PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY: 1-888-835-5322 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 16-221 February 29, 2016 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF CONSUMER SIGNAL BOOSTERS WT Docket 10-4 Comments Due: March 30, 2016 Reply Comments Due: April 14, 2016 On February 20, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) released the Signal Boosters Report and Order, in which it adopted new technical, operational, and registration requirements for consumer signal boosters. 1 The underlying purpose of the Report and Order was to broaden the availability of consumer signal boosters while ensuring that these boosters do not adversely affect wireless networks. The Commission noted at the time that the rules were created to “accommodate devices for the cellular systems in use today” but were “sufficiently flexible to encourage further technological advances and a robust, competitive market for booster technology.” 2 We observe that consumers now have access to a wide range of consumer signal boosters that satisfy the technical protections adopted in the Signal Boosters Report and Order. As of March 2, 2015, the four nationwide wireless providers had consented to the use of all 60 of the consumer signal boosters that the FCC had certified at that time, 3 and as of February 8, 2016, the FCC had certified a total of 76 consumer signal boosters. 4 In addition, each of the nationwide providers has set up consumer registration procedures. 5 1 Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90 and 95 of the Commission’s Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of Signal Boosters, Report and Order, WT Docket No. 10-4, 28 FCC Rcd 1663 (2013) (Report and Order). 2 Id. at 1664, ¶ 1. 3 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Reminds Nationwide Wireless Service Providers of Obligation to Release Information Regarding Consumer Signal Boosters by March 2, 2015, Public Notice, WT Docket No. 10-4, 30 FCC Rcd 195 (WTB 2015); AT&T Services, Inc., Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90 and 95 of the Commission’s Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of Signal Boosters, WT Docket No. 10-4 (filed March 2, 2015); Sprint Corporation, Sprint Consumer Signal Booster Information, WT Docket No. 10-4 (filed February 27, 2015); T-Mobile USA, Inc., Signal Boosters Authorized on the T-Mobile Nationwide Network, WT Docket No. 10- 4 (filed February 27, 2015); Verizon, Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90 and 95 of the Commission's Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage through the Use of Signal Boosters, WT Docket No. 10-4 (filed March 3, 2015). 4 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Reminds Nationwide Wireless Service Providers of Obligation to Release Information Regarding Consumer Signal Boosters, Public Notice, WT Docket No. 10-4, DA 16-137 (WTB Feb. 28, 2016) (2016 Public Notice). The carriers are not required to respond to the 2016 Public Notice until March 9, 2016, 2In adopting new requirements for consumer signal boosters, the Commission stated that “it would be beneficial to assess the state of technological advancements after signal booster manufacturers have had an opportunity to develop devices under our new rules.” 6 As such, the Commission directed the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) to release a Public Notice no later than March 1, 2016, seeking comment on “additional technologies that may enhance the interference-mitigating features of signal boosters already required by our rules.” 7 Accordingly, the Bureau hereby seeks comment regarding the current state of the consumer signal booster market and any relevant technologies that should be considered now that the rules have been in operation for three years. In particular, we seek comment on: ? The performance and effectiveness of new consumer signal boosters; ? Whether additional safeguards are necessary, and if so: o a description of the safeguard; o whether it can be implemented using existing network infrastructure, or else a description of how wireless networks would need to be modified; o a description of the benefits and costs of the safeguard; o if the safeguard is being developed or has not yet been developed, a description of the steps and timing necessary to deploy the safeguard; o a description of the effects on consumers and manufacturers of implementing the safeguard; o what regulatory steps, if any, would be needed to implement the safeguard; and o an indication of whether the safeguard relies on patented technology, and if so, the identity of the patent holder. ? The effectiveness of the consumer signal booster registration system put in place by wireless providers; ? The effectiveness of the Commission’s enforcement efforts; and ? Any other related issues regarding consumer signal boosters. 8 The comments we receive in response to this Public Notice will inform whether further action in this area is warranted. 9 Procedural Matters Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 10 interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. after the release of this Public Notice; we therefore have not yet been provided information regarding their consent to the operation on their networks of the 76 FCC-approved consumer signal boosters. 5 AT&T, Signal Booster Registration, https://securec45.securewebsession.com/attsignalbooster.com/; Sprint, Legal / Regulatory & Consumer Resources, Signal Boosters, https://www.sprint.com/legal/fcc_boosters.html; T-Mobile, Signal Booster Registration, https://www.signalboosterregistration.com/; Verizon, Consumer Signal Booster, http://www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/accessories/register-signal-booster.html 6 Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 1677 ¶ 78. 7 Id. 8 See id. 9 Id. 10 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419. 3Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). 11 When filing comments, please reference WT Docket No. 10-4. ? Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. ? Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. ? All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12 th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. ? Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. ? U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). This proceeding has been designated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. 12 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte 11 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). 12 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200(a), 1.1206. 4presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, contact Amanda Huetinck of the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-7090, or via e-mail at amanda.huetinck@fcc.gov. Action by the Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC -