Source: http://www.fcc.gov/document/use-and-design-signal-boosters-report-and-order?contrast=highContrast
Timestamp: 2014-09-30 22:45:59
Document Index: 74235974

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 27', 'arts 22', 'art 90', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§22', '§ 24', '§ 24', '§ 27']

Use and Design of Signal Boosters Report and Order | FCC.gov
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Signal boosters serve the public interest by enabling consumers to improve their wireless coverage in rural, underserved, and difficult-to-serve areas. By some estimates, there are more than 2 million signal boosters in use today.2 The increased coverage provided by a signal booster is demonstrated by a test conducted near the rural, mountainous town of Enterprise, Utah,3 where use of a signal booster provided a three times coverage area increase for both voice and data service as compared 1 Our use of the term “signal booster” in this Report and Order is intended to include all manner of amplifiers, repeaters, boosters, distributed antenna systems, and in-building radiation systems that serve to amplify signals between a device and a wireless network. Our use of the term “signal booster” does not include femtocells. Femtocells are different from signal boosters. Femtocells are similar to small base stations inside homes or offices and only work in a provider’s licensed area. The connection between the handset and the femtocell is typically wireless using licensed frequencies or Wi-Fi, which uses unlicensed frequencies. Unlike signal boosters, which connect to a wireless network using licensed frequencies, femtocells connect to a wireless network using broadband Internet access in a home or office. Femtocells are not covered by the rules adopted in this Report and Order. Additional background information on signal boosters can be found in Appendix B.2 See Petition for Rulemaking of Wilson Electronics, Inc., at 4, WT Docket No. 10-4 (filed Nov. 3, 2009).3 Enterprise, Utah is a community of approximately 1,700 residents located in the southernmost part of the Great Basin. The nearest city, St. George (population 72,897), is located 40 miles to the south. See http://www.enterpriseutah.org/ (last visited Oct. 3, 2012). 3
When used properly, signal boosters also provide public safety benefits.8 In areas where wireless coverage is deficient or where a signal is blocked or shielded, signal boosters enable the public to connect to 911 in an emergency.9 In addition, both rural and metropolitan police departments rely on signal boosters to extend land mobile coverage in areas of limited service.10 First responders, including 4 Ex Parte Letter from Russell D. Lukas, Counsel, Wilson Electronics, Inc. to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Mar. 1, 2012) at 2.5 Id. at Fig. 2.6 Id.7 Ex Parte Letter from Sarah Jorgenson, Wireless Tech Support Clerk, Copper Valley Wireless (July 13, 2012) at 1. 8 See, e.g., Public Knowledge and The New America Foundation Comments at 3 (noting that enhanced access to 911 would serve the public interest); Ex Parte Letter from Russell D. Lukas, Counsel to Wilson Electronics, Inc., and John T. Scott, III, Counsel to Verizon Wireless, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (July 25, 2011) (Joint Proposal); Blooston Comments at 2 (“The proper use of signal booster technology will provide public safety benefits”); Ex Parte Letter from Bruce A. Olcott, Counsel, Cellphone-Mate, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Attachment (Jan. 10, 2012) at 10 (“Signal boosters enable consumers to complete E911 calls that might not have been possible at the edge of network coverage”); Ex Parte Letter from William Wilhelm, Counsel, Nextivity, to Moslem Sawez, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (Mar. 8, 2012) (Nextivity Mar. 8, 2012 Ex Parte Letter) at 1 (stating that greater signal booster use will improve the availability and delivery of emergency services to end users); TIA Comments at 2 (noting that signal boosters can benefit public safety by expanding the area within which emergency calls can be placed over commercial networks).9 In May 2009, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that until wireless capacity is extended along highly traveled rural roads, motor coaches traveling in rural areas without wireless telephone coverage should carry mobile cellular amplifiers or satellite-based devices to communicate during emergency events. NTSB Safety Recommendation, H-09-9, at 4-5 (May 29, 2009), available at http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/2009/H09_9.pdf (lasted visited Jan. 29, 2013). Ex Parte Letter from Russell D. Lukas, Counsel to Wilson Electronics, Inc., to Hon. Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (Mar. 30, 2011) (Wilson Mar. 30, 2011 Ex Parte Letter) at 2 (describing how use of signal boosters will improve E911 connectivity and accuracy).10 See, e.g., Ex Parte Letter from Russell D. Lukas, Counsel to Wilson Electronics, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Dec. 15, 2010) (Wilson Dec. 15, 2010 Ex Parte Letter) at Attachment 1 (describing the need for signal boosters by Sheriff’s office in rural Washington County, Utah, because many areas of the county lack two-way radio signal coverage due to challenging geography and terrain); Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department PN Comments at 1 (bi-directional amplifier systems “supplement in-building two way public safety radio communications coverage where it wouldn’t otherwise exist or would be unreliable”); Cobb County E-911 PN Comments at 1 (“great and positive” benefits of signal boosters include “ability to provide critical or important communications where there is limited or none”). See also New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) Reply PN Comments at 2 (NYCTA uses fixed boosters for police, fire and EMS operations in New (continued….)
We are persuaded that blanket authorization under provider licenses is the appropriate regulatory approach at this time. As commenters recognize, Consumer Signal Boosters readily fit within the blanket licensing framework for mobile handsets.59 T-Mobile asserts that Consumer Signal Boosters should be treated like other third-party devices that operate on a provider’s network.60 T-Mobile states that, like handsets, Consumer Signal Boosters should be under a provider’s operational control and if the device causes harmful interference or is otherwise not operated in accordance with applicable rules and (Continued from previous page) 52 Ex Parte Letter from Jeanine Poltronieri, AT&T, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Feb. 13, 2013) (AT&T Feb. 13, 2013 Ex Parte Letter) at 1. Specifically, AT&T “affirms that it will voluntarily consent to the operation of all signal booster models certified by the Commission to comply with the technical rules” in the Consolidated Proposal. In addition, AT&T reserves the right to withdraw its consent for any signal booster causing harmful interference. Id. 53 Ex Parte Letter from Caressa D. Bennet, General Counsel, RTG, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Feb. 13, 2013) (RTG Feb. 13, 2013 Ex Parte Letter) at 1. RTG states that so long as the Commission “adopts rules that protect against harmful interference, RTG’s members anticipate the voluntary authorization of signal boosters by their respective subscribers.” RTG also states that “any signal booster that causes harmful interference or negatively impacts wireless network operations” must be shut down. Id. RTG is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who each serve less than 100,000 subscribers. See http://ruraltelecomgroup.org/about-rtg/ (last visited Feb. 19, 2013).54 See Ex Parte Letter from Rebecca Murphy Thompson, General Counsel, Competitive Carriers Association, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Nov. 7, 2012) (CCA Nov. 7, 2012 Ex ParteLetter) at 2 (noting that carriers may issue “blanket consent” for all signal boosters meeting the Joint Proposal Safe Harbors).55 Devices may receive FCC certification prior to March 1, 2014.56 CCA, formerly known as RCA – The Competitive Carriers Association, represents over 100 wireless carriers, including Sprint, T-Mobile, and MetroPCS.57 Ex Parte Letter from Rebecca Murphy Thompson, General Counsel, Competitive Carriers Association, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Feb. 18, 2013) (CCA Feb. 18, 2013 Ex ParteLetter) at 2. CCA states that any voluntary carrier authorization would be subject to conditions, including: booster registration; booster operation in accordance with technical specifications; providers’ ability to withdraw consent if a booster is found to cause interference; a consumer must immediately turn off a booster upon notification of an interference event by a provider; providers may enforce interference determinations through an FCC-developed process; and FCC consideration of activation and remote shut-down requirements for boosters in the future. Id.58 See CCA Nov. 7, 2012 Ex Parte Letter at 2.59 See T-Mobile Comments at 3-4; The Blooston Licensees Comments at 8. See also TIA Comments at 4-5 (supporting blanket authorization for signal boosters); U.S. Cellular Reply Comments at 2-3 (stating that signal boosters must remain under carrier control).60 T-Mobile Comments at 5.
800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Service Band. We find that the public interest will be served by permitting the use of Consumer Signal Boosters in the 800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) band, once nationwide reconfiguration of the band is substantially completed.86 APCO, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and Wilson Electronics all support the use of Consumer Signal Boosters in the 800 MHz SMR band (817-824 MHz and 862-869 MHz) upon completion of the band’s reconfiguration.87Sprint supports the use of Consumer Signal Boosters in regions where reconfiguration has been completed even though nationwide reconfiguration has yet to be completed.88 We believe, however, that 83 WCAI Reply Comments at 6.84 Id.85 The Commission established the Upper 700 MHz Band plan and the Lower 700 MHz Band plan in two separate proceedings in 2000 and 2001. See Service Rules for the 746-764 and 776-794 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, First Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 476 (2000); Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698-746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52-59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022 (2002). The Commission revised the entire 700 MHz Band plan in 2007. See Service Rules for the 698-746, 747-762 and 777-792 MHz Band, Second Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 15289 (2007).86 Additional information regarding reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band is available at http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/public-safety-spectrum/800-MHz/reconfiguration-overview.html (last visited Jan. 29, 2013).87 Joint Proposal at 1; Ex Parte Letter from Richard B. Engelman, Director – Spectrum Resources, Government Affairs, Sprint Nextel Corporation, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (March 8, 2012) (Sprint Mar. 8, 2012 Ex Parte Letter) at 3; APCO Comments at 5 (“consumer use of mobile boosters should not be allowed below 824/869 MHz until such time as the 800 MHz rebanding process has been completed throughout all regions of the nation, at which point public safety and ESMR operations will be in separate portions of the band”). But cf. WCAI Reply Comments at 1-2 (generally opposing the use of Consumer Signal Boosters in the 800 MHz SMR Service bands).88 Sprint Mar. 14, 2012 Ex Parte Letter at 1-2 (Sprint would consider allowing these boosters provided it maintains control over these types of boosters to ensure they will not be used outside of the reconfigured region). 16
As we explained in the NPRM, Parts 22, 24, and 27 of our rules do not provide specific technical requirements for designing signal boosters; however, in order to obtain certification and thus enter the market, all RF devices must meet certain technical specifications designed to protect against interference.144 In addition, Part 90 specifies technical parameters for certain signal boosters and signal 139 See supra at ¶ 9.140 See Ex Parte Letter from Catherine Wang, Counsel to Nextivity, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Apr. 17, 2012) at 2 (“for every Cel-Fi system that is provided to a household, approximately 20% new broadband data connections are made”).141 See id. (“the return on investment for a consumer booster like the Nextivity product is in excess of $2 for every $1 spent”).142 The applicable rules are § 22.355, Public Mobile Services frequency tolerance; § 22.913, Cellular effective radiated power limits; §22.917, Emission limitation for cellular equipment; § 24.232, PCS power and antenna height limits; § 24.238, Emission limitations for Broadband PCS equipment; § 27.50, Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Serv