. Interconnected VoIP providers must complete and file the applicable portions of the form for each state in which they provide interconnected VoIP service to one or more subscribers, with the state determined for reporting purposes by the location of the subscriber’s broadband connection or the subscriber’s “Registered Location” as of the data-collection date. “Registered Location” is the most recent information obtained by an interconnected VoIP service provider that identifies the physical location of an end user.
4. Providers of Mobile Telephony Services: Facilities-based providers of mobile telephony services must complete and file the applicable portions of this form for each state in which they serve one or more mobile telephony subscribers. A mobile telephony service is a real-time, two-way switched voice service that is interconnected with the public switched network using an in-network switching facility that enables the provider to reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless handoff of subscriber calls. A mobile telephony service provider is considered “facilities-based” if it serves a subscriber using spectrum for which the entity holds a license that it manages, or for which it has obtained the right to use via lease or other arrangement with a Band Manager.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy.

SEPTEMBER 30: FCC FORM 396-C, MVPD EEO PROGRAM REPORTING FORM. Each year on September 30, multi-channel video program distributors (“MVPDs”) must file with the FCC an FCC Form 396-C, Multi- Channel Video Programming Distributor EEO Program Annual Report, for employment units with six or more full-time employees. Users must access the FCC’s electronic filing system via the Internet in order to submit the form; it will not be accepted if filed on paper unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver of the electronic filing requirement. Certain MVPDs also will be required to complete portions of the Supplemental Investigation Sheet (“SIS”) located at the end of the Form. These MVPDs are specifically identified in a Public Notice each year by the FCC.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Sal Taillefer.

Calendar At-a-Glance

July
Jul. 30 – Comments are due on IP CTS Freeze.
Jul. 31 – Carrier Identification Code (CIC) Report is due.

August
Aug. 1 – FCC Form 502 due (North American Numbering Plan Utilization and Forecast Report).
Aug. 1 – FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Aug. 1 – Live 911 Call Data Reports from Non-Nationwide Providers are due.
Aug. 6 – Comments are due on Extension of CAF Phase II Letter of Credit Waiver.
Aug. 9 – RDOF Letter of Credit and Bankruptcy Opinion Letters are due (first round, 6 P.M. ET).
Aug. 9 – Reply comments are due on IP CTS Freeze.
Aug. 10 – Reply comments on National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Proceeding are due.
Aug. 11 – Comments on Space Launch Industry Spectrum are due.
Aug. 11 – Nationwide WEA and EAS test.
Aug. 12 – ETRS Form Two is due.
Aug. 23 – Reply comments are due on Extension of CAF Phase II Letter of Credit Waiver.
Aug. 23 – Comments are due on Edison Electric Institute Pole Attachment Petition for Declaratory Ruling.
Aug. 27 – RDOF Letter of Credit and Bankruptcy Opinion Letters are due (letter extension, 6 P.M. ET).
Aug. 29 – Copyright Statement of Accounts is due.

September
Sep. 1 – FCC Form 477 due (Local Competition and Broadband Report).
Sep. 7– Reply comments are due on Edison Electric Institute Pole Attachment Petition for Declaratory Ruling.
Sep. 10 – Reply comments on Space Launch Industry Spectrum are due.
Sep. 27 – ETRS Form Three is due. Sep. 30 – FCC Form 396-C (MVPD EEO Program Annual Report).

FCC Reminds EAS Participants that Alerts Must Be Accessible to Persons with Disabilities

On July 21, the FCC issued an Enforcement Advisory reminding Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants of the requirements to ensure that EAS alerts are visually and aurally accessible. The next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is Wednesday, August 11 at 2:20 p.m. ET.

The FCC’s accessibility requirements for EAS messages are as follows: the visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or block text, must be displayed at the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere with other visual messages; in a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and speed) that is readily readable and understandable; that does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally scroll on and off the screen); and is displayed in full at least once during any EAS message. The audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least once during any EAS message to ensure it is accessible to viewers who are blind or have low vision. Failure to comply with the EAS accessibility rules may subject a violator to sanctions including, but not limited to, substantial monetary forfeitures. The Enforcement Bureau may, at its discretion, treat each failure to transmit accessible EAS messages as a separate violation for purposes of calculating the proposed forfeiture amount. The Bureau will continue to monitor and enforce compliance with the EAS accessibility rules due to their importance in promoting and protecting public safety.

BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, Richard Rubino and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Releases OET Filing Fee Guides

As part of the rolling implementation of its new application filing fee structure that was to have been effective in April 2021, the FCC released its new filing fee guide and announced that its new filing fees for the Office of Engineering and Technology became effective on July 15, 2021. The FCC is making its new fee schedule effective as it is able to update its systems. We anticipate that the wireless fees will be updated later this Summer or Fall.

The fee filing guide for OET covers radio frequency device equipment authorization services and experimental radio services. For the radio frequency device equipment authorization services, fees are associated with the assignment of an Applicant / Grantee Code. For the experimental radio services, fees are associated with the following application types: New Station Authorization; Modification of Authorization; Renewal of Station Authorization; Assignment of License or Transfer of Control; and Special Temporary Authority. In addition, requests for withholding from public inspection that are associated with any of these applications require an additional, separate fee. Additionally, the FCC has indicated that it will no longer accept paper checks and thus, filing fee payments for OET must be made electronically – either by credit/debit card or ACH payment.

Application fees that may be of interest are, as follows:

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FCC Proposes Updates to Short Range Radar Sensing Technology Rules

On July 13, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in which it proposes updated rules for short-range radars in the 60 GHz spectrum band. Cutting edge radar sensing technology has been used to enable in-car radar-based technology to monitor for children left in dangerous, hot cars and touchless control of devices, including to promote accessibility for users with mobility or speech impairments. Comment and reply comment deadlines have not yet been established. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register; Reply Comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Specifically, the NPRM proposes expanding the permissible uses for short-range radars in the 57 to 64 GHz band while promoting coexistence with other unlicensed users and not interfering with licensed and authorized users in the band. This item proposes allowing unlicensed field disturbance sensors like radar devices to operate in mobile environments at a higher power level than authorized today, modeled after successful waivers previously granted by the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology for Google’s gesture control device and to a number of parties for applications including hot car sensors. It also seeks comments on the use of sensing technology such as Listen-Before-Talk to allow transmission at the same power level as other unlicensed devices in this band.

Under current FCC rules, unlicensed devices that operate in the 57 to 71 GHz band generally include devices such as wireless local area networking devices, outdoor fixed point-to-point communication links, and radar devices that are used in fixed applications or mobile short-range interactive motion sensors. The rule proposal seeks to open the door for additional technological uses in the 57 to 64 GHz portion of that band while asking questions about the applicability in the broader 57 to 71 GHz band, and proposing rules and seeking comment on how best to ensure coexistence among new and existing users.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

FTC Charges Broadcom with Illegal Monopolization of Semiconductor Components

On July 2, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that it has issued a complaint charging Broadcom with illegally monopolizing markets for semiconductor components used to deliver television and broadband Internet services through exclusive dealing and related conduct. The FTC has also issued a proposed consent order that would settle the FTC’s charges. Under the consent order, Broadcom must stop requiring its customers to source components from Broadcom on an exclusive or near exclusive basis. According to the FTC’s press release, the complaint alleges that Broadcom is a monopolist in the sale of three types of semiconductor components, or chips, used in devices that deliver television and broadband Internet services. The complaint alleges that Broadcom illegally maintained its power in the three monopolized markets by entering long-term agreements with both OEMs and service providers that prevented these customers from purchasing chips from Broadcom’s competitors. These agreements required customers to purchase, use or bid Broadcom’s chips on an exclusive or near-exclusive basis. Broadcom entered these exclusivity and loyalty agreements with at least ten OEMs, including those with the most extensive engineering and design capabilities and the strongest ties to service providers. And Broadcom entered similar agreements with major U.S. and other service providers. By entering exclusivity and loyalty agreements with key customers at two levels of the supply chain, Broadcom created insurmountable barriers for companies trying to compete with Broadcom. The complaint also alleges that Broadcom leveraged its power in the three monopolized chip markets to extract from customers exclusivity and loyalty commitments for the supply of chips in the five related markets, which prevented Broadcom’s competitors from competing on the merits for customers’ business.

Under the proposed consent order, Broadcom will be prohibited from entering into certain types of exclusivity or loyalty agreements with its customers for the supply of key chips for traditional broadcast set top boxes and DSL and fiber broadband Internet devices. Broadcom also must stop conditioning access to or requiring favorable supply terms for these chips on customers committing to exclusivity or loyalty for the supply of related chips. And the proposed order prohibits Broadcom from retaliating against customers for doing business with Broadcom’s competitors.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast, Richard Rubino and Sal Taillefer.

FCC Conditionally Grants NFL Limited Waiver to Use Citizens Broadband Radio Service Spectrum

The FCC has conditionally granted the National Football League’s request for waiver of section 96.39(c)(2) of the Commission’s rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The purpose of the waiver request is to allow the NFL to continue to operate its coach-to-coach communications system in the limited circumstance of an Internet outage in NFL stadiums, during NFL football games but after authority to operate within the stadium has been obtained from a Spectrum Access System (SAS).

In particular, the NFL has requested a waiver of the SAS communications requirements in section 96.39(c)(2) of the Commission’s rules under certain limited circumstances in order to allow its teams to use their coach-to-coach communication systems in NFL stadiums during and prior to NFL football games when Internet service is interrupted or becomes unavailable during or immediately prior to the commencement of a scheduled game, but after the authority to operate the system during that game has been granted by an SAS. The NFL’s justification is that a waiver of this requirement would meet the public interest of being able to provide uninterrupted service to its customers and “in permitting deployment of this new and useful CBRS technology in football stadiums….” The NFL’s waiver request was supported by the Open Technology Institute at New America, Charter Communications, Inc., and DISH Network Corporation, who determined that the “factual circumstances the NFL described in its Petition appear sufficient to avoid harmful interference to other CBRS operators.” Nonetheless, these commenters requested that the FCC “explicitly limit any grant of the NFL’s [waiver] requests to the facts presented” in order to avoid “undermining” the 3.5 GHz regulatory scheme. Likewise, the Internet & Television Association (“NCTA”) urged the FCC to narrowly tailor any relief.

In granting the NFL’s request, the FCC found that the SAS communications requirements of Rule Section 96.39(c)(2) would not be frustrated by a grant of this limited waiver. This waiver, which is in effect only for the 2021-2022 NFL season, will allow the NFL to operate its coach-to-coach communications systems without connectivity to an SAS in the event of a localized Internet outage in an NFL stadium during an NFL football game. This waiver applies only to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service system used for coach-to-coach communications during, and up to two hours immediately prior to an NFL football game, in the event of a complete Internet outage that prevents the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) that comprise this system from contacting an SAS. It should also be noted that the FCC’s grant places several other conditions that the NFL will be required to abide by.

BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino

W2AEW
This short video shows how to install a crimp style BNC connector onto RG-58 50 ohm coax. Installation of other crimp style coaxial connectors will be similar. Note that the connectors are specific to the type of coax being used, and having the correct crimping tool is really a necessity. You can optionally (carefully) solder the center pin, and optionally finish up with some heat shrink tubing for clean professional look.

“He Ain't Got Rhythm”

Maria Muldaur With Tuba Skinny

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