Click here for Adobe Acrobat version
Click here for Microsoft Word version

******************************************************** 
                      NOTICE
********************************************************

This document was converted from Microsoft Word.

Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
will not show up in this text version.

All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the
original document will not show up in this text version.

Features of the original document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
will not be preserved in the text version.

If you need the complete document, download the
Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat version.

*****************************************************************



                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                       )                                     
     In the Matter of                                                        
                                       )                                     
     Alamitos West Health Care             File No.: EB-FIELDWR-12-00002393  
     Center                            )                                     
                                           Citation No.: C201232900003       
     Los Alamitos, California          )                                     
                                                                             
                                       )                                     


                                    CITATION

             EXCEEDING SIGNAL LEAKAGE LIMITS IN AERONAUTICAL BANDS

   Adopted: August 15, 2012 Released: August 16, 2012

   By the Acting District Director, Los Angeles Office, Western Region,
   Enforcement Bureau:

   I. INTRODUCTION

    1. This is an official Citation issued pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of
       the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), to the Alamitos West
       Health Care Center for failing to notify the Commission before
       operating a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) system
       with a carrier in the aeronautical radio frequency band, in violation
       of Section 76.1804 of Commission's Rules (Rules), and for exceeding
       cable signal leakage limits in aeronautical frequency bands in
       violation of Section 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules.

    2. The Alamitos West Health Care Center should take immediate steps to
       come into compliance and to avoid any recurrence of these violations.
       As explained below and as provided in the Communications Act, future
       violations of the abovementioned Rule may subject your institution to
       substantial monetary penalties, seizure of equipment, and criminal
       sanctions.

   II. background

    3. On May 7, 2012, an agent from the Enforcement Bureau's Los Angeles
       Office conducted an investigation and found that the Alamitos West
       Health Care Center, located at 3902 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos,
       California, utilized a non-cable MVPD system at its Health Care
       facility. The agent also found that the Alamitos West Health Care
       Center's MVPD system was using an aeronautical frequency, but had not
       filed FCC Form 321 to notify the Commission of its operation in the
       aeronautical band. The agent further found that the MVPD system was
       emitting a radio carrier signal above allowed limits on frequency
       bands utilized by aeronautical services. At the time of the
       investigation, the agent conducted field strength measurements on the
       aeronautical frequency 121.2625 MHz outside the facility at the
       Alamitos West Health Care Center. The agent measured an emission of 59
       microvolts per meter.

   III. applicable law and violations

    4. The Rules provide that cable and non-cable MVPDs that transmit
       carriers with certain characteristics within frequency bands of
       108-137 MHz and 225-400 MHz must comply with specific technical
       requirements delineated in the Rules in order to avoid interference to
       other licensed operations, including aeronautical systems operating in
       these frequency ranges. In particular, Section 76.610 of the Rules
       provides that all MVPDs (cable and non-cable) transmitting carriers or
       other signal components carried at an average power level equal to or
       greater than 10-4 watts across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160
       microsecond period, at any point in the cable distribution system in
       the frequency bands 108-137 and 225-400 MHz for any purpose must
       comply with, among others, Section 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules. The
       Alamitos West Health Care Center was required to comply with this Rule
       because the MVPD system at its property in Garden Grove, California,
       transmits a carrier at an average power level equal to or greater than
       10-4 watts across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160 microsecond period and
       carries signals in the 108-137 MHz aeronautical band.

    5. Section 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules provides that "[a]s an exception to
       the general provision requiring measurements to be made at subscriber
       terminals, and without regard to the type of signals carried by the
       cable television system, signal leakage from a cable television system
       shall be measured in accordance with the procedures outlined in S:
       76.609(h) and shall be limited as follows: Over 54 MHz up to and
       including 216 MHz - 20 micro-volts per meter, measured at 3 meters."
       At the time of the investigation, an FCC agent from the Los Angeles
       Office conducted field strength measurements on the frequency 121.2625
       MHz outside the facility at the Alamitos West Health Care Center and
       measured an emission of 59 microvolts per meter, which exceeds the
       field strength allowed on that frequency by the Rules.

    6. Section 76.1804 of the Rules requires that an "MVPD shall notify the
       Commission before transmitting any carrier or other signal component
       with an average power level across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160
       microsecond time period equal to or greater than 10-4 watts at any
       point in the cable distribution system on any frequency or frequencies
       in the aeronautical radio frequency bands (108-137 and 225-400 MHz).
       The notification shall be made on FCC Form 321." At the time of the
       investigation, Alamitos West Health Care Center was using a frequency
       in the aeronautical band, but had not notified the Commission as
       required.

   IV. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

    7. Pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), and 403 of the Act,  Alamitos West
       Health Care Center is directed to provide the information specified
       herein, within twenty (20) days after the release date of this
       Citation.

     a. Descriptions of the specific action(s) that have been taken to
        correct the violation and preclude recurrence. Include a time line
        for completion of pending corrective action(s).

   V. FUTURE COMPLIANCE

    8. If, after receipt of this Citation, Alamitos West Health Care Center
       violates the Communications Act or the Commission's Rules by engaging
       in conduct of the type described herein, the Commission may impose
       monetary forfeitures for any single act. In addition, violations of
       the Act or the Rules can result in seizure of equipment through in rem
       forfeiture actions, as well as criminal sanctions, including
       imprisonment.

    9. The Alamitos West Health Care Center may respond to this Citation
       within twenty (20) days after the release date of this Citation either
       through (1) a personal interview at the closest FCC office, or (2) a
       written statement. Any written statements should specify what actions
       have been taken by the Alamitos West Health Care Center to ensure that
       it does not violate the Commission's Rules governing signal leakage
       limits in the future. Please reference file number
       EB-FIELDWR-12-00002393 when corresponding with the Commission.

   10. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, any statement or information provided
       by you may be used by the Commission to determine if further
       enforcement action is required. Any knowingly or willfully false
       statement, or concealment of any material fact, made in reply to this
       Citation is punishable by fine or imprisonment.  Please also note that
       Section 1.17 of the Rules requires that you provide truthful and
       accurate statements to the Commission.

   VI. CONTACT INFORMATION

   11. The closest FCC Office is the Los Angeles Office in Cerritos,
       California. You may contact this office by telephone, (562)860-7474,
       to schedule a personal interview, which must take place within twenty
       (20) days after the release date of this Citation. You should send any
       written statement within twenty (20) days after the release date of
       this Citation to:  Federal Communications Commission, Los Angeles
       Office, 18000 Studebaker Road, Suite 660, Cerritos, California 90703.

   12. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available
       upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need
       including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact
       you if we need more information. Please allow at least five (5) days
       advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be
       impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
       Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau:

   For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations:

   202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty);

   For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files,
   and audio format):

   202-418-0531 (voice), 202-418-7365 (tty).

   VII. ORDERING CLAUSES

   13. IT  IS ORDERED that a copy of this Citation shall be sent both by
       First Class U.S.

   Mail and Certified Mail to the Alamitos West Health Care Center at 3902
   Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos, California 90720.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   Paul Oei

   Acting District Director

   Los Angeles Office

   Western Region

   Enforcement Bureau

   47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(5).

   47 C.F.R. S: 76.1804.

   47 C.F.R. S: 76.605(a)(12).

   47 C.F.R. S: 76.610.

   47 C.F.R. S: 76.605(a)(12).

   47 C.F.R. S: 76.1804.

   47 U.S.C. S:S: 154(i), 154(j), 403.

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 401, 501, 503; 47 C.F.R. S: 1.80(b)(3). This amount is
   subject to further adjustment for inflation (see id. S: 1.80(b)(5)), and
   the forfeiture amount applicable to any violation will be determined based
   on the statutory amount designated at the time of the violation.

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 510.

   See Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. S: 552a(e)(3).

   See 18 U.S.C. S: 1001 et seq.

   47 C.F.R. S: 1.17 ("... no person subject to this rule shall; (1) In any
   written or oral statement of fact, intentionally provide material factual
   information that is incorrect or intentionally omit material information
   that is necessary to prevent any material factual statement that is made
   from being incorrect or misleading; and (2) In any written statement of
   fact, provide material factual information that is incorrect or omit
   material information that is necessary to prevent any material factual
   statement that is made from being incorrect or misleading without a
   reasonable basis for believing that any such material factual statement is
   correct and not misleading.")

   (...continued from previous page)

                                                              (continued....)

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1336

                                       4

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1336