FCC notes
Grab an RF probe or watch your back Sept. 1 is the deadline for compliance with FCC rules (47 C.F.R. 1.1311) on human safety limits for exposure to RF emissions. However, some operators and carriers seem to want to wait until they receive that “Notice of Forfeiture” on the door. Survey estimates presented by SiteSafe at the SOMA conference in mid-May indicated effort to document exposure and to provide worker training accounted for about 40% of PCS and cellular sites. Only about 20% of paging operations surveyed and less than 10% of two-way radio, utility operations, municipal sites and broadcast sites were ready. This procrastination has been attributed to mistaken assumptions about the nature of “categorical exclusion” in the rules, which applies to only a few operations. Although the FCC and OSHA have limited enforcement manpower, several industry observers expect a repeat performance of the FCC’s high-profile “stings” on 900MHz operators and pirate FM stations. The “new” Enforcement Bureau has been flexing its muscles, and this will be a highly newsworthy target. Prime targets: rooftop sites and operations involved with trade unions.
Meanwhile, closer to home… To further underscore its commitment to the RF emissions issue, the FCC, with the Local and State Government Advisory Committee, has released a “plain-English” guide on RF for local governments. “A Local Government Official’s Guide to RF Emission Antenna Safety Rules” is less a guide than a handbook or primer, as it runs to 37 pages. The guide includes a discussion of how local officials and citizens can initially contact a facility’s operator to answer questions about compliance. It also covers the procedures to determine compliance and to bring violators into compliance. Look for it to be in the hands of your local zoning board before the summer is out, and look for your own copy on the Web at www.fcc.gov/rfsafety.
UTC files to expand coordination The United Telecom Council (UTC) has filed with the FCC for certification to provide coordination for the 800MHz and 900MHz PLRM Industrial/Land Transportation and Business Category frequencies. UTC has already been providing coordination below 512MHz. Comments on the Public Notice are due June 26; reply comments on July 12.
New Form 601 The FCC has released a new edition of Form 601, “Application for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Radio Service Authorization.” The new form includes “demonstration license” as an option, explains emergency “special temporary authority,” includes “band manager” under regulatory status and revises Schedule H to accommodate moving land mobile onto the ULS. -D.K.
Robert “Ken” Sowards, executive vice president of operations for a division of Trinity Industries, Dallas, moves to senior vice president of operations for Decibel Products, Dallas.
Edward Mathieu, senior manager for North American Philips, advances to the position of director of marketing and business development for IFR Systems, Wichita, KS.
Thomas E. Sternbenc, senior vice president of sales and customer care at Cable & Wireless North America, Vienna, VA, accepts appointment to the position of president of Tower Distribution Technologies, Hampton, NH.
Robert J. Irving, administrative counsel for Rohr, Chula Vista, CA, advances to vice president and legal counsel for Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, San Diego.
Dan Spalding, public relations manager for Proxim, Sunnyvale, CA, joins Digital Microwave, San Jose, CA as director of corporate communications.
Mitchell H. Herbets, senior vice president and general manager of Racal Communications, Rockville, MD, succeeds Mark Lipp, who joins the board of directors as president.
David Morash, vice president of Safeskin, San Diego, moves to Wireless Knowledge, San Diego, as chief financial officer.
Kathy Boyd, general manager of Hewlett Packard’s consulting services, assumes position of vice president of performance optimization group for TTC, Germantown, MD.
Jeff Fisher, operations manager for Solectria, Wilmington, MA, joins Advanced Charger Technology, Atlanta, as assistant general manager, hardware applications.
