Telecom Business Alert -- Vol. IX Issue 28
FCC Urged to Confirm T-Band Narrowbanding Waiver Applies to Equipment
The FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on a request by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) to confirm that the FCC's waiver of its narrowbanding requirement for T-band licenses (470-512 MHz) includes a waiver of the Commission's prohibition on the manufacture and importation of T-band equipment capable of wideband operations. The Land Mobile Communications Council, among others, filed comments in support of TIA's request arguing that permitting the manufacture and importation of wideband-capable equipment in the T-band will benefit current licensees requiring new or replacement equipment to maintain operational capabilities. Please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202-434-4296) for more information.
Broadband Over Power Line
Last week, the Federal Register published notice of a Petition for Reconsideration requesting that the Commission reconsider and modify the Second Report and Order which affirmed the Commission's rules to regulate Access Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems as unlicensed, unintentional radiators. Access BPL service transmits broadband data along existing electrical distribution systems using radio frequencies ranging between 3 MHz and 80 MHz. The Petition for Reconsideration, filed by the American Radio Relay League, raises interference concerns and seeks reconsideration of the Second Report and Order. Oppositions to the Petition for Reconsideration must be filed by July 17 and reply comments are due July 27. For more information, please contact Tom Magee (magee@khlaw.com; 202-434-4128).
AT&T Disagrees with Proposed Signal Booster Standards
AT&T told Commission staff at a meeting last week that the Communications Act prevents the FCC from authorizing the use of third-party, consumer signal boosters on service providers' networks without a license or consent from the provider. The company told staff that the proposal submitted by T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Wilson Electronics last month (Vol IX, Issue 27), which would presume consent of the service provider upon satisfaction of certain technical standards, directly conflicts with the Communications Act. AT&T offered support for a signal booster licensing regime akin to blanket licensing for mobile handsets, under which licensee consent would be required before a signal booster may be operated on a licensee's network. Please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) with questions.
FCC Forum on Future of Wireless Band Plans
Last month, the FCC's Technological Advisory Council announced it will hold a Forum on July 16 to explore the technological issues affecting wireless band plan design. The forum will include discussions on the impact of developments in filter technology on band planning, LTE trends and their implications for future band plans and network operator perspectives on band plan design. Please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) with questions.
Send Us Your Feedback
In an attempt to address in our weekly Telecom Business Alert the issues of most importance to the clients and friends of Keller and Heckman LLP, we invite you to submit suggestions on topics of interest to you. To make suggestions, please send an e-mail to 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.
To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at TelecomAlert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email.