Representatives of the ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force, which recently spoke with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel seeking action on HAC rule revisions (see 2306010029), held other meetings at the FCC. Officials spoke with staff from the Wireless and Consumer and Governmental Affairs bureaus and the Office of Engineering and Technology on “the record overwhelmingly in support of the HAC Task Force’s Report and Recommendations and related waiver request,” said a filing Friday in docket 15-285.

Ericsson agreed to collaborate with advanced metering infrastructure provider Easymetering on a technological ecosystem for smart meters. “As utilities look toward grid modernization, smart meters, and smart grids are critical in addressing the evolving needs of utility companies -- all while keeping sustainability and efficiency in mind,” Ericsson said: The metering company will use an Ericsson lab to test the interoperability of devices.

Alternative asset manager Apollo Global Management said Monday it plans to invest $2 billion in preferred equity securities to be issued by a subsidiary of AT&T. The investment is expected to be completed in June, Apollo said.

All nine contestant subsystems passed the stage two wrap-around emulation testing that's part of NTIA’s $7 million 2023 5G Challenge, the agency said Monday. Tests were run at NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences lab in Boulder, Colorado. The “fundamental idea” of open radio networks is “to disaggregate the 5G network components, test individual interfaces, and enable true plug-and-play operation,” NTIA said, noting the challenge separates contestants’ radio units (RU) and central unit and distributed unit pair (CU+DU) subsystems. “RU development is complex and hardware-centric,” NTIA said: “By contrast, the CU+DU is primarily implemented with software.” The RU contestants passing the tests were Fujitsu Network Communications/AT&T, GXC, Lions Technology, NewEdge and QCT/Benetel, NTIA said. Passing the CU+DU tests were Capgemini Engineering, GXC, Mavenir and Radisys.

The FCC got only limited comment on its draft 42 GHz NPRM, teed up for a vote at the FCC’s meeting Thursday. Similar to a draft NPRM on next-generation 911 (see 2306020040), it's expected to pass 4-0 with limited tweaks. NCTA met with staff for all four commissioners, expressing general “appreciation for the FCC’s willingness to consider innovative uses of spectrum,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-158. “We noted that millimeter wave spectrum is not a substitute for mid-band spectrum, particularly 3.1 GHz and 7 GHz, but can be used to support different operations and services including for extremely high capacity and high-speed services, like real-time Augmented Reality-powered data sharing for innovations in smart cities, schools, offices, homes, libraries, hospitals, factories, and automobiles,” NCTA said. The group asked the FCC to seek comment on whether the proposal could also work in the lower 37 GHz band. Equipment is available that can be used in that band, but none is available for 42 GHz, NCTA noted: “Because of the existing equipment ecosystem, the Lower 37 GHz band will be available for commercial operations much more quickly than the 42 GHz band.” Amazon’s Kuiper Systems urged the FCC to “explore all options for maximizing use of millimeter wave spectrum” as part of the notice. Amazon suggested adding the language: “We also seek comment on whether to authorize secondary operations in the 42 GHz band. Can the Commission enable greater use of the band through one or more secondary allocations while protecting primary licensees from harmful interference?” Representatives met with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Nathan Simington. The two offered the only industry filings so far in the docket.

AT&T certified at the FCC it has met various vertical location accuracy requirements (see (Ref:2206030025]). The certification was posted Friday in docket 17-78. Verizon and T-Mobile also filed their certifications with the FCC (see here and here).

Amazon is talking to Verizon, T-Mobile and Dish Wireless about a deal to offer free or low-cost wireless service to Prime members, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing unidentified sources. “We are always exploring adding even more benefits for Prime members, but don’t have plans to add wireless at this time," an Amazon spokesperson emailed. “Don’t bet on it,” said MoffettNathanson’s Craig Moffett. “Telecom isn’t the first industry to have been turned upside down by the very notion that Amazon might enter their business, and it surely won’t be the last,” Moffett told investors: “Amazon quite obviously could do this if they wanted to” and could do it for free “even though the annual wholesale cost of providing wireless service for even a single line would likely be higher than the annual price of a Prime subscription.” Moffett noted regulatory issues could give the company pause. Rules for customer information in telecom “are MUCH stricter than what Amazon faces today” and “introducing that regulatory risk would be unwise, in our view,” he said. Industry analyst Jeff Kagan said on the TD Ameritrade Network Friday that Amazon is now a much bigger company than 10 years ago and is “into everything.” Amazon “tried once before, so did Facebook … but they all flopped,” he said. Ten years later, Comcast and Charter have had success with wireless offerings and “the entire wireless marketplace is full of resellers,” Kagan said. “If Amazon wants to get in, I think they could be successful this time,” he said. Kagan noted a $10/month offering would be low, but most people can already get $15/month service from other providers.

T-Mobile urged the FCC to make Wi-Fi on school buses eligible for E-rate funding, as proposed by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel a year ago (see 2205110059), in a call with an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington. “WiFi on school buses makes particular sense in a 5G world in which wireless is a complete connectivity option, not just a supplement to wireline coverage,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 13-194. “WiFi on school buses enables students to do their homework using filtered Wi-Fi during their daily commute to and from school and when traveling to after-school events,” the carrier said.

The NFL asked the FCC for a two-year waiver extension of rules for the citizens broadband radio service allowing the league to continue operating a coach-to-coach communications system in the event of a localized internet outage in stadiums during games (see 2207120055). The NFL sought a three-year extension in 2022 and got one year (see 2209070040). “The NFL submits this limited waiver request because the previous reasons underlying the need for a waiver still apply; the narrowness of the waiver request remains; despite diligent efforts by the NFL, reliable marketplace solutions are not available; and the request meets the Commission’s waiver standard,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-111.

Representatives of the ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force sought action this summer on an FCC waiver sought by the group (see 2304060053) and an NPRM proposing rules “consistent with the path to 100% HAC” proposed in a task force report last year (see 2212160063), in a meeting with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Specifically, the HAC Task Force recommended that the Commission maintain the current deployment benchmark of 85% telecoil coupling, and incorporate a benchmark of 15% Bluetooth coupling to achieve 100% HAC,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 15-285: The recommendations reflect the results of a nationwide consumer survey, which showed a majority of consumers with hearing loss reported using Bluetooth as their most-used coupling method. Nonproprietary, interoperable wireless Bluetooth specifications for hearing/listening were finalized in June 2022 and are being widely implemented in both hearing devices and wireless handsets.