Lockheed-Martin has conducted tests of it’s MagneLink Magnetic Communications system designed to give trapped miners a voice and text communication possibility in the event of a catastrophe.  The Wall Street Journal has an article on the new technology HERE.

Amazingly Cell Phone possession was not considered contraband inFederal Prisons, untill receintly. Congress moved Tuesday to make it tougher for federal prison inmates to use cell phones andwireless devices to direct criminal activities within or outside prison walls.

The House voted by voiceto close a loophole in federal law by banning the use or possession of cell phones or wireless devices in federal prisons and classifying those devices as contraband.

 You can read more HERE

Working with the NTIA, the FCC is inventoring spectrum in a rush to make anything unused available for nationwide broadband.  Part of the story is available HERE, other issues, including a possible impact to Private Land Mobile can be found in FCC WT 10-112.  This is an NPRM that among other things, could trigger new Rules requiring proof of use before being granted a license renewal.

The FCC took actioon to eliminate certain interim narrowbanding deadlines to oease the transition from 25 KHz to 12.5 KHz bandwidth channels by January 1, 2013.  The biggest impact is the extension of allowing  the continued importation or manufacturing of 25 KHz capable equipment until January 1, 2013…a two year time which will allower for smoother transition to narrowband operations. No new models of wideband mode equipment will be certified anbd the FCC reitterated the absoulute deadline of January 1, 2013 for the complete transition.  They denied  allowing the  licensing of new or expanded wideband systems after January 2011 and also eliminated the requirement of new models of equipment to be 6.25 KHz compatible by January 2011, extending that deadline to January 2015.  The FCC Order can be found HERE.

Long on hope and short on details, President Obama issued a memorandum to the two agencies who are responsible for spectrum matters to free up 500 MHz of spectrum for broadband use.   Story from RCR magazine is HERE.  FCC Chairman Genachowski issued a statement HERE.

The Congressional Budget Office has issued a cost estimate of $7 million to implement S.2881, a measure from Senator Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.   S. 2881 would authorize the FCC to appoint an electrical engineer or computer scientist to the staff of each of the agency’s commissioners.   The CBO estimate (PDF) of $7 million is over a five-year period, from the late part of 2011 through late 2015. The CBO figures about $1 million per year would cover salaries and overhead for the additional staff and the bill authorizes an additional million for years 2011 and 2012 to cover the costs of the studies.   More details on the CBO report can be found  HERE.

As part of a continued series of addressing the narrowbanding issue and helping to respond to licensees questions about narrowbanding, click  HERE  for the latest from Mission Critical magazine.  Be sure to check some of the links at the bottom of their page for previous tips.

Responding to some Public Safety Agencies concern that new technology advances complicates their planning and purchasing decisions,   FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reiterated that the narrowbanding deadline is firm and licensees that fail to meet the deadline will be  likely to  “…cause harmful interference to public-safety licensees operating on adjacent narrowband channels. Completion of the migration process, conversely, will free up spectrum for new public safety operations.”  He pointed out that grants and aid is available to these agencies from a variety of sources to upgrade their systems. The story From Mission Critical Magazine is HERE.

All users of 700 MHz Band wireless microphones

and similar devices - including theaters, churches,

schools, conference centers, theme parks, sports

leagues, and musicians - will need to retune or

replace, if necessary, their equipment no later

than June 12, 2010. Wireless microphones that

operate outside of the 700 MHz Band are not affected.

Information about these Rules can be found HERE.

Beginning May 14 the FCC will allow Part 90 Licensees to amend their license to add narrowband emission designators without requiring frequency coordination.  The changes  can be made interactively, online through the ULS site and requires using  the licensees FRN and Password.  Upon completion, they must pay a modification filing fee of $60.  Licensees who are unable to negotiate the FCC system have the opportunity to have FIT process their modification at a special rate of $50 plus the FCC Fee.  FIT Members receive this service at no charge, but still pay the FCC application fee.  Applicants requesting modification of their license to add or change to digital emissions still require formal frequency coordination.  Contact FIT for further details.