Lightsquared: Juli 2011

Senin, 25 Juli 2011

From the FCC

July 15-24
Daily Digest Highlights
1. Released: 07/19/2011. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES REGION 51 (TEXAS-HOUSTON) PUBLIC SAFETY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEES TO HOLD 700 MHZ AND 800 MHZ NPSPAC PLANNING MEETINGS. (DA No. 11-1211). (Dkt No 91-199 ). PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1211A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1211A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1211A1.txt

2. FCC ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR AUGUST 9TH OPEN MEETING. News Release. News Media Contact: David Fiske at (202) 418-0513, email: David.Fiske@fcc.gov OCHJG
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308484A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308484A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308484A1.txt

3. PETITION OF INTRADO COMMUNICATIONS OF VIRGINIA, INC. Granted the parties' Joint Motion for Approval of Agreement. (Dkt No. 08-33 ). Action by: Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau. Adopted: 07/18/2011 by ORDER. (DA No. 11-1199). WCB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1199A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1199A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1199A1.txt

4. CLEARWIRE CORPORATION. Granted the Extension Request and extended the deadline for completing the transition in those BTAs to October 15, 2011. (Dkt No. 06-136 ). Action by: Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau by LETTER. (DA No. 11-1215). WTB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1215A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1215A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1215A1.txt

5. Released: 07/21/2011. EMERGENCY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUGUST 12, 2011 MEETING. (DA No. 11-1221) Committee to Focus on Matters Pertaining to Next Generation 911 Access for Persons with Disabilities. CGB . Contact: Cheryl King at (202) 418-2284, email: Cheryl.King@fcc.gov or Patrick Donovan at (202) 418-2413, email: Patrick.Donovan@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-0416 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1221A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1221A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1221A1.txt

6. COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS REMARKS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON, DC. OCMJC http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308525A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308525A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308525A1.txt

7. SERVICE RULES FOR THE 698-746, 747-762 AND 777-792 MHZ BANDS/IMPLEMENTING A NATIONWIDE, BROADBAND, INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK IN THE 700 MHZ BAND/AMENDMENT OF PART 90 OF THE COMMISSON'S RULES. Denied the Request for Declaratory Ruling filed by the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. by 4th R&O. (Dkt No. 06-229 07-100 06-150 ). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 07/20/2011 by R&O. (FCC No. 11-113). PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-113A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-113A2.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-113A2.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-113A1.txt
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-113A2.txt

8. ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF REGULATORY FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011. Established regulatory fee rates for FY 2011 Regulatory Fees. (Dkt No. 11-76 ). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 07/21/2011 by R&O. (FCC No. 11-114). OMD http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A2.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A2.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A1.txt
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-114A2.txt

Jumat, 22 Juli 2011

European Commission Concerned About Light Squared

In a letter addressed to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, a European Commission (EC) official outlined concerns about the LightSquared nationwide LTE network, which has been under fire for reported GPS interference and frozen at the FCC by Congress.

Europe's satellite system, Galileo, is planned to launch by 2015. In the letter the EC explained that a terrestrial network in mobile satellite service (MSS) spectrum would alter the nature of transmissions in that band. The neighboring MSS signals are currently operating at similar receive power levels. If LightSquared launches their network as planned, these transmissions would increase in magnitude- which could severely disrupt the reception of the Galileo system as well as GPS operations. Galileo receivers in place in the United States will likely be affected by harmful interference from LightSquared base stations, according to the European Space Agency analysis.

In June, LightSquared submitted a report to the FCC outlining the interference issues, and a three- part solution to the problem. The report was met with much criticism by authorities across the industry, including the Coalition to Save Our GPS.

Kamis, 21 Juli 2011

LTE Used for Video Backhaul Over D-Block Waves

The federal park police utilized Alcatel-Lucent's LTE system operating on 700 MHz D-Block spectrum during the Washington, D.C. July 4 celebration this year on the National Mall. Their video-surveillance system is the first to operate on these waves, which the FCC currently has reserved for commercial auction.

The video backhaul system they have in place allows fixed surveillance equipment in the area to send high-definition video and thermal-imaging feeds to officials in a remote location. Their video-based technology, which included analytic capability, requires robust bandwidth.

Using 700 MHz frequencies allowed the base station to receive signal despite being out of the line of sight, something that would be impossible over a cellular connection because of the caliber of the cameras used. The FCC granted temporary authority for the federal park police to operate on the D-block spectrum for the event.

The technology services commander for the U.S. Park Police attributes the success of the network to having dedicated spectrum that did not have to be shared with commercial users.

Kamis, 14 Juli 2011

FCC Releases Narrowbanding Deadline Reminder, FAQs

Part 90 VHF and UHF licensees within the 150-174 and 421-512 MHz bands must comply with the January 1, 2013 narrowbanding deadline, or face admonisments, license revocation, and/or monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each day of operation in violation− up to $112,500.

The Public Notice issued yesterday included detailed information about waiver procedure and Frequently Asked Questions regarding narrowbanding.

Read the notice here.

If your agency is in need of assistance through the narrowbanding process, contact EMR Consulting today to find out how we can help.

D-Block Companion Bill Generates Public Safety Forecasts

Just in time for a committee hearing scheduled for this Friday, Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Gene Green (D-Texas) introduced H.R. 2482 to the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill to support the D-Block legislation (S. 911).

S. 911 recently passed the Senate Commerce Committee with a 21-4 vote, which gives public safety advocates hope that first responders will get the 700 MHz network they have been working towards. A spokesperson for the Public Safety Alliance says the next step is to get it through the hearing and to gain support from the House Energy and Commerce Commitee.

President Obama and the executive branch have expressed support for the bill, but this could hinder its progress just as much as it helps. The high-profile support has turned the bill into a "political football" in a currently divided government, with Democrats and Republicans using whatever tools they can to stay ahead of one another. This common problem of politics being brought into Public Safety has slowed and even halted many projects in the past. Now more than ever, the effort must be a bipartisan one, and focus must stay on lawmakers' responsibility to do what is best for first responders, and in turn all of us.

Some analysts are getting nervous about the ticking clock; the goal was to have D-Block legislation on the President's desk by the tenth anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks. Some hypothesize that if it is not signed by then, it might be forgotten and not signed at all.

A writer from Urgent Communications, is more optimistic, saying the decision will ultimately come to a matter of money; can Congress find $11 million to build a Public Safety network? And even if they do, who will foot the bill if (and when) the nationwide network ends up costing more than anyone currently thinks?

We want to hear your thoughts. Comment in the box below or email kmilfort@emrconsults.com to tell us your opinion.

From the FCC

Commission Moves Toward Improved 911 Location-Accuracy

The FCC voted Tuesday to revise its location-accuracy requirements for wireless 911 callers, seeking comments to improve location-accuracy of VoIP emergency communications.

The new rules would require all wireless carriers to comply with more stringent GPS-based E-911 accuracy requirements by 2019. This includes coverage at the county level or PSAP-territory level. Mandatory reports on tests of accuracy will be required as well.

Reliable location data is invaluable for first reponders, especially under circumstances where a 911 caller is unable to communicate their location. The FCC also plans to explore the ability to locate callers within buildings, since a only street address is insufficient if a call comes from a large building.

This is a step in the right direction for Public Safety, after the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) published Project LOCATE, a study which found discrepancies of wireless 911 call location-accuracy, based on the technology used by carriers.

Minggu, 10 Juli 2011

Releases from the FCC

From the July 6 - 10, 2011 Daily Digests

1. FCC TO HOLD OPEN COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308248A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308248A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308248A1.txt

2. STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, HEARING ON "FCC PROCESS REFORM", BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES by Statement. OCHJG http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308284A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308284A1.txt

3. Released: 07/06/2011. AUCTION OF 700 MHZ BAND LICENSES; 19 BIDDERS QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE IN AUCTION 92. (DA No. 11-1131). (Dkt No 10-248 ) The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau identifies 19 applicants found to be qualified to bid in the upcoming auction of 700 MHz band licenses - Auction 92. WTB AU http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A2.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A3.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A1.txt
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A2.txt
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1131A3.txt

4. STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. MCDOWELL, "THE VIEWS OF THE INDEPENDENT AGENCIES ON REGULATORY REFORM", BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & COMMERCE, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES by Statement. OCRMM http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-308297A1.pdf

Kamis, 07 Juli 2011

Andrew Seybold: LightSquared System is a Potential Disaster

This post was used with Andrew Seybold's permission, from Andrewseybold.com.

Okay, I admit it. I don’t believe LightSquared should be permitted to use what was supposed to be satellite spectrum for a terrestrial broadband network. Not only that, I don’t believe LightSquared has a sound business plan. Building more than 40,000 cell sites, maintaining them, and reselling the bandwidth to others who want to sell it to their customers does not pencil out in my book. The margins will be too slim, especially given the fact that prices for both voice and broadband services keep falling in the United States so margins will continue to be squeezed. But apart from a faulty business plan, the main reason I am opposed to LightSquared’s plan to build this network is that if there is the slightest chance it will interfere with GPS receivers, it simply should not be permitted to be built.

"...if LightSquared is permitted to build out its system it can only result in a potential disaster that will take years and cost billions of dollars to resolve if it can be resolved at all."

The history of wireless is littered with examples where the FCC acted on a request by a vendor, approved the deployment of a system, and later learned that the new system created interference to other services. The most notable of these mistakes by the FCC is the ongoing saga of the Nextel service. Nextel started out providing Specialized Mobile Radio services (SMR) for two-way radio systems as Fleet Call and then was re-invented to become a full cellular service but not in a cellular band. In fact, as Nextel went around the country and bought up other SMR operators’ systems (each one covering a specific local area), it amassed channels that were intermingled with other SMR operators, as well as fire and police radio systems.

Nextel’s founders worked hard to convince both Congress and the FCC that this type of system would be compatible with the existing users in the 800-MHz frequency band. Since there were only two cellular operators for a city at that point in time, both the FCC and Congress approved the concept in order to bring more competition into the cellular market. During the discussions, fire, police, and many SMR operators pointed out that Nextel’s cell towers would cause interference to these other services but their warnings fell on deaf ears.

If you were the FCC Chairman, would you permit LightSquared to continue? I, for one, would not.

The system was rolled out and, in fact, it caused significant interference to others in the same band including public safety. The reason was simple: SMR and public safety systems made use of tall towers or mountain top sites and only a few of them per city. The radios were high power and the systems worked well. Then Nextel began building towers using the cellular model, which is lots of towers at low locations in order to provide service over wide areas. The result was that when an SMR or public safety radio was within sight of a Nextel cell site, or even close to one, the cell site put out so much power 24/7 that the Nextel signals interfered with public safety and SMR radios and in many cases put public safety personnel in danger.

The solution, which is still ongoing today, was to re-band this portion of the spectrum moving Nextel’s frequencies to a contiguous block of spectrum instead of permitting Nextel to be intermingled with the other services. A lot of this re-banding, as it is called, has been completed but not without Nextel and now Sprint/Nextel having to spend billions of dollars and huge logistical issues for both public safety and SMR systems. Some areas of the country have not completed the re-banding process, including along both our borders where the process must also include coordination with either Mexico or Canada, and then there are many areas where there are disputes about the cost of re-banding or radio replacement.

Nextel got its way based on the belief in Washington at the time that we needed more than two cellular operators in order to create more competition and therefore lower prices. After Nextel was approved, the PCS spectrum (1900 MHz) was auctioned again to ensure more competitors in every market. Fortunately, the 1900-MHz users were relocated by the auction winners so there were no further interference issues.

Fast forward to 2011. The FCC’s broadband report says that we need more commercial and unlicensed broadband spectrum. The FCC’s OBI (Omnibus Broadband Initiative) has cited that in the United States we will be more than 200 MHz of broadband spectrum short to meet the demand by 2013, and the FCC says it will “find” 300 MHz of spectrum within five years and another 200 MHz within another five years. Further, there are two other attitudes in DC that influence the decision-making process. The first is the belief (which I disagree with) that broadband services will replace all wireless services going forward and therefore broadband is the most important form of wireless communications going forward. The other belief is the more competition there is in every market in the United States the lower the pricing will be for all customers. Neither of these beliefs is grounded in reality or can be proven but that does not matter. What matters is perception.

When LightSquared went to the FCC, as you can see, the FCC was already predisposed to approve both more broadband spectrum availability and more competition, especially since LightSquared is to be a wholesaler of broadband services. This will permit smaller competitors to compete against the larger nationwide network operators, at least on a local basis. It is no wonder that the FCC issued LightSquared its waiver to convert satellite spectrum into a full-blown terrestrial network as opposed to a previous ruling that would permit LightSquared to augment its satellite coverage with a few terrestrial sites. The warnings from the experts, once again, went unanswered, and the FCC issued the waiver.

Now, after the fact, the FCC and LightSquared are facing opposition from Congress, a collation of GPS companies, the aircraft industry, the Department of Justice, the Public Safety community and even the farmers who use precision GPS in growing their crops. Perhaps the good news is that the network has not been built yet and the hue and cry is growing louder by the day. The results of the first set of tests proved, beyond a doubt, that the first portion of the spectrum LightSquared intended to use for terrestrial broadband would have wiped out GPS reception within a few miles of each cell site and in the air as well.

Now LightSquared has filed its report, all 1200+ pages of it, and working my way through it is a challenge. It has said it will move to a different portion of its spectrum that is further away from the GPS band, and claims that in this portion of the band it will not interfere with 99.5% of the GPS devices. The fact that it WILL interfere with even, as they state, 0.5% of the devices should be reason enough not to grant permits to build the network. The other item of interest to me is that LightSquared now claims that it is the fault of the GPS vendors for building GPS receivers without the proper type of filtering in them.

I take issue with this point because the GPS band is in the satellite band and the GPS system was never intended to have to worry about interference from terrestrial transmitters. Because the GPS band is 20 MHz wide and uses spread spectrum technology, filtering these devices will take a lot of engineering if it is even possible. Meanwhile, if LightSquared is permitted to build out on this spectrum there is no guarantee there will not be interference to more than the 0.5% of devices it claims. The statistics it cites are not based on extensive testing, nor is this number substantiated properly in anything I can find.

The bottom line, to me, is that when non-technical people make decisions about wireless technology, which they do not understand or comprehend, and for the reasons stated above, if LightSquared is permitted to build out its system it can only result in a potential disaster that will take years and cost billions of dollars to resolve if it can be resolved at all.

There is no doubt that we need additional broadband spectrum to meet the growing demand for broadband services. However, endangering GPS, which is used for many different things including locating us when we call 911, is not the right way to go about this. We must take all the time needed to make 100% sure that there is no potential of interference, not 99.5%. I believe the best option is to deny LightSquared’s waiver, withdraw it, and let it find or purchase other spectrum that might be available at auction.

Clearwire is trying to raise money and has expressed a willingness to sell some of its spectrum holdings. I suggest that LightSquared make a deal with Clearwire and see if it can make its business model work on spectrum that does not have the potential to disrupt so many things we do each day, including saving lives. If you were the FCC Chairman, would you permit LightSquared to continue? I, for one, would not.

Andrew M. Seybold

Selasa, 05 Juli 2011

Comments Requested on Aircraft Voice in the 700 MHz Band

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) filed a petition for rulemaking last March, to permit Public Safety aircraft voice on secondary trunking channels in the 700 MHz band. Last week a Public Notice was issued requesting comment on this proposed rule.

The petition stems from the State of Maryland's request to deploy air-to-ground voice on 700 MHz narrowband channels. Because it is expected to be only "lightly used," and sharing agreements can be implemented by Statewide Interoperability Executive Committees, NPSTC calls this solution the "most appropriate" for Public Safety.

Comments can be submittede via ECFS at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs.

Releases from the FCC

From the July 1 - 5, 2011 Daily Digests

1. Released: 06/30/2011. COMMENT DEADLINES ESTABLISHED REGARDING THE GPS-LIGHTSQUARED TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP REPORT. (DA No. 11-1133). (Dkt No 11-109 ). Comments Due: 07/30/2011. Reply Comments Due: 08/15/2011. IB . Contact: karl.kensinger@fcc.gov
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1133A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1133A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1133A1.txt

2. Released: 06/30/2011. WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FROM SPRINT NEXTEL TO ALLOW WIDEBAND OPERATIONS IN 800 MHZ ENHANCED SPECIALIZED MOBILE RADIO SERVICE BANDS. (DA No. 11-1152). (Dkt No 11-110 ). Comments Due: 08/01/2011. Reply Comments
Due: 08/16/2011. WTB . Contact: Mr. Thomas Derenge at (202) 418-2451,
email: thomas.derenge@fcc.gov, TTY: (202) 418-7233 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1152A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1152A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1152A1.txt

3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES AND SPEECH-TO-SPEECH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING AND SPEECH DISABILITIES; E911 REQUIREMENTS FOR IP-ENABLED SERVICE PROVIDERS. Extended the waivers of certain TRS mandatory minimum standards for VRS and IP Relay Service that will expire on July 1, 2011. (Dkt No. 05-196 03-123 ). Action by: Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau. Adopted: 06/30/2011 by ORDER. (DA No. 11-1159).
CGB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1159A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1159A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1159A1.txt

4. YUBA SUTTER DOMESTIC ANIMAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. Granted the petition. Action by: Chief, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau by LETTER. (DA No. 11-1163). PSHSB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1163A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1163A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1163A1.txt