REGULATORY UPDATE >>
The Wireless Report
Get the latest legislative news impacting your business By John A. Prendergast, Managing Partner, Blooston Law (jap@bloostonlaw.com)
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Update on AICC Petition for Emergency Relief regarding AT&T 3G Sunset On May 10 AICC filed a Petition for Emergency Relief, asking the FCC to require a ten-month extension of the February 2022 3G service termination of AT&T Mobility LLC and its affiliates. The requested relief is necessary because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant delays in being able to replace 3G alarm signaling radios in customer premises for more than a year. The alarm industry has had great difficulty over the past fourteen-plus months accessing customer premises in order to replace the 3G alarm radios, because most consumers and businesses are fearful of letting strangers into their homes or offices during COVID. On July 30, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking input on AICC’s Emergency Petition, in newly created GN Docket No. 21-304. Comments are due by August 30, with reply comments due September 14. AICC welcomes any input describing the risks faced by alarm [28]
companies and their customers if the 3G sunset is not extended. AICC Files Comments on Potential Impact of Semiconductor Shortage On May 11, the FCC issued Public Notice seeking on the impact that the continuing global shortage of semiconductors may have on the U.S. communications sector and on FCC initiatives. The semiconductor shortage is affecting the alarm industry’s efforts to replace 3G-based alarm radios ahead of the impending 3G sunset, and perhaps other aspects of equipment manufacturing. Comment has been sought on the following questions, among others: • Has the global semiconductor shortage spread to the communications sector? • What is the short- and long-term capacity of manufacturers of semiconductors and semiconductor components to keep up with the communication sector’s demand?
How long is the current shortage expected to last? What are the factors impacting the supply of semiconductors and other manufacturing components which are critical to the communications sector? What are the impacts of shortages of semiconductors or other critical components on the communications sector, including on consumers, enterprise system users, private network operators (such as critical infrastructure), and service providers? What are the impacts of these shortages on the public interest? What steps can be taken by the Commission, either working on its own or in concert with Federal partners, to help address these current challenges?
On June 10, AICC filed comments identifying the impact that the microchip shortage has had on acquiring alarm radios needed to replace those that will be rendered inoperable by the 3G Sunset. FCC Releases OET Filing Fee Guides As part of the rolling implementation of its new application filing fee structure that was to have been effective in April 2021, the FCC released its new filing fee guide and announced that its new filing fees for the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) became effective on July 15, 2021. These fees will govern registration and certification of alarm equipment. The fee filing guide for OET covers radio frequency device equipment authorization services and experimental radio services. For the radio frequency device equipment authorization services, Fall 2021 | TMA Dispatch
