The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) asked the FCC to extend by 30 days the deadline to file challenges to ongoing public trials of the automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to the 6 GHz band (see 2308250061). An August order requires that test portals be able to accept challenges for 15 days after the close of a 45-day trial period. EPRI “in collaboration with multiple utilities, other 6 GHz fixed service (FS) system operators, and … FS equipment vendors, has been conducting research for the past three years on the potential for harmful interference from the introduction of unlicensed use into the 6 GHz band,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. EPRI said for a Comsearch trial the end date is Oct. 23 and challenges are due Nov. 7. EPRI said it submitted test vectors to the test portal Sept. 5 and received responses Sept. 8. “EPRI invested significant hours analyzing the responses and is currently preparing challenges to some of the responses” but then on Oct. 11 “received revised responses from Comsearch for the entire set of requests,” the institute said: “For EPRI to provide accurate analysis, we respectfully ask the FCC for more time.”

The two companies and the DOJ filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Wednesday agreeing to give Dish Network extra time to buy 800 MHz licenses from T-Mobile. DOJ previously filed in support of giving Dish until April 1 to buy the spectrum, or pay a $72 million fee for walking away from the deal (see 2309190061). Dish asked for an extension through June 30. When DOJ filed “we thought the Judge was very likely to agree with the DOJ position,” said a New Street note to investors: “We think this filing increases the odds even higher, as there are now no parties in opposition to the extension.” The option to buy the licenses was part of a series of agreements tied to T-Mobile’s buy of Sprint, aimed at helping Dish emerge as a fourth national wireless provider (see 2308170065). “Acquiring Defendant and Divesting Defendant will make reasonable efforts to secure timely approval by the FCC of the transfer of the spectrum,” the filing said. “Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended Final Judgment, there shall be no extension of the Closing Deadline for any reason, whether foreseeable or not, except at the sole discretion of Divesting Defendants and with the consent of the United States.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau asked for comment as part of a record refresh on future use of the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands, the topic of a 2020 NPRM (see 2006090032). The bureau cited a recent letter from NTIA on Aeronet’s proposed use of frequencies at 71-76 and 81-86 GHz (see 2310170040). “The 70/80/90 GHz NPRM sought comment on a range of issues, including proposals by Aeronet … to use the bands to provide broadband service to aircraft and ships in motion,” the bureau said Wednesday: “The Commission also made proposals and solicited comment in part relating to applicable antenna standards, the extant link registration process, and possible band channelization.” Comments are due Nov. 8 in docket 20-133.

Southern Co. raised concerns about the use of unlicensed very-low-power devices in the 6 GHz band, teed up for an FCC commissioner vote Thursday (see 2310160050), meeting with an aide to Commissioner Anna Gomez. “We discussed how Southern and other utilities use privately-owned and operated communications systems to ensure the efficient, safe, and reliable delivery of essential electric utility services to the public,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. The draft item makes clear the FCC “intends to rely primarily, if not exclusively, on computer models and simulations as the basis for its spectrum management decisions in this and in future proceedings,” the utility said: “Southern agrees that simulations can be effective analytical tools, provided they are transparent, are based on complete and accurate data, and provide consistent and reproducible results.”

Extreme Networks said its petition for a waiver of FCC rules for low-power indoor (LPI) devices for 6 GHz access points (APs), to be installed exclusively in indoor-only sports venues, has broad support in the industry. Other reply comments in docket 23-282 (see 2309180036) said the waiver should be rejected. The FCC will consider an order and Further NPRM Thursday on changes to 6 GHz rules (see 2310160050). “A broad array of stakeholders, representing a substantial majority of all commenters, expressed support for Extreme Networks’ request for a narrow waiver,” the company said. Approving the waiver “will not increase the risk of harmful interference to incumbent operations and will advance the goals” of the FCC’s 6 GHz order by “expanding Wi-Fi connectivity and reliable Wi-Fi-coverage in indoor arenas, which are among the most challenging broadband environments in the country,” Extreme said. AT&T said its concerns remain. Extreme seeks “an expansive waiver” of form-factor LPI devices. AT&T said. The rules were adopted as part of the 6 GHz order “to ensure that LPI devices can't be taken outdoors because the Commission’s interference analysis assumes -- and the protection of primary [fixed service] incumbents thus depends -- on emissions from LPI devices being attenuated by a substantial amount of building entry loss,” the carrier said: “AT&T’s concern -- echoed by other commenters -- is that by circumventing this protection, weatherproofed LPI APs might be operated outdoors.” Other 6 GHz incumbents also opposed the waiver. “The record fails to demonstrate that waiver relief is needed to serve the public interest, but rather is desired to reduce costs to the venues and to leapfrog the FCC’s process for approving standard power APs,” the incumbents said. The waiver would “dramatically increase the number of LPI APs, devices that operate outside the Automated Frequency Coordination process, even before the FCC has addressed multiple Incumbent field studies that have reported interference from LPI APs, and these weatherized devices could end up in the hands of consumers,” they said. The filing was signed by the Utilities Technology Council, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, APCO and the Enterprise Wireless Alliance. “Because the Extreme Waiver Request fails to meet any of the Commission’s standards for granting a waiver, the request must be denied,” the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition said: “Extreme’s request is a petition for rulemaking masquerading as a waiver request.”

NTIA offered further comment on the FCC’s investigation into future use of the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands, the topic of a 2020 NPRM (see 2006090032). The Tuesday letter, in docket 20-133, addresses Aeronet’s proposed use of frequencies at 71-76 and 81-86 GHz (see 2208030035). Among NTIA's suggestions -- air-to-ground transmissions shouldn’t be permitted in 81-86 GHz, and air-to-air transmissions would be allowed, but with conditions. “In view of the complex technical and operational parameters that we propose on behalf of the agencies to protect federal operations, we encourage the Commission, in taking future actions in this proceeding, to establish a process for prospective operators to demonstrate that specific point-to-endpoint-in-motion technologies are able to meet both the in-band and out-of-band technical and operational requirements adopted by the Commission prior to deployment,” NTIA said. NTIA made the filing on behalf of NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Commerce Department and the Air Force.

T-Mobile supported a declaratory ruling, set for an FCC commissioner vote Thursday (see 2309280071), to allow E-rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses. Carrier representatives spoke with commissioner aides and other staff. “Wi-Fi on school buses enables students to do their homework during their daily commute to and from school and when traveling to after-school events,” T-Mobile said, posted Monday in docket 13-184. “For students with bus rides in both rural and urban areas, this connectivity can play a critical role in their daily education experience.”

CTIA urged the FCC to keep its focus on encouraging broadband deployment as it tackles digital discrimination (see 2310130070). “This proceeding should set policies that are conducive to broadband deployment, including wireless investment,” CTIA said, posted Monday in docket 22-69. “This proceeding should enhance ongoing deployment efforts by adopting policies that make it easier for providers to deploy 5G and other modern broadband services while safeguarding against intentional discrimination that could undermine the success of Congress’s broadband funding programs,” CTIA said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau’s limited waiver of wireless hearing aid compatibility rules for the volume control technical standard that handset manufacturers use took effect Sept. 29, said a notice in Friday’s Federal Register. ATIS filed a petition seeking the waiver (see 2309290052).

The Rural Wireless Association opposed granting SpaceX special temporary authority to launch supplemental coverage from space (SCS) operations, seconding comments by AT&T (see 2310100055). “The FCC should not authorize SpaceX’s proposed operations until SpaceX can demonstrate, through proper testing, that its proposed operations will not" interfere with "adjacent operations in the 1895-1910 MHz and 1975-1990 MHz bands … and the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz bands,” RWA said, posted Friday in docket 23-135. “As suggested by AT&T, if such testing is authorized, it should be authorized through an experimental license, granted by the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology, not an STA request,” RWA said.