xG Technology’s Device Received FCC Certification

Even though the FCC has shutdown along with the government some things are still happening, which is good news for xG Technology. xG Technology develops wireless communication and spectrum sharing technologies. Their xAP (xMax Access Point) has received FCC certification by way of a Grant of Equipment Authorization. This was the final approval that xG Technology needed to begin delivery of all components of its xMax cognitive network solution to its customers.

Now that they have received approval, xG Technology is now positioned to begin commercial production against the previously announced backlog for xMax network equipment and services totaling over $35 million. The xAP is a radio-newtorking product that provides wireless broadband connectivity to xMod Mobile Hotspot and XVM Vehicle Modem devices that support end user access to fixed Internet, video, and voice services.

"With all required FCC certifications now complete, we can begin fulfilling xMax network equipment orders for our xMax cognitive radio system," said John Coleman, CEO of xG Technology. "xG has been able to successfully achieve delivery of high-quality components from our supply chain, internal xMax production and testing and full FCC certification of our product suite, all while working under a capital constraint."

Coleman continued, "Our next steps are to transition our assembly and testing capability to external contract manufacturers. With external production in place, we can begin shipping against backlog orders in volume. We are now evaluating financing options to fund this next phase of operations. While our timetable to volume shipment and revenue recognition has been extended, we have made strong progress toward commercializing the xMax cognitive radio broadband solution with this

xG Technology develops a broad portfolio of intellectual property to make wireless networks more intelligent, accessible, affordable and reliable. The company has created xMax, a patented all-IP cognitive radio technology that enables spectrum sharing. xMax can solve the crisis facing the wireless industry caused by data-hungry devices and applications that are straining network capacity. It eliminates the need to acquire scarce and expensive licensed spectrum, thus lowering the total cost of ownership for wireless broadband access.

FCC Shutdown: What Does This Mean For You?

If you tried to access the FCC’s website yesterday you realized that along with the government shutdown the FCC shutdown as well taking their website with it. Even the FCC tweeted, “We're sorry, but FCC will not be tweeting or responding to @ replies during the government shutdown.” So what exactly does this mean?

Well the FCC posted their Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations and it explains that, “Suspended activities include, among many others: Consumer complaint and inquiry phone lines cannot be answered; consumer protection and local competition enforcement must cease; licensing services, including broadcast, wireless, and wireline, must cease; management of radio spectrum and the creation of new opportunities for competitive technologies and services for the American public must be suspended; and equipment authorizations, including those bringing new electronic devices to American consumers, cannot be provided.”

However, the FCC explains that telecommunications companies must continue to use the Network Outage Reporting System, which will remain available during the shutdown. These companies will still be able to filed reports of telecommunication service disruption because this information is essential to maintain and improve the reliability and security of the telecommunications infrastructure.

But Inside Tower’s has good news for you! Our IT Database has been seamlessly updated to the FCC’s ASR database.  It features a user-friendly interface to look up towers and tower owners, and the ability to customize lookups and export the results.

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The Inside Towers Database is Your Solution

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Email us at editor@insidetowers.com, visit our website at http://insidetowers.com/it_database/, or give us a call at 904.285.3239 to see how our database can help you during the FCC shutdown.

FCC Proposes Action to Improve Wireless Reliability During Disasters

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission released a report proposing an action to improve the wireless network reliability during disasters. They plan to do this by, “requiring wireless service providers to publicly disclose the percentage of cell sites within their networks that are operational during and immediately after disasters,” the FCC explains.

The FCC does understand that some wireless service interruptions may be unavoidable during emergencies but the goal is to minimize the number of interruptions. “For example, Superstorm Sandy disabled approximately 25 percent of cell sites in the affected region, with more than 50 percent of cell sites disabled in the hardest-hit counties, yet not all wireless networks were equally impaired,” the report noted. It was also mentioned that the practices that these wireless service providers use could play a role in the variation of the reliability of the structure during natural disasters.

“The FCC’s proposal would require wireless service providers to submit to the FCC, for public disclosure on a daily basis during and immediately after disasters, the percentage of operational cell sites for each county within a designated disaster area. Information yielding these percentages is already included in voluntary reports that wireless service providers submit to the FCC daily during disasters, albeit on a presumptively confidential basis and as part of a larger set of data,” the report explained.

FCC Approves AT&T’s Acquisition of Alltel

Today, the FCC announced that they will approve of AT&T’s acquisition of Alltel. At the beginning of the year, AT&T announced it would be buying Alltel’s customers and spectrum for $780 million. The FCC explained that they were going to stop their informal 180-day time clock to review the transactions because AT&T didn’t provide its plans for transitioning Alltel’s significant pre-paid customer base.

The FCC explained in their report that, “In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, we approve, subject to conditions, the applications of AT&T and ATN (together, the “Applicants”) for Commission consent to the transfer of control of, and assignment of, a number of cellular, Personal Communications Services (“PCS”), Lower 700 MHz Band B and C Block, and common carrier fixed point-to-point microwave licenses; spectrum leasing authorizations; and an international section 214 authorization from ATN’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Allied, to AT&T."

Once this transaction is complete, approximately 620,000 customers, along with network equipment and other assets, will be transferred from Allied to AT&T. 

Expert Analysis Believes FCC Incentive Auction Restrictions Would Reduce Revenue

Duke University Professor, Bates White Partner, and former FCC Chief Economist Leslie Marx submitted a report to the FCC that states that proposals to restrict Verizon's and AT&T's participation in the upcoming Incentive Auction would "put at risk its twin priorities of raising significant revenue and reallocating a substantial amount of spectrum from broadcast to mobile wireless services." 

The proposed rules to the Incentive Auction would limit Verizon’s and AT&T’s ability to bid for spectrum. The motive behind these rules is to encourage smaller firms to participate in the auction, but Dr. Marx explains that, “I have analyzed proposals to restrict the participation of Verizon and AT&T in the Incentive Auction in order to prevent the anticompetitive foreclosure of smaller rivals. The evidence does not support assertions that anticompetitive foreclosure is likely.”

The FCC is expected to reach a decision concerning the Incentive Auction by the end of the year. Dr. Marx conducted this research on behalf of Verizon Wireless. The report was submitted to the FCC on September 18, 2013. 

Sprint Urges FCC Not To Delay H Block Auction

On July 15, 2013 the Federal Communications Commission announced its intention to hold an auction of licenses in the 1915-1920 MHz (Lower H Block) and 1995-2000 MHz (Upper H Black) bands. The auction is set for January 2014 and Sprint believes the FCC should keep the auction as schedule. However, T-Mobile US Inc. and Dish Network Corporation is pushing for the FCC to consider waiting until later in 2014 to hold the auction so that additional frequencies will be available and can attract more money.

In a January auction, “It is possible that only one bidder will participate,” T-Mobile, the fourth-largest U.S. mobile provider, told the FCC in an August filing.

In an auction like this, carriers like to buy adjacent frequencies so they can deploy a single channel. There is no hard evidence that pushing the auction date back a few months will increase government revenues. Companies aren’t required to disclose whether or not they are participating in the auction until the filing deadline.

According to the FCC, “To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message: ‘get form.’ A sample form and directions will be sent in response.”

The Spectrum is the Backbone of Wireless

There has been a lot of discussion about the wireless spectrum and its finite capabilities. The CTIA discussed how the spectrum is the backbone of wireless because wireless technology is connecting people in ways previously thought impossible.

“Spectrum is the fuel that makes this wireless connection possible, but it's a finite resource that is highly valued. That's why the wireless industry has been calling for the government to take unused and underutilized spectrum and auction it for its highest and best use,” the CTIA explained.

The FCC will be conducting a spectrum auction next year where TV station owners will be able to auction off their spectrum licenses to broadband wireless carriers. By using auctions, the FCC seeks to award licenses to those who value them most and who will have an incentive to use them most effectively.

“The need for more spectrum has never been greater, and although the U.S. wireless industry is the most efficient user of spectrum in the world, it will need more in the near future to meet the significant demand of consumers and businesses and continue providing them with the world's best and most innovative mobile products and services,” the CTIA said. 

Alamosa County Welcomes Verizon Tower with Open Arms

While often time’s members of communities are upset over the possibility of a cell tower, the residents of Alamosa County, Colorado couldn’t be more pleased about Verizon’s plan to bring six new cell phone towers to the Valley. The first location was approved this past Wednesday for Highway 160.

The communications provider intends to install the six towers to fill the cell phone service void in eastern Alamosa County and northwest Costilla County, placing three towers in each, said Verizon representative Kelly Harrison, Closser Consulting during the ACC’s regular meeting. (Source: Valley Courier)

These new towers will enable Verizon’s 4G LTE data capabilities and provide the nearby emergency responder with more defined information from 911 calls. The FCC estimated that about 70% of 911 calls are placed from a cell phone and that number is only growing.

“While the location of the cell site closest to the 911 caller may provide a general indication of the caller’s location, that information is not usually specific enough for rescue personnel to deliver assistance to the caller quickly,” the FCC explains.

The 4G LTE data is able provide more detailed information to emergency responders, which will help when someone dials 911 from a cell phone. However, when calling 911 from a cell phone make sure to give your address first so the responders will be able to locate you quickly.

AT&T Sues City of Corrales Over Cell Tower Permit Denial

Wireless phone carrier, AT&T, is suing Corrales, NM in U.S. District Court claiming that the village council violated the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 in denying AT&T’s request to construct a 65-foot tower on a commercially zoned site. Last week the village planning and zoning commission denied AT&T a special use permit for the tower.

AT&T is required by the federal law to provide service, and in order to do so, the company must “consistently update its technology, facilities and network to keep up to date with its customers’ ever-growing demand for mobile services,” the complaint said.

The Corrales Planning and Zoning commission denied the application for a permit back in April because they believed the proposed tower wasn’t compatible with nearby residential properties and the agricultural character of the village. 

AM Tower Signals Are Now Protected From Potential Tower Construction Effects

On August 14, 2013 the Federal Communications Commission adopted a report that looked into “an inquiry into the Commission’s policies and rules regarding AM radio service directional antenna performance verification.” This reported was aimed at clarifying the rules concerning the construction of cell towers near AM towers.

“In AM radio, the tower itself functions as the antenna. Consequently, a nearby tower may become an unintended part of the AM antenna system, reradiating the AM signal and distorting the authorized AM radiation pattern. Our rules contain several sections concerning tower construction near AM antennas that are intended to protect AM stations from the effects of such tower construction,” the FCC’s ThirdReport and Order explained.

Even though the Commission has a “newcomer” policy that stipulates a new party constructing or modifying a facility is responsible, financially or otherwise, to eliminate objectionable interference to existing stations, there were no explicit rules. Without precise rules to follow, there was confusion among tower owners with respect to the proper procedures to protect nearby AM stations.

The new rule proposed to replace the previous approach with one that, “defines the critical distance from both non-directional (single antenna) and directional (multiple antennas) AM stations based on the pertinent AM station’s frequency and the proponent’s tower height. The proposed rules would require a party proposing to construct a new tower or significantly modify an existing tower within the pertinent critical distance to provide notice to the AM station at least 30 days prior to the planned commencement of construction. Such party would be responsible for the installation and maintenance of any detuning apparatus necessary to restore the AM station’s radiation pattern. The proposed rules would designate moment method modeling as the principal means of determining whether a nearby tower affects an AM pattern,” the FCC explained.

Shorter towers will not be affected by these changes. “Similarly, the proposed rules excluded all antenna structures mounted on buildings from AM proximity analysis,” the FCC reported. While these new rules affect prospective towers, if there are AM towers that have been negatively affected by towers previously constructed then they can show the commission the adverse impact within one year of the effective date of the new rules (August 14, 2013). Then the commission can direct the tower owner to install and maintain any additions that are necessary to restore the proper operation of the AM station.

“A one-year time frame will allow a potentially affected AM station sufficient time to identify the source of the pattern disruption and prepare and submit an adverse impact showing. We authorize the Commission staff, if necessary, to direct the tower owner to take appropriate ameliorative action to correct disturbances to the radiation pattern of an AM station caused by the tower construction or modification, such as installing, maintaining, and, if necessary, adjusting any detuning apparatus necessary to restore proper operation of the AM antenna,” according to the FCC.

Text-to-911 Will be Available To Everyone By May 15, 2014

The Federal Communications Commission announced that the four largest U.S. wireless companies—AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon—have voluntarily committed to make text-to-911 available by May 15, 2014. This capability is currently available on a limited basis to a few locations. However, this new technology can help provide lifesaving assistance in situations where a person with hearing or speech disability is unable to make a voice call, where voice networks are down, or where a 911 voice call could endanger the caller.

The FCC reported that, “It has already saved lives and thwarted crimes, including preventing a suicide in Vermont and, in Iowa, protecting women and children from abuse who were silently able to text for help.”

With the development of this new technology, the FCC believes there will be a need for consumer education regarding when you should use the tex-to-911 feature. It should not be used when a voice call is an option. The FCC has developed a consumer guide on text-to-911, which you can view here.  

Wireless Technology and Your Health

Many people fear the effect that cell phones have on their health and believe they have a negative impact in the long run, but the CTIA, an international trade association that represents the wireless communications industry, took the time to look into wireless technology and how it affects your health. People hear the words “radiation” and “cell phones” and assume it’s the same radiation that is associated with medical x-rays.

The CTIA explains that, “Medical X-rays in large enough doses can ionize (i.e., affect electrons around atoms and molecules) and thereby damage biological material. Therefore they are known as ‘ionizing’ radiation.’ As the FDA points out on its website, radio frequency waves do not have enough energy to ionize biological material and therefore are categorized as ‘non-ionizing.’ As the FDA notes, other types of non-ionizing radiation include ‘visible light’ and ‘infrared radiation (heat).’”

The FCC also reported that currently there is no scientific evidence establishing a causal link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses. Wireless phones include both cell phones and the cordless phones. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has even conducted extensive research and concluded that, “To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.”

Are Your Towers Prepared For The Second Half of Hurricane Season?

In 2012, there was an increase of hurricanes and tropical storms during the months of August, September, and October. Even though Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1^st, it doesn’t end until November 30^th. The last few months usually have the most storms, which can affect cell towers and cell phone reception.

The FCC reported that Hurricane Sandy knocked out 25% of the cell towers in the affected regions. However, American Tower shared on their website that 48 American Tower sites responded by providing more than 113 days of power to downed sites and delivered 100% performance.

There was a total of 15 named storms between August and November in 2012 compared to only 4 named storms that occurred between May and the end of July. David Goldman of CNN reported that, “As a storm approaches, carriers ready a fleet of emergency equipment with some peculiar, farm-like names: COWs (Cells On Wheels), COLTs (Cells On Light Trucks), and GOaTs (Generators on Trailers).”

These are temporary actions to solve a potential problem, but these precautions can help when storms knock out cell towers. Most cell towers are strong enough to withstand the winds of a hurricane; however, power outages are the biggest threat to the towers. If you are looking to keep your cell tower up and running during this hurricane season then use battery backups or backup diesel generators just in case the battery does fail.

“In particularly bad storms, however, sometimes cells that have gone dark become unreachable. That's when the cell phone companies roll out the COLTs and COWs, forming makeshift cell towers in an attempt to maintain constant coverage,” Goldman reported. 

Tucson Arizona Residents Oppose Cell Tower For Many Reasons

AT&T proposed to build a cell tower that is 65-foot tall in the Tucson, AZ area; however, three neighborhood associations have expressed their opposition towards this tower saying it will be too close to home and pose safety issues. AT&T planned to disguise this cell tower as a palm tree and plan several other palm trees in the same area to create a more aesthetic appeal. The residents feel that the tower and these palm trees will block their view of the mountains.

Sonu Wasu reported for the Tucson News Now that, “The zoning officer felt cell towers can be lightning rods and being so close to homes created a big concern of lightning strikes in the neighborhood. Noise was also listed as a concern in the document.  Residents said the cooling units around the cell towers would be very loud and have to be running day and night.” These are concerns of neighbors of this community even though the proposed cell tower is 300 feet away from the closest home.

AT&T’s proposed tower complies with the FCC health and safety guidelines and AT&T had invested about $80 million in the Tucson community within the last three years and because data traffic had increased, there is a need for more towers. 

Industry Representative Urge FCC To Recognize Value Of Small Cells

The PCIA released a press release discussing the efforts of industry leaders trying to convince the FCC to streamline the deployment of DAS and other small cells. “At an afternoon Capitol Hill briefing sponsored by PCIA’s HetNet Forum, Jonathan Adelstein, president and chief executive officer of PCIA, noted that the FCC is considering launching a rulemaking to make it easier for companies to deploy DAS and other small cell facilities,” shared PCIA’s press release.

Currently, the regulations treat small cells the same way as towers, or macro cells. Small cells are going to be crucial if planned nationwide commercial and public safety LTE deployments are going to be successful. Small cells are low-powered radio access nodes that are used to provide in-building and outdoor wireless service. Mobile operators use these small cells as a way to extend their service coverage or increase the network capacity.