A new study by utility FirstEnergy warns of interference risks to utilities and other incumbents of the 6 GHz band as more Wi-Fi users take advantage of the spectrum, authorized by the FCC for unlicensed use three years ago (see 2004230059). The study follows a similar report FirstEnergy submitted last year (see 2210130051). “Additive interference was consistently demonstrated with the Wi-Fi 6E test devices,” the company said in the report posted to the FCC Wednesday. “Repeated tests performed over multiple days consistently found greater impact when multiple study test units were in simultaneous operation versus when a single unit was in operation.” FirstEnergy found interference is “already starting to impact licensed operations.”

Representatives of the Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge generally agreed with the thrust of the draft 12 GHz item set for an FCC commissioner vote May 18 (see 2304270077) but also sought a few tweaks. The groups spoke with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-443, and with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The groups proposed that both the Further NPRM and NPRM “request comment about the benefits and feasibility of authorizing opportunistic use of vacant spectrum on a localized basis for site-based, individually-coordinated fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments,” the filing said: “We believe that particularly in the 12.2 GHz band, it’s quite likely that two-way fixed wireless access will require some form of database coordination that regularly updates the customer locations of the two primary satellite services. If that is the case, then like the [citizens broadband radio service] band, a ‘use-it-or-share-it’ condition could authorize General Authorized Access (GAA) on a lightly-licensed basis under the control of a FCC-certified coordination system.” The FCC should also “explicitly seek comment on multiple types of unlicensed access in both bands,” they said. RS Access representatives, meanwhile, reported on a meeting with Commissioner Nathan Simington and an aide to Starks. They “asked the Commission to tentatively conclude in its Further Notice that high-power fixed operations are compatible with other co-primary operations,” a filing said: They noted “the extensive technical analyses in the record, which establish that terrestrial, high-power transmission can provide important services while protecting other operations, including satellite-based operations, in the band.” The RS Access representatives also “acknowledged the Commission’s tentative assessment that ubiquitous mobile operations in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band are not feasible at this time, but requested that the Commission seek to further develop the record about the potential for non-ubiquitous mobile operations to coexist with other co-channel services in the band.” RS Access is a leading proponent of 5G in the spectrum.

Continental Automotive Systems asked the FCC about the status of its waiver request for cellular-vehicle-to-everything use of the 5.9 GHz. The FCC approved the initial waivers last month, acting on a long-standing joint waiver request (see 2304240066). A Continental representative spoke with an Office of Engineering and Technology staffer, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-138. “We generally discussed the status of the waivers filed by private and public stakeholders currently on record and the most efficient way for an entity such as Continental to procedurally seek a ‘me too’ waiver,” the company said.

Wireless tower workers represented by the Communication Workers of America’s Tower Climbers Union plan a rally Thursday outside Verizon’s shareholder meeting in Salt Lake City, CWA said Tuesday. The tower climbers will “call out the telecom giant for shirking responsibility for increasing worker injuries, and even deaths,” CWA said. Verizon didn’t comment. The tower technicians “will be joined by CWA leaders, allies and elected officials from across the state, as they demand a meeting with Verizon executives to discuss their rights on the job and the need for improved working conditions and safety standards,” CWA said. The tower workers unionized a year ago.

CTIA urged the FCC to put the onus on covered service providers (CSPs) rather than originating service providers (OSPs) if the agency imposes 988 outage reporting obligations, the subject of a January NPRM (see 2301040056). “As 988 communications are routed centrally to a single, nationwide response point, unlike 911 communications, which are routed to local Public Safety Answering Points, it is unclear how OSPs could provide actionable information about local outages to the nationwide 988 Lifeline or other stakeholders,” CTIA said, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 23-5. AT&T agreed rules “must reflect the fundamental differences in service architecture between 911 and 988.” Competitive Carriers Association members don’t “oppose some level of 988 outage reporting and notification,” but also don’t “support duplicative or potentially confusing efforts,” CCA said: If the FCC imposes a 988 outage notification requirement on OSPs, “in many cases, a 30-minute timeframe would be unreasonable and unrealistic, particularly for OSPs utilizing vendors for 988 solutions. Any 988 outage reporting requirement should enable realistic compliance.” The National Emergency Number Association said the FCC rightly proposes rules based on 911 outage reporting requirements approved last year (see 2211170051). The FCC should also require that PSAPs be alerted of 988 outages, NENA said: “If 988 service is not available to a person having a mental health crisis, and they do not have knowledge of an alternative means such as dedicated online chat services, then they may decide to dial 9-1-1 instead.” The group said the 988 system should plan to eventually migrate to next-generation 911 technologies “as a matter of building a more reliable, equitable life-saving service for people with mental health crises.”

Viiz Communications’ CEO Norman Phipps and others from the company met with FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington about the company’s “efforts to develop and make available customized technology solutions and support services for use in connection with emergency communications,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 15-80. “Viiz has compiled the most comprehensive database of U.S.-based primary and secondary [public safety answering points] -- verifying information on more than 97 percent of all such” public safety answering points nationwide, Viiz said: The database can be used by originating service providers “and covered 911 service providers to efficiently and affordably comply with the Commission’s 911 outage notification requirements.”

The 3.45 GHz Clearinghouse Search Committee filed the proposed hourly rates Summit Ridge Group would charge for managing the 3.45 GHz relocation reimbursement clearinghouse (see 2305030037). Numbers were redacted from a filing posted Monday in docket 19-348. The charges are discounted from Summit Ridge Group’s standard rates and the firm “intends to invoice the fees of its subcontractors, and any other third-party vendors that may be required, at Cost,” said the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, NBCUniversal and Nexstar. The committee asked the FCC not to disclose the rates.

CTIA expressed general support for FCC’s proposal to allocate flexible, exclusive-use licenses in the upper 12 GHz band, in meetings with staff for Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed an NPRM on the 13 GHz spectrum for next week’s FCC meeting (see 23042700774). “While access to the 13 GHz band does not diminish the need to identify and allocate the critical mid-band spectrum in the lower 3 GHz, mid-4 GHz, and 7/8 GHz bands, adoption of the draft NPRM would play a complementary role in supporting rapidly growing consumer and business needs for next-generation mobile broadband services,” said a CTIA filing Friday in docket 20-443: “CTIA also expressed support for the draft NPRM’s proposal to enable to providers to transmit at high power levels, which would be key to unlocking the benefits of the 13 GHz band.” Qualcomm also supports the FCC proposal to consider the 13 GHz band for “mobile broadband or other expanded uses,” said a filing posted Monday. A Qualcomm representative met with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the item and “pointed to the need for 6G spectrum in the 7.125-15.35 GHz frequency range, especially as the United States seeks a leadership position in wireless technology and innovation in the next mobile technology generation.”

The deadline for eligible facilities-based mobile providers to elect to receive transitional mobile high-cost support, under the April 19 Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands transitional support order, is 6 p.m. EDT May 22, the FCC Wireline Bureau said Friday. The FCC decided in the order (see 2304190063) “that eligible mobile providers will have a one-time opportunity to elect to receive transitional mobile support,” the bureau said: “In order to receive transitional mobile support, an eligible carrier must submit a letter signed by an officer of the company confirming that the carrier elects transitional mobile support and commits to satisfy the specific service obligations and requirements of transitional support recipients.” Providers may submit one letter for both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, if applicable, the bureau said.

Commenters opposed Stadler Signalling Deutschland’s request at the FCC (see 2304040055) to operate its automatic train protection system in the 100 kHz band at higher power levels than FCC rules allow. Comments were due at the FCC Thursday in docket 23-133. Hellen Systems raised concerns about protecting long-range navigation (Loran) and enhanced-Loran (eLoran) systems. “Stadler’s primary argument in requesting this waiver is that LORAN C, which operates in the 90-110 kHz band, is ‘obsolete’ and therefore no longer needed,” Hellen said: “This, unfortunately, is a gross mischaracterization of the status of LORAN technology and its current place as a compelling radio navigation solution to meet our growing resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) needs.” ELoran “is very much alive internationally and under serious consideration by multiple departments of the federal government for use domestically” to supplement GPS, the company said. “While the United States terminated its Loran-C system in 2010, interest in using the spectrum for radionavigation remains,” the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation said. Russia and Saudi Arabia still operate Loran-C radionavigation systems and eLoran is used in the U.K., China and South Korea, the group said: “The applicant has not made a compelling case that it should no longer be reserved for that purpose, nor that other frequencies are unsuitable and/or unavailable for applicant’s desired purpose.” Continental Electronics also raised Loran concerns. ELoran “remains relevant and is not obsolete,” the company said: “There is government wide and international interest in pursuing its development and deployment.” UrsaNav cited use across the world of Loran technology. “The 90-110 kHz spectrum is internationally reserved,” UrsaNav said: “Although use of Loran is in transition globally, several nations continue to operate Loran-C and/or its successor, Enhanced Loran.” Microchip Technology opposed the waiver, saying use of the band as proposed “could interfere with eLoran signal reception, which would undermine the ability for eLoran to serve as a back-up to GPS for national critical infrastructure and other PNT applications.”