Posts Tagged ‘700 MHz’
FCC Open Meeting to Address 700 MHz Interoperability and AWS Issues
Posted on March 15, 2012The FCC has announced the agenda for its next open meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2012. The agenda includes the following:
- A Program Access Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the exclusive contract prohibition of FCC’s program access rules and proposed revisions to address alleged violations.
- Two items regarding the creation of a Low Power Radio Service, including a Report and Order to implement a market-specific FM translator processing scheme, adopt application caps to prevent trafficking, and modify policies to expand opportunities to rebroadcast AM stations on FM translators; and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order regarding proposals to implement the Local Community Radio Act and to strengthen the low power FM service.
- A 700 MHz interoperability Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding potential interference to Lower 700 MHz B and C Block operations and possible ways to mitigate interference.
- An Advanced Wireless Service Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry proposing rules for flexible terrestrial use of 2 GHz satellite spectrum and an alternative band plan involving additional spectrum at 1695-1710 MHz that may be reallocated from Federal to commercial use.
The meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. EDT and will be webcast on the FCC’s website.
Tentative Agenda for March Open Meeting Includes AWS and 700 MHz Rulemakings
Posted on March 1, 2012The FCC has released its tentative agenda for the next open meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Tentative agenda items include:
- A Program Access Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the exclusive contract prohibition of FCC’s program access rules and proposed revisions to address alleged violations.
- Two items regarding the creation of a Low Power Radio Service, including a Report and Order to implement a market-specific FM translator processing scheme, adopt application caps to prevent trafficking, and modify policies to expand opportunities to rebroadcast AM stations on FM translators; and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order regarding proposals to implement the Local Community Radio Act and to strengthen the low power FM service.
- A 700 MHz interoperability Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding potential interference to Lower 700 MHz B and C Block operations and possible ways to mitigate inferference.
- An Advanced Wireless Service Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry proposing rules for flexible terrestrial use of 2 GHz satellite spectrum and an alternative band plan involving additional spectrum at 1695-1710 MHz that may be reallocated from Federal to commercial use.
FCC Clarifies 700 MHz Public Safety Narrowband Construction Deadlines
Posted on August 1, 2011The FCC has released a Declaratory Ruling clarifying the “substantial service” deadlines applicable to state-licensed 700 MHz public safety narrowband channels. The FCC specifically clarified that the five- and ten-year deadlines run from the June 12, 2009 completion date of the DTV transition, and therefore will occur on June 13, 2014 and June 13, 2019, respectively. The ruling is intended to clarify a discrepancy in Rule 90.529, which provides incorrect dates that the FCC inadvertently failed to update.
FCC Offers Guidance on 700 MHz Public Safety Operations
Posted on July 25, 2011The FCC has released an order addressing issues in a Request for Declaratory Ruling filed by the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte was awarded Recovery Act funds to deploy a 700 MHz wireless public safety network, and it was also granted a waiver to pursue early deployment. Charlotte has requested guidance on the scope of permissible operations on the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum under Section 337 of the Communications Act. Charlotte states that it needs certainty with respect to who is eligible to use the network (e.g., transportation entities) before expending funds to construct a network pursuant to its waiver. Here, the FCC has declined to issue a declaratory ruling on Charlotte’s proposed operations because this is a matter of statutory interpretation that is currently an open issue in an ongoing 700 MHz rulemaking. Nevertheless, the FCC states generally that there is already sufficient flexibility within the statute to encompass many of the uses contemplated by Charlotte. To the extent that any doubt remains as to a particular use, the FCC states that parties can seek a declaratory ruling, and it has delegated authority to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to consider specific uses as appropriate.
Regulatory Update – Wireline to Wireless Broadband
Posted on June 23, 2011Presentation by Tony Veach covering the FCC’s current attempt at reforming the universal service fund, the FCC’s Order adopting a rule requiring wireless carriers to offer data roaming arrangements to other carriers, and build-out requirements for 700 MHz licensees. The presentation was given at Pario Solutions’ 5th annual technology event and users forum in Dallas, TX on June 23, 2011.
CTIA Questions 700 MHz Status Reporting Deadline
Posted on June 1, 2011CTIA – The Wireless Association has sent a letter to FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick seeking confirmation that the requirement of certain 700 MHz licensees to file construction status reports on June 13, 2011 is not currently in effect. CTIA states that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not yet approved the information collection requirements as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act and that the reporting requirement cannot go into effect until notice of OMB approval is published in the Federal Register.
FCC Request More Info From AT&T and Qualcomm on Proposed Sale of 700 MHz Licenses
Posted on May 26, 2011The FCC has sent letters to AT&T and Qualcomm demanding additional information and further clarification of certain matters discussed in the companies’ previously-filed applications. Earlier this year, AT&T and Qualcomm filed applications with the Commission seeking approval for Qualcomm to sell to AT&T various Lower 700 MHz Band D and E Block licenses that together cover the entire United States. The licenses were previously used by Qualcomm to offer customers its proprietary FLO TV service, a one-way, broadcast subscription service. If the transaction is approved, AT&T intends to use the non-paired spectrum, consisting of either 6 MHz or 12 MHz in all markets, to enhance the downlink capabilities of its LTE mobile broadband services. AT&T and Qualcomm are required to submit answers to the Commission’s inquiry no later than Friday June 3, 2011.
FCC To Hold Workshop on 700 MHz Handset Interoperability
Posted on April 8, 2011The FCC has announced that its Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will be holding a workshop on issues relating to 700 MHz handset interoperability on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The first of two panels will discuss technical issues related to 700 MHz interoperability and the development of standards. The second panel will focus on market issues relating to 700 MHz equipment and will discuss providers’ technology choices for the 700 MHz band, including the planned deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology by certain providers, and how these technology choices can affect equipment availability, competition, and roaming.
The workshop will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters, located at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington, DC 20554.