Considering boosters?

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.