NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft successfully landed on Eros asteroid at 3:05 p.m. ET Mon. and continued to send signals despite scientists’ predictions that would be unlikely. Craft was not designed to land on asteroid and design of antennae and topography and orbit of asteroid had been expected to block any signal from craft.
FCC continues to work with frequency coordinators on recently implemented universal licensing system (ULS) under which coordinators have complained they haven’t been able to file applications electronically. Some land mobile radio service licensees have contended system implementation issues have caused delays for frequency coordinators and that more rigorous beta testing could have avoided problems. “Both groups might have to change their program a little bit to make this thing work,” one FCC official said. “We're trying to work with the frequency coordinators.” Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) officials said no public certified frequency coordinator had been able to submit application electronically since ULS system went online last fall (CD Feb 6 p3). APCO also is concerned that large number of applications are returned to filers for simple errors. FCC official said agency had discussions throughout last year with frequency coordinators, including timing of phased-in approach for starting ULS for land mobile applications. Second phase of ULS began operating in Oct. for public certified frequency coordinators, followed by industrial and business frequency coordinators in Dec. When asked earlier in year if deployment targets gave coordinators enough time to modify their systems, FCC official said, “there wasn’t any resistance to the time frames that we established.” On testing issue, she said: “We were for testing but the coordinators weren’t ready to send us any files.” First phase of ULS deployment of land mobile licensees involved Nextel, so one class of licensees already was filing earlier in year without problems, official said. “Our goal is to have everything on data entered within 5 business days of receipt. Now we are working on 10 days,” she acknowledged. Many of frequency coordinators have been successful in testing in last few weeks as they approach deadline for making electronic filing within 6 months of ULS deployment date for particular group of licensees, official said. FCC has asked coordinators if they need extension of this 6-month date and hadn’t received word that more time was needed, she said. On applications returned for simple errors, for example, agency is trying to work with companies “to efficiently process these transactions during the transition period.” Applications returned as result of minor errors, such as missing zip codes, emerged during transition with other licensee groups and were worked out, official said. In regularly scheduled meetings with frequency coordinators, coordinating bodies have aired concerns and discussed with agency how to address problems, FCC official said.
FCC Wireless Bureau is seeking comment on waiver request from 800 MHz specialized mobile radio (SMR) service licensee who wants to lease air time capacity to Nextel in L.A. Licensee James Kay is seeking waiver to enter into proposed air time retransmission capacity agreement with Nextel of Cal. Nextel, under agreement, would have access to capacity on Kay’s L.A. and Orange County (Cal.) SMR stations licensed on certain 800 MHz business and land transportation channels. Kay told FCC he would retain licenses, making available to Nextel all air time capacity that was available under licenses. Nextel, in turn, would agree to comply with FCC policies that govern licenses. Commission has been contemplating such leasing arrangements in proposed rulemaking on how to foster secondary market for wireless spectrum. Bureau is accepting comments to Feb. 27, with replies March 9.
FCC denied applications for review of International Bureau’s authorization to General Communications Inc. (GCI) to land and operate Alaska United Cable System. Bureau’s Telecom Div. authorized Alaska United as non-common carrier undersea fiber cable system, spanning Pacific Northwest of U.S. and Alaska. ATU- Long Distance, TelAlaska/ASTAC Long Distance and Alaska Network Systems each had asked FCC to review order in Dec. 1997. Challengers contended GCI should have been required to operate cable on common carrier basis to preclude competitive harm. FCC stood by division’s decision, pointing out availability of other telecom facilities along route, including Northstar Cable System. Commission adopted order Feb. 1 and released it last week. Comr. Furchtgott-Roth issued separate statement that dissented in part, citing his “longstanding view” that FCC lacked authority over undersea cable landing licenses. He has said he doesn’t believe President can grant authority to FCC to approve undersea cable systems under Cable Landing License Act. Apart from that objection, Furchtgott-Roth said “perhaps the most troubling aspect of today’s decision is that it took 3 years for the Commission to reach it.” He apologized to companies, saying they deserved better treatment. “Parties are entitled to the expectation that their Commission business will be resolved in a prompt manner,” he wrote. “By any measure, today’s order fails that test.”
Images from latest NASA landing might be on your Web browser. NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Rendevous (NEAR) program Shoemaker spacecraft is expected to land on Eros asteroid Feb. 12 and scientists hope probe will send stream of 2 photographs per min. to Internet at www//near.jhuapl.edu. As craft descends, it will take pictures of surface. Question remains whether craft can land at angle on solar panel edge with antenna pointing toward Earth. NASA said there was less than 1% chance of contacting craft after landing.
Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) contends FCC’s new universal licensing system (ULS) “is causing many delays and setbacks for frequency coordinators.” APCO said in news release that Wireless Bureau’s ULS, which manages frequency licensing under standardized structure, didn’t give “adequate consideration” to needs of frequency coordinators who submit applications electronically. Third phase of land mobile radio service converted to ULS in Dec., including industrial business pool. APCO contends no public certified frequency coordinator has been able to submit application to FCC electronically since ULS system went online. APCO has said frequency coordinators’ issues are different from other wireless ULS users because they operate their own databases, using FCC database information and application information. While frequency coordinators have been working with FCC “for years” to prepare for changeover, “even with this lead time, there was little or no indication what impact the ULS would have,” said APCO Automated Frequency Coordination Dir. Ron Haraseth. File structures of database that FCC ran before ULS conversion for land mobile radio service licensees diverged from current system, he told us. “The relationships within an application or within a license are totally different than what it used to be,” he said. “We had no idea or concept of how that would affect our database.” One issue at FCC has been that verification routines for applications now are automated, he said. Haraseth said that means “simple errors” that previously would have passed through now result in filing being returned or dismissed. Without “hard core testing,” switchover didn’t account for ability of frequency coordinators to handle new system, he said. Industrial Telecommunications Assn. (ITA) Pres. Mark Crosby said: “I would suspect that many, if not all, of the frequency advisory committees have had some difficulty adapting to the new ULS requirements. ITA, for its part, is working to address those very diligently.” Hand-off between databases such as that kept by ITA and FCC’s has been challenging, Crosby said. “ITA is close,” he said. “There’s been some delay in getting licenses out, which has segments of the industry somewhat concerned. They have a right to be concerned,” he said. FCC said agency officials plan to meet with frequency coordinators next week to discuss ULS implementation issues.
Boeing said it would provide details of its proposal to revamp U.S. air traffic control system by May, but industry officials said key issue remained $10-$15 billion cost of effort. Details of plan remained sketchy, but Boeing had said its plan could allow 50% increase in number of airline flights by using new technology, such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS). FAA spokeswoman called Boeing plan “intriguing” and said agency would be monitoring situation closely.
While countries such as Japan and Mexico are starting to remove obstacles to competition, serious problems persist, telecom companies and equipment makers told U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office. USTR sought comments in Jan. as part of annual review on effectiveness of U.S. trade agreements involving telecom products and services, including World Trade Organization’s (WTO) basic telecom agreement. Commenters also pointed frequently to competition hurdles in European Union (EU) member states, urging U.S. in some cases to seek stricter implementation of existing EU directives. Concerns raised by telecom companies, which in part centered on interconnection rates, provide road map of lingering telecom market-opening issues that would face USTR under Bush nominee Robert Zoellick.
FCC Wireless Bureau is seeking comment on informal request by International Assn. of Fire Chiefs/International Municipal Signal Assn. (IAFC/IMSA) for frequency coordination certification in 800 MHz and 900 MHz public safety pool Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) frequencies. In 1998, FCC created plan for reallocation of 700 MHz band to public safety use, allowing any of certified frequency public safety coordinators, including IAFC/IMSA, to provide coordination. Agency hasn’t taken similar steps to alter frequency coordination process for 800 MHz and 900 MHz PLMR bands. Assns. contended that because of similarities between PLMR systems in bands such as 700 MHz and 800 MHz and 900 MHz public safety channels, IAFC/IMSA would be equally qualified to coordinate applications in those upper bands. Comments are due Feb. 21, replies March 8. Separately, bureau is seeking comments on similar request last month by American Assn. of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Request involves frequency coordination certification in 800 MHz PLMR public safety radio service frequencies. Comments also are due Feb. 21, replies March 8.
NTIA reported mixed results Thurs. in first round of ultra- wideband (UWB) tests in non-GPS band, pointing to “potential” to operate that wireless technology in 3-6 GHz range without interference. “The test results today show a great deal of promise between 3 and 6 GHz,” NTIA Dir. Gregory Rohde said at news briefing. But tests also found “difficulties” with interference in bands below 3 GHz, occupied by systems such as airport surveillance radar and federal govt. systems. Rohde said results set stage in coming weeks for negotiations between FCC and NTIA over final rule on UWB operation in GPS and non-GPS bands. Difficulties in bands below 3 GHz at certain distances between UWB devices and other systems could be mitigated through measures such as requiring devices in certain cases to operate indoors, Rohde said. “It’s not that a door has been closed here,” he said.