Conformity Magazine - August 2008 - (Page 10)

NewsBreaks FCC Seeks Comment on Reauction of 700 MHz D Block The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comment on how best to proceed with the auctioning of certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum earmarked for use by first responders and public safety officials. As we’ve previously reported (see Conformity, June 2008), the Commission’s auction held earlier this year for portions of the electromagnetic spectrum for advanced wireless devices resulted in bids totaling nearly $20 billion, a record for an FCC spectrum auction. However, that portion of the spectrum earmarked to be shared between a winning bidder and public safety users (labeled as D Block) attracted only a single bid and failed to sell. In a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in May, the Commission requests comments on whether the premise of a public/private partnership originally envisioned for the D Block is still consistent with the public interest. Further, the Commission is seeking comments on possible changes to the rules governing such a partnership, and on the technical requirements of the proposed shared wireless broadband network. Comments on the Commission’s proposal were due by mid-June, but our readers can view the complete text of the Commission’s proposal regarding the reauctioning of the D Block at www.conformity.com/2010. According to the FCC, Hot Lead has repeatedly failed to respond to Commission communications, beginning in May 2006, when the FCC issued an initial Citation against the company, followed by two separate Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, issued in August and December 2007. Violations of the FCC’s regulations regarding junk faxes typically result in proposed monetary fines of up to $11,000 per violation. Commission Cracks Down (Again!) on Junk Fax Marketer The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is hot on the heels of a Texas-based company for repeated violations of its rules against the sending of unsolicited fax advertisements. In its third such action against the company, The Hot Lead LLC, based in Addison, TX, the Commission issued in May a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $695,000 in connection with the company’s delivery of at least 130 unsolicited advertisements via fax to at least 59 separate consumers. As we’ve previously reported (see Conformity, November 2007, and Conformity, June 2008), the Commission had previously issued a Forfeiture Order for nearly $2.6 million against Hot Lead for delivering at least 417 junk faxes to at least 149 consumers. Canada Levies Fees for Public Safety Radio Spectrum Canada’s Department of Industry has established license fees for the use of spectrum in the 4940-4990 MHz band, reserved for broadband public safety communications. In its Notice, the Department of Industry has called for an annual spectrum license fee of $0.004166 (Canadian) per 50 MHz per population, subject to a minimum fee of $250. Operators covering all of Canada would pay an estimated annual license fee of just over $131,000, with operators in various Canadian provinces paying annual fees ranging from about $31,000 (Quebec) down to $1553 (Halifax). DiLBErt: © Scott Adams/Dist. by United feature Syndicate, inc. reprinted with permission. 10 Conformity AUGUSt 2008 http://www.conformity.com/2010 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/conformity/0608/ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/conformity/1107/ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/conformity/0608/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Conformity Magazine - August 2008

Conformity Magazine - August 2008 Contents Editor’s Note FCC Seeks Comment on Reauction of 700 MHz D Block Commission Cracks Down (Again!) on Junk Fax Marketer Canada Levies Fees for Public Safety Radio Spectrum FDA Issues Guidance on Medical Device Tracking Greenpeace Challenges Video Game Manufacturers The IEEE EMC Society: A Proud History of Accomplishments ESD Open Forum An Update on Changes to the Automotive ESD Standard, ISO 10605 Modeling of Radiated Electromagnetic Disturbances in Automotive Applications Design Issues in Automotive Radio Frequency Systems IEEE EMC Symposium IEEE 2008 Show Preview Exhibitors Buyer’s Guide Product News Most Eco-Friendly Companies Updated Standards List For the EU’s Pressure Equipment Directive Commission Issues Updated Standards List For Directive on Gas-Fired Appliances HHS Releases Fact Sheet on U.S. Imports from China Customs Agents Seize Holiday Lights IEEE PSES Symposium Set for October CPSC Actions in the News IEC Standards Update UL Standards Update Telcordia Standards Update From Our “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” Department Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Product Reviews Advertisers

Conformity Magazine - August 2008

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