Eliminating "Personal-Use" Booster Confusion

March 23, 2017

In comments filed March 23, 2017, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to eliminate the “personal-use” restriction on the operation of all consumer signal boosters. The comments were filed in response to a Public Notice requesting comment on a proposal from Wilson Electronics to eliminate the restriction on wideband consumer signal boosters. In its comments, EWA noted that “the restriction is ambiguous and unnecessary for the prevention of interference,” and that the term “personal use” has created “confusion about what communications may and may not be transmitted using a properly registered consumer signal booster, whether provider-specific or wideband.”

“The term causes confusion in the marketplace, and the restriction is unnecessary in any event as the Network Protection Standard adopted by the FCC appears to have eliminated consumer signal booster interference concerns,” said EWA President Mark Crosby.

Members of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance include large and small enterprise wireless users, manufacturers of wireless equipment as well as commercial service providers that design and install wireless systems.

About EWA

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance is the leading national trade association and advocate for business enterprises, private carrier operators, equipment manufacturers, and service providers that support the private wireless industry. A frequency advisory committee certified by the Federal Communications Commission, EWA provides its members and clients with consulting services, frequency coordination, license preparation, spectrum management and associated business intelligence services. EWA is the market leader in Business/Industrial Land Transportation frequency coordination services and assists a significant percentage of public safety customers with their spectrum requirements. Learn more at www.enterprisewireless.org.

We use EWA for all of our FCC license applications. The staff at EWA provide outstanding customer service and do all they can to see that applications are granted. EWA does a super job of staying on top of situations that affect our ability to file license applications and serve customers. EWA’s Regulatory Call keeps us informed about what is happening with the FCC and their online systems.

Brian S. Auker
Triangle Security and Communications
A Beep has been a happy customer of Spectrum Intel since its launch. It’s easy to use, the information is much more accessible, and the service includes extra features that other license activity reporting services don’t have. Spectrum Intel saves my team time each week.

Frank Anderson
A Beep, LLC
It’s remarkable what we’ve been able to do with EWA’s support. It’s a collaborative effort that has allowed Midland to deliver unparalleled support to our customers. No one else has the depth of understanding of FCC rules, which has resulted in more application grants. Midland Communications has a profound appreciation for EWA’s advocacy efforts. It has allowed us to have a voice before the FCC.

Paul Moore
Midland Communications
It’s not just about finding frequencies. It’s about finding the RIGHT frequencies for that customer, and EWA excels every time at that. We would not be moving forward without EWA.

Craig Sikes
Mobile Communications America
The advocacy and regulatory issues are very important to our business, and, without EWA, we would have no voice. Nobody is speaking up for players like us in Washington except EWA.

David Reeves
P&R Communications