Service providers are very protective of their licensed
spectrum, which represents a multi-billion dollar investment, and is the life
blood of their networks. As part of
their ongoing performance maximization process, they are continually
monitoring, testing and optimizing them.
Anything that alters their networks in an unexpected way such as boosters
is of great concern to the service providers.
Verizon Wireless position is that “signal
boosters are devices that amplify wireless signals to extend coverage. When
properly installed, signal boosters can help consumers, wireless service
providers, and public safety first responders by extending cell phone coverage
to areas that would otherwise have weak signals such as tunnels, subways,
inside buildings, and in rural areas. Although signal boosters can improve cell
phone coverage, malfunctioning, poorly designed, or improperly installed signal
boosters can interfere with wireless networks and cause interference to a range
of calls, including emergency and 911 calls…The new FCC requirements for customers that own and operate a consumer
signal booster include: (1) Obtain
carrier approval prior to operating a signal booster and (2) Register the
booster with their service provider.
Verizon previously gave approval for its customers to operate any
consumer signal booster that met the new network protection standards.
Customers can identify these boosters by viewing the label on the device and on
the device packaging as a "consumer device". The package will also
contain notification to purchasers of the registration and other requirements
(boosters that do not meet the new network protection standards will not have
this labeling). Verizon also tentatively approves the use of consumer signal
boosters that do not meet the new network protection standards. This approval
is provided only for the boosters not causing interference and may be revoked
if the particular booster or booster model is found to cause interference
issues. To help avoid possible interference issues, however, Verizon recommends
that customers who need signal boosters replace existing boosters as soon as
possible with consumer signal boosters that meet the new network protection
standards.”
Other
boosters labeled for “Industrial Use” require special installation expertise. Industrial boosters may only be used by FCC
licenses or those given special permission.
Here are some excerpts from the FCC
Report and Order from 2013.
Page 3: Consumer Signal
Boosters as devices that are marketed to and sold for personal use by
individuals. These devices allow an
individual within a limited area such as a home, car, boat or RV, to improve
wireless coverage. Consumer Signal Boosters are designed to be used “out-of-
the-box” and do not need fine tuning or other technical adjustments. Individuals
should be able to install Consumer Signal Boosters without third party,
professional assistance.
Page 3: Industrial Signal
Boosters are all signal boosters other than Consumer Signal Boosters. The classification of Industrial Signal
Boosters thus covers a wide variety of devices that are designed for
installation by licensees or qualified installers. Because these devices may be installed
only with explicit licensee consent and close licensee coordination, they
are not and will not be required to incorporate particular interference
protection features. In addition, these devices must be appropriately labeled.
Page 32: Under
the Network Protection Standard, Consumer Signal Boosters must power down or
turn off when near a cell site, both near the cell sites of the signal booster
operator’s provider as well as the sites of other wireless providers. As a result, signal boosters will not operate
in densely populated urban areas that are well covered by multiple providers
and their networks. Instead, signal
boosters will operate only in areas where wireless coverage is weak or
non-existent (i.e., rural areas and indoors).
Page 36: Registration
Procedure. Based on the record in this
proceeding, we find it is in the public interest to require Consumer Signal
Booster operators to register directly with their serving provider prior to
operating their devices. In addition,
if a consumer purchases a Consumer Signal Booster for use in a location where
subscribers of multiple serving providers will access the device regularly,
each such subscriber must register the device with their provider. Further, consumers who purchase wireless
service from resellers must also register their boosters. Wireless providers must therefore establish a
process for these consumers to register either directly with the serving
provider (i.e., the underlying facilities-based provider) or with the
applicable reseller.
Page 46: Based
on our review of the record and for the reasons stated below, we will permit
consumers to operate existing (nonconforming) signal boosters provided they (1)
have the consent of their serving provider, and (2) register their booster with
that provider.
Page 46: If a consumer does
not have the consent of its service provider to use an existing booster, he or
she must immediately cease operation until consent is obtained.
While we agree that market forces may eventually curtail the use of existing
signal boosters, because existing devices do not contain the full complement of
interference safeguards we adopt today, consumers and others may operate such
devices only with the consent of their wireless providers. And we emphasize
that our Enforcement Bureau stands ready to rigorously investigate any
complaint of harmful interference associated with unauthorized signal booster
use.
Page 46: Wireless
providers who choose to consent to Consumer Signal Booster use have until March
1, 2014 (now April 30 2014), to establish a free registration
mechanism for their subscribers. And
after establishing a registration mechanism, providers will need to advise
subscribers of their registration process.
Accordingly, we require consumers to register their existing boosters
within 90 days of being notified by their service provider of the registration
process. Registration of existing
boosters will ensure that service providers and the Commission can efficiently
identify, investigate, and resolve interference complaints should they arise.
Page 47: Further,
we confirm that wireless providers are not required to consent to the use of
any existing signal booster. Because
existing boosters do not incorporate the interference-mitigating safeguards we
adopt today, wireless providers may determine whether the continued use of such
devices is warranted. In addition, wireless providers retain the right to
shut down any signal booster causing harmful interference to their operations
or network performance.
For real estate developers and property
owners who have large-scale projects, especially multifamily developments, this
means there is no still no easy or one size fits all solution.
The key is understanding your situation,
looking at your alternatives, putting a solid plan in place, and executing it, as
early as possible in the project development cycle.
