An order making changes to rules for the FCC’s equipment authorization program, approved 4-0 by commissioners in March (see 2303150026), is effective Oct. 30, said a Friday Federal Register notice. The order updates FCC rules to incorporate “four new and updated standards that are integral to equipment testing,” all from ANSI or the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission.

The FCC Wireless Bureau granted part of what Alaska’s GCI sought on drive testing of the speeds available on its wireless network. The tests are required under the FCC’s Alaska Plan. “For all but four grid cells raised in GCI’s … petitions, we waive the 15 mph threshold for in-motion drive tests,” the Friday order said: “For those 25 grid cells, we will accept GCI’s original drive test results. For one grid cell on Adak Island, we allow GCI to perform testing in a proxy grid cell.” The bureau dismissed as now moot GCI’s request for a waiver to permit drone testing in two grid cells. The bureau also granted an extension until Nov. 1 of GCI’s deadline for completing drive retesting in three grid cells in Utqiagvik.

Spectrum sharing, such as the citizens broadband radio service model, makes entry much cheaper for new users than exclusive licensing and doesn't disrupt or displace national defense spectrum use, NCTA said Thursday. Citing a Brattle Group analysis earlier this month, NCTA said single-use licensing, particularly for the 3.1-3.45 GHz band, "would cost the government billions of dollars while not delivering enough taxable revenue to offset the cost." Brattle said the economic value of sharing the 3.1-3.45 GHz band would be close to $19 billion, while exclusive use result in a loss of $41 billion once DOD estimates of clearing costs are factored in.

Broadcom representatives met with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the company’s recently filed analysis of the interference risk of very-low-power operations in the 6 GHz band to electronic newsgathering operations (see 2309120051), said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. Rosenworcel teed up a vote on 6 GHz VLP for the commission’s Oct. 19 meeting (see 2309280071). “We explained that the result of that study demonstrated that VLP devices are exceptionally unlikely to cause harmful interference to mobile ENG receivers, such as those mounted on news trucks,” Broadcom said.

The ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force urged the FCC to approve a waiver sought by the group (see 2304060053) before a Dec. 5 compliance deadline. “Members of the HAC Task Force reiterate their commitment to working towards the goal that all new handsets will meet HAC requirements,” said a Wednesday filing in docket 15-285. They also “reiterate their commitment to working towards the goal of including Bluetooth connectivity as an alternative to telecoil coupling in a certain percentage of handsets.”

AT&T asked the FCC to reclassify its notice of inquiry on the use of AI and other technologies to manage how spectrum is used from an exempt proceeding to a permit-but-disclose proceeding, which would require filing of ex parte notices. Commissioners approved the NOI in August and comments are due Tuesday (see 2308030075). “AT&T believes that it would be highly beneficial for participants to be able to understand and evaluate the possible benefits -- and potential pitfalls -- as such ‘usage’ is defined and evaluated for the extremely wide-ranging spectrum users regulated by the Commission,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-232: “That understanding would clearly be enhanced by providing all participants with access to ex parte submissions and summaries of presentations required under the permit-but-disclose rules.” Changing the status of the proceeding would be in keeping with the FCC’s policy of “operating with transparency,” AT&T said. “Smaller entities that do not have the resources to meet with the regulators would benefit from being able to access a complete record of the input being received and assessed by the Commission,” the carrier said.

5G connections surpassed 1.4 billion worldwide by the end of June, expected to approach the 2 billion mark by the end of the year, 5G Americas said Thursday. The latest forecast by Omdia predicts 8 billion 5G connections by 2028, which is 2.5 billion more than in the first decade of 4G, the group said. "The phenomenal global growth of 5G connections underscores the insatiable demand for advanced connectivity,” said Chris Pearson, president-5G Americas: “We are witnessing the transformative power of 5G technology as the industry focuses on integrating 5G connectivity into new devices and services in this era of innovation." There are 287 5G deployments worldwide, with 17 in the North American region and 29 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 5G Americas said.

NTT and Qualcomm Technologies announced a partnership aimed at investing in and speeding the development of a “5G device ecosystem to facilitate private 5G adoption, which is critical to powering AI at the edge.” NTT and Qualcomm Technologies “will prioritize the development of 5G enabled devices to accelerate innovation with global enterprise customers, a critical catalyst in driving widespread enterprise adoption of private 5G,” the companies said Tuesday. “This collaboration is truly an exciting one because we are answering the demand we’re hearing from our clients,” said Shahid Ahmed, NTT executive vice president-new ventures and innovation.

T-Mobile said Tuesday its network slicing “beta,” which uses its 5G stand-alone network (see 2308280046), is now available for use by developers nationwide. The program has also expanded to Android developers to optimize their video calling apps available on the Samsung Galaxy S23 series phones, T-Mobile said. “The moves make it easier for developers across the country to test their new and improved applications with the customized video calling network slice on T-Mobile’s 5G SA network using a commercial device,” the carrier said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau said it will host a workshop Nov. 2 on the environmental compliance and historic preservation review process required for building communications facilities supporting FCC-licensed services. The daylong workshop starts at 10 a.m. at commission headquarters. “FCC and other federal agency subject-matter experts will provide information on a range of topics related to the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the FCC’s implementing regulations and related agreements,” the bureau said Tuesday: “FCC applicants (including licensees and registrants), those who construct or manage communications facilities for FCC licensees, environmental consultants, State Historic Preservation Office staff, Tribal Historic Preservation Office staff, and federal agencies that fund or permit wireless facilities are encouraged to attend.”