Skip to main content
Alerts

Telecom Business Alert – Consumer Signal Boosters, Internet of Things, Narrowbanding, Accessibility Certifications, Vol XIII, Issue 10

FCC Seeks Comment on Consumer Signal Boosters

Last week, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on the current state of consumer signal boosters.  As the name implies, Consumer Signal Boosters are used to boost reception of commercial wireless services.   The Bureau asks about the performance of new consumer signal boosters, whether additional safeguards are necessary, the effectiveness of the registration system s established by wireless providers and related enforcement efforts.  Comments and Reply Comments are due March 30 and April 14, 2016 respectively.  For additional information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).

Internet of Things

Keller and Heckman attorneys recently published an article, The Internet of Things: A World of Compliance Challenges, which provides a snapshot of the regulatory and compliance challenges pertaining to the Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems.  You can keep up with important consumer protection matters affecting businesses by subscribing to Keller and Heckman’s Consumer Protection Connection blog.

Narrowbanding Update

The FCC has started distributing wideband removal reminder emails to licensees with Call Signs that still list wideband emissions. Moving forward, all applications submitted to the FCC that are associated with licenses with wideband emissions will be dismissed or returned automatically. If your station does not meet the FCC’s spectrum efficiency standard and does not list a narrowband emission, an application is required. 

CVAA Certifications

Last week the FCC issued a reminder to service providers and equipment manufacturers subject to Section 255, 716, and 717 of the Communications Act of their obligation to maintain records of the efforts taken to implement accessibility requirements for disabled individuals.  The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) established requirements for certain providers and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment not only to ensure accessibility for users with disabilities, but also that providers and manufacturers maintain records of their efforts to do so.  Annual recordkeeping certifications are required by April 1, 2016.  For more additional information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239), or see Mr. Wright’s recent article on the CVAA.

Send Us Your Feedback

We welcome your feedback on topics of interest that you would like to see covered in our Telecom Business Alert. To make suggestions, please e-mail telecomalert@khlaw.com.

Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert is a complimentary weekly electronic update created by the Telecommunications and the Business Counseling and Transactional practice groups of Keller and Heckman LLP.  All articles, videos, and quotations are on topics of general interest and do not constitute legal advice for particularized facts.  Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert © 2015.  All rights reserved.  Articles may be copied with attribution.  To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at telecomalert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email.  Please follow us on twitter at @KHtelecom.