Caution Urged as FCC Looks at Further Changes to Booster Rules
Wireless industry commenters urged the FCC to move cautiously as it expands rule changes for signal boosters. In March, commissioners approved an order 5-0 lifting the 2013 personal use restriction on consumer cell-signal boosters. They also approved a Further NPRM proposing to eliminate the personal use restriction on wideband boosters and to authorize nonsubscribers to operate boosters, plus other potential changes (see 1803220037). Comments were posted Monday in docket 10-4.
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“CTIA generally supports the Commission’s efforts, but urges it to maintain the same model of careful consideration of the potential harmful effects to wireless consumers prior to allowing increased flexibility for these devices,” it commented. The rules have been effective because of the commission’s “careful approach,” CTIA said. The association supports expanding the bands in which the gear can be used “provided consideration is given to the practical realities for each spectrum band." CTIA cited the wireless communications service band: “The WCS spectrum surrounds the satellite radio service spectrum band and must also protect adjacent use by aeronautical radio service operations.” Equipment embedded in cars, boats and recreational vehicles present unique challenges and the companies that manufacture them, not consumers, should be required to ensure they are registered, CTIA said: In other instances, operators have had great difficulties resolving harmful interference.”
Verizon expressed similar concerns. “The Commission must be careful to expand the Consumer Signal Booster regime only in ways that do not undercut the success of the current framework; in particular, any new rules must ensure that wireless licensees maintain control of Consumer Signal Boosters,” Verizon said. "The proposals to encourage proliferation of Embedded and Wideband signal boosters may jeopardize the ability of licensees to exert the control necessary to protect and defend their networks from harmful interference.”
AT&T urged caution, questioning whether consumers would meet requirements that they register wideband boosters with all a market's carriers. The rule change would “make compliance more burdensome and, therefore, less likely,” AT&T said. “AT&T is skeptical that all -- or even most -- users of wideband Consumer Signal Boosters will successfully complete these steps.”
Sirius XM raised interference concerns about its operations in the satellite digital audio radio service band, 2320-2345 MHz, surrounded by the WCS band. “Because SDARS radios receive relatively low-power signals from satellites and WCS transmitters operate at much higher power levels on the ground, WCS operations have a significant potential to cause harmful interference into Sirius XM’s service,” it said.
Groups representing users generally supported proposals. Eliminating the personal use restriction of wideband boosters would be helpful to public safety agencies and critical infrastructure companies, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance commented. “UPS, as well as organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute and the Utilities Telecom Council, whose members are classified as Critical Infrastructure Industries by the FCC and provide essential services to the American public, have described the greater flexibility and cost savings that would result."
The Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee said the FCC should eliminate the restriction on wideband boosters and mandate a database, paid for by carriers. “This additional step to simplify the signal booster rules will facilitate expanded use of signal boosters by enterprise customers consistent with the intended purpose of such devices,” the committee said. Wilson Electronics, which manufactures the products, urged the FCC to adopt changes proposed in the FNPRM. Wilson said it shipped more than 1 million boosters since the network protection standard, without an interference complaint.