Private network provider Betacom and UScellular announced a partnership Tuesday that they say will offer “the industry’s first private/public hybrid 5G networks.” The offering “provides security and control over business data, both on-premises and while roaming among company facilities” and allows businesses “with multiple sites across numerous locations to maintain connectivity between locations,” the companies said.

The FCC told spectrum access system administrators Tuesday they're now permitted to allow longer citizens broadband radio service device (CBSD) reauthorization periods than those previously permitted under FCC rules for some operations. The directions follow a letter to the FCC from NTIA. Previously, all devices had to be reauthorized at least once every five minutes to ensure compliance with FCC rules. “We agree that extending this reauthorization period from 300 seconds to 24 hours in geographic areas and portions of the spectrum band that are outside of the scope of current federal operations will help to provide a more stable and predictable spectrum environment for Citizens Broadband Radio Service users while ensuring an interference-free environment for critical federal operations,” NTIA said in the Monday letter to the chiefs of the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology. NTIA said it’s comfortable with the longer periods for devices outside of dynamic protection areas (DPAs) and for devices using the 3.65-3.7 GHz part of the band. The shorter time frame continues for devices using 3.55-3.65 GHz inside DPAs. The CBRS rules were designed to protect primarily naval radars that use the band. The FCC adopted the changes. “We agree with NTIA that allowing SAS administrators to modify their implementation of the CBSD reauthorization period under these circumstances will create a more stable, predictable spectrum environment for all 3.5 GHz band users without jeopardizing the protection of critical federal operations from harmful interference,” the FCC said.

Extreme Networks got support from some groups and other Wi-Fi advocates for its petition for a waiver of FCC rules for low-power indoor devices for 6 GHz access points (APs), to be installed exclusively in indoor-only sports venues. The company wants to protect the APs with a waterproof enclosure “to protect the devices from beverage spills and during venue washing,” said a July waiver request (see 2308010074). The Utilities Technology Council, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, APCO and the Enterprise Wireless Alliance opposed the waiver (see 2309080045). “Extreme Networks has clearly demonstrated ‘good cause’ and that the public interest will be served by waiving what we believe is the least important of the multiple form factor requirements that govern the authorization of low-power, indoor-only access points,” Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute at New America said in a filing posted Monday in docket 23-282. “The waiver is necessary for sports fans to benefit from the full capacity, low latency and higher quality that next generation Wi-Fi 7 makes possible, as well as for lower costs, greater spectrum efficiency, and more competition in the market for indoor venue connectivity solutions. Extreme Networks’ proposal also eliminates the risk that granting the waiver would result in its devices being used outdoors,” the public interest groups said. The Commission was clear that the prohibition on weatherized indoor access point devices is a means to an end -- ensuring that devices remain indoors -- not an end itself,” the Wi-Fi Alliance said. “This limited waiver is necessary to avoid frustrating the enormous public interest benefits that access to next generation Wi-Fi 7 across the full 1,200 MHz of the band can bring to the fan experience at indoor arenas,” the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance said. “Without a waiver, venue operators would have to limit deployment of Indoor Access Points to areas where spills are unlikely, severely diminishing coverage when data demands are increasing,” NCTA said: “Extreme has shown that special circumstances exist that warrant a deviation from the general rule, as the Extreme Waiver Request clearly delineates the measures it will take to ensure that the Sports Venue Indoor Access Points will operate indoors without causing risk of harmful interference.” Cisco Systems has “partnerships” with numerous sports venue customers where it has also deployed its Wi-Fi networking equipment, the company said. “Permitting the certification and sale of 6 GHz-capable low-power indoor access points using a waterproof enclosure, subject to the conditions outlined in Extreme’s waiver request, will serve the public interest by expanding the availability of 6 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and encouraging development of the 6 GHz ecosystem, while protecting against harmful interference to incumbent operations,” Cisco said.

NCTA urged the FCC to refrain from imposing wireless emergency alert requirements on mobile virtual network operators. “Absent ownership or control of the underlying mobile wireless networks that support the transmission of WEA messages MVNOs lack the ability to provide information about the WEA capabilities of those networks,” said a filing Friday in docket 15-91. “Requiring MVNOs to elect whether to participate in WEA or to otherwise disclose the WEA capabilities of the networks on which they offer mobile wireless service on a resale basis would therefore create the false impression for consumers that MVNOs have access to such information from network owners and/or control over networks owners’ participation in WEA,” NCTA said: Any requirement to submit information about the WEA capabilities of MVNOs would also “create a redundant regulatory burden with no public interest benefit.”

Mongoose Works appealed a decision by the FCC Wireless Bureau upholding the C-Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse’s decision reducing Mongoose’s lump sum claim amount from $356,052 to $286,366 under the C-band relocation program. The bureau’s decision “parrots the RPC’s Decisional Memorandum and Response in its claims and conspicuously avoids any consideration of Mongoose’s crux arguments in its Appeal and Reply, which painstakingly refute each and every claim made by the RPC,” Mongoose said, in a filing posted Friday in docket 21-333.

The FCC mandated a May 1 compliance date for all carriers, regardless of size, for new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI) requirements approved by commissioners last year (see 2207060070). The order responds to an October petition by CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association (see 2211010056) and was posted in Monday’s Daily Digest. The two groups got broad industry support for their petition (see 2301110036). The order contemplated deadlines of March 30 for larger carriers, June 30 for smaller. In imposing a single deadline, the FCC resolves “Petitioners’ request to amend or clarify the definitions of ‘small’ or ‘non-small’ providers utilized by the Report and Order,” the FCC said. “We also decline to shift the obligations from providers to the Commission to publish and maintain a list of providers subject to the MDRI, and further decline to implement direct, individual contact by the Commission to providers when the MDRI is activated, relying instead on the routine public notices that the Commission may otherwise release.” But in a win for the groups, the FCC said roaming-under-disaster arrangements by providers will be treated as confidential when filed. In imposing a single deadline the agency extends “reasonable relief to providers, while preserving the benefits of the underlying rules for consumers relying on Petitioners’ networks for connectivity and emergency communications access during disasters in advance of the 2024 hurricane and wildfire seasons,” the order said.

T-Mobile applauded a proposal FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to make changes to the E-rate program that would allow support for Wi-Fi on school buses and for Wi-Fi hotspots that public and school libraries lend patrons and students. “Addressing the need for off-campus connectivity within the E-Rate program as the Chair suggests is the logical progression from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which helped bridge the gap in internet connectivity experienced by millions of students across the country during the pandemic,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 13-184. “As ECF benefits end, schools and libraries will face an unmet need, and E-Rate is well-positioned to help continue funding off-campus connectivity,” T-Mobile said.

The FCC will post in the Federal Register Monday detailed instructions for nonexempt fixed and mobile broadcast auxiliary services (BAS) and cable television relay services (CARS) licensees in the 12.7 GHz band to certify by Nov. 29 the accuracy of the information reflected on their licenses. The FCC is seeking the information as part of a Further NPRM on the band, approved by commissioners 4-0 in May (see 2305180052).

The FCC agreed to extend by 11 days, until Oct. 6, the deadline for filing comments on an NPRM on a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices (see 2308100032), after industry groups asked for a 30-day delay based on the complexity of the rulemaking and large number of questions posed (see 2309010031). The FCC extended the reply deadline to from Oct. 6 to Nov. 10. “While we find some relief is warranted to accommodate the concerns raised, we find that the full relief requested would unnecessarily delay the timely consideration of these issues by the Commission,” said a Friday order by the Public Safety Bureau, in docket 23-239: “Rather, we believe that a moderate extension to both the comment and reply comment deadlines will provide the needed time within which parties can organize and coordinate their input to the Commission.”

The next iteration of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7, will enjoy increased throughput due to use of the 6 GHz band and 4K quadrature amplitude modulation, and should support wireless device speeds of up to 5 Gbps in optimal wireless conditions, CableLabs Principal Architect-Wireless R&D Lili Hervieu blogged Wednesday. A key feature of Wi-Fi 7 will be multilink operation -- simultaneous connections to different bands -- which will improve reliability, enhance band steering and load balancing, and reduce latency, she said. The finalization of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' 802.11bn standard, which will support Wi-Fi 7, isn’t expected before 2027 or 2028, she said.