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Telecommunications In the News
FCC Action Eliminates Certain Interim Narrowbanding Deadlines for Public Safety and Commercial Licensees In the 150-174 and 421-512 MHz Band
Washington, D.C. June 30, 2010. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week took action to
eliminate certain interim narrowbanding deadlines for public safety and commercial licensees in the
150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz Bands (VHF/UHF Bands). This action will ease the transition for
licensees in these bands who are required to migrate their land mobile radio systems from 25 kHz
bandwidth channels to 12.5 kHz bandwidth channels by January 1, 2013 in order to help reduce
congestion, improve communications, and increase user access to the spectrum.
The Order partially grants a petition filed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council (NPSTC) seeking relief from interim narrowbanding requirements that otherwise take
effect on January 1, 2011. Specifically, the order gives flexibility to VHF/UHF Band licensees to
continue to obtain 25 kHz-capable equipment for their existing systems until January 1, 2013,
which previously would have been prohibited as of January 1, 2011. This will make it easier for
licensees to manage the transition of their existing systems to 12.5 kHz capability. In granting this
relief, however, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to timely completion of the migration
to 12.5 kHz technology by the January 1, 2013 deadline.
Jamie Barnett, Chief of the FCC‘s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, stated,
“The transition to 12.5 kHz narrowband will result in more spectrum capacity for public safety
agencies and commercial users in the VHF and UHF bands by increasing the efficiency of spectrum
use. But as today's order indicates, the Commission also appreciates the concerns that NPSTC and
others have raised regarding the need for flexibility in the transition. We look forward to continuing
to work with NPSTC and the public safety community to support each licensee’s efforts to meet the
2013 compliance deadline.”
Ruth Milkman, Chief of the FCC‘s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, said, “Although the
Commission took action to eliminate certain interim compliance deadlines related to the use of
antiquated radios and other equipment in these lower bands, it is essential for all band-users to
continue forward with this transition so that they can maximize the use of their narrowband
communications. We envision that voice network capacity could eventually quadruple, enabling
users, including public safety agencies in particular, to take full advantage of the capabilities of
existing technologies to provide high-quality narrowband voice communications in these lower
spectrum bands.”
The Commission took the following additional actions in the Order:
· Extended the deadline for requiring equipment to be 6.25 kHz-capable until 2013.
· Denied the request to allow new or expanded 25 kHz operations beyond January 1, 2011.
The Commission remains committed to working with public safety and commercial licensees to
meet the January 1, 2013 deadline for completing migration to 12.5 kHz channel bandwidth. The
Commission will also continue to work with its Federal partners, such as the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications, to make public safety agencies aware
of opportunities for public funding to meet this requirement.
Action by the Commission, June 29, 2010, by Order (FCC 10-119). Chairman Genachowski and
Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. WT Docket No. 99-87.
Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) on the July 15, 2010 Agenda
FCC Announces Agenda for July 15, 2010 Open Meeting
Washington, D.C. -- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski
announced that the following items will be on the tentative agenda for the next open meeting scheduled
for Thursday, July 15, 2010:
Rural Health Care Reform NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiating reforms to the
Universal Service Rural Health Care Fund to expand the reach and use of broadband connectivity
by health care providers throughout the nation.
Spectrum Flexibility NPRM and NOI: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of
Inquiry seeking comment on ways to encourage investment in terrestrial broadband services
within spectrum allocated to mobile satellite services, while maintaining robust mobile satellite
capability.
Electronic Tariff Filing NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on
streamlining the tariff filing and formatting process by transitioning from paper to electronic
filing to reduce industry burden and promote an open, transparent, and efficient flow of
information.
FCC Request to End Pole Attachment Charges
Time Warner Telecom, on Tuesday, January 16, 2007,
filed a White Paper (23 pages) with the FCC calling for the elimination of discriminatory regulations
governing fees charged for pole attachments for fiber optic cable that delivers vital broadband
communications services to businesses. Time Warner agrues that the Commission’s current regulations inexplicably and unreasonably require that
telecommunications carriers like TWTC pay millions of dollars more in pole attachment fees
each year than their non-carrier competitors. This arbitrary discrimination distorts competition
and is clearly inconsistent with the Commission’s policy of eliminating unjustified differences in
the regulatory treatment of broadband competitors. Moreover, there is no legal basis for
retaining the current discriminatory pole attachment rate regime.
CALEA May 14, 2007 Deadline The Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA) requires providers of telecommunications services, Internet access, or certain kinds of Voice over Internet Protocol to acquire or build into their networks the technical capabilities necessary to enable them to assist law enforcement in conducting authorized interceptions of communications content or call-identifying information.
All entities covered by CALEA must become CALEA-compliant by May 14, 2007. They must also file interim reports by February 12, 2007, and March 12, 2007, to show that they are diligently pursuing ways to comply with CALEA. The Federal Communications Commission has stated that it will not grant exceptions or extensions of time. Parties that fail to meet their CALEA obligations are subject to fines and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each day in violation.
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