The National Emergency Management Association filed in support of the FirstNet Authority's application to renew its Band 14 license for the nationwide public safety broadband network for another 10 years. The network “provides critical wireless communications services, features, and tools to public safety responders across the country to assist with their life-saving missions,” the group said in a universal licensing system filing: “We are impressed by the FirstNet Authority’s rapid progress in deploying Band 14 nationwide on the NPSBN and bringing over 3.7 million connections onto the network in less than five years.” FirstNet is being used “by many of NEMA’s member agencies and first responders across the country, and we urge the Commission to swiftly renew FirstNet’s Band 14 license.” Other groups have raised concerns (see 2209070059).

The FCC Wireless Bureau Wednesday approved a license modification to allow Amtrak to offer positive train control on a line extending from New Haven to Springfield, Massachusetts. The bureau OK’d a modification of an automated maritime telecommunications system being used for PTC. Amtrak has operated the nine base stations involved since 2018 under a grant of special temporary Authority, the bureau said.

Amazon spoke with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington on the use of the 60 GHz band by drones. Amazon discussed “how the unique characteristics of innovative 60 GHz radar technologies would enhance the safety of drone operations in the U.S. and promote the public interest,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-264. Amazon supports “authorizing the use of unlicensed field disturbance sensor devices onboard drones in the 60 GHz band,” which would “enhance the drone’s ability to sense and avoid persons and obstacles in and near its ascent and descent path, thereby improving aviation safety.”

AT&T’s gains in wireless customers, 3 million postpaid added in the last year, aren’t based just on promotions, CEO John Stankey said at a Goldman Sachs conference Monday. “There are a lot of things working well,” he said: “We are actually gaining customers in a lot of different places and a lot of different ways, and there isn't any single answer to it, and I know folks want to continue to go back and say, ‘well, it's a high level of promotion that's doing it.’ And that's actually not correct.” Stankey noted the gains AT&T has made in the public safety market as a result of FirstNet. “That's not based on promotion,” he said. Stankey conceded that AT&T was later than its peers to deploy mid-band spectrum for 5G. “It is now up and starting to make its appearance -- in metropolitan areas, the performance we're getting out of it is really, really good,” he said. “That will be a big lift on what is already a strong network," he said.

The U.S. wireless industry invested nearly $35 billion in its networks last year, a record and the fourth straight year of increased capital spending, CTIA said in its annual report released Tuesday. “5G networks now cover over 315 million Americans, one-in-three American adults have a 5G device, and 5G is now the fastest-growing segment of the home broadband market,” CTIA said: “Wireless industry competition also helped keep prices low during a period of rampant inflation. While prices across industries are increasing, the cost of wireless decreased.” Mobile wireless data traffic increased to 53.4 trillion MBs and providers “have added nearly 70,000 active cell sites since the FCC and state legislators modernized key siting regulations,” the group said.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has circulated for a vote by commissioners an NPRM seeking comment on rule revisions tied to the need of operators of unmanned aircraft systems for licensed spectrum, agency officials confirmed. The FCC has looked at the issue in the past. It initially took comment on use of the of 5030-5091 MHz band by drones in 2019, at the request of the Aerospace Industries Association (see 1912270039). Last year, the Wireless Bureau took additional comments as part of a record refresh (see 2110130044). The docket created, RM-11798, has been slow with only eight filings so far this year. In one of the most recent filings on the topic, Qualcomm urged the FCC to set aside 20 MHz in the band, “which drones will use to communicate directly with one another to coordinate safe and efficient flights and also for drones to broadcast Remote ID information in compliance with FAA regulations,” and two 20.5 MHz blocks “licensed exclusively to support network communications through which drones will communicate via cellular networks for Control and Non-Payload Communications.” The record “demonstrates that there is a range of UAS spectrum needs and reinforces the support for the Commission to take timely actions to meet those needs,” said Aviation Spectrum Resources.

The FCC sought comment Monday on T-Mobile requests to relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier designations in Florida and Virginia (see 2209020047). Comments are due Sept. 27, replies Oct. 12, in docket 09-197.

The FCC shouldn’t provide further flexibility for unlicensed 6 GHz devices without a requirement for automated frequency coordination and there is no need for the FCC to address the issue quickly, AT&T said in a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. AT&T said it disagreed with arguments by NCTA and CableLabs (see 2208160038). “There is no time urgency to act on the proposals to raise the LPI [low power indoor] power limit or to authorize VLP [very low power] operations because it is now apparent that the use cases supporting those proposals can be realized under AFC control,” AT&T said: “Instead of approving higher LPI power devices -- which evidence indicates will harm [fixed service] components of vital telecommunications networks, including Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure systems -- the Commission should opt for the more prudent path of gaining real world experience with how these types of … applications interact with FS microwave links using AFC. Requiring AFC control has no or little cost to manufacturers of LPI and VLP devices given technology developments that already offer multiple means of connecting unlicensed devices using AFC controls.” NAB also countered the NCTA filing. “NAB’s current proposal is to reserve just 55 MHz of the 6 GHz band exclusively for licensed mobile use until real-world data is available to justify the removal of such reservation,” broadcasters said: “This would effectively serve as a pilot program to test the coexistence of unlicensed operations and licensed mobile operations and address our ongoing concerns regarding the potential for harmful interference to licensed mobile operations in the 6 GHz band. Contrary to NCTA’s assertion, we ask neither for a permanent reservation of spectrum nor a wholesale review of unlicensed operations in the band in the future.”

The 12 GHz band is the final chunk of spectrum available for the FCC to reallocate in the near term for wireless use, but what the agency will do isn’t certain, New Street’s Blair Levin told investors in a Sunday note. “12 GHz is in play, with the game entering the final period,” he said: “The one spectrum issue that could be material to investors in the near term involves the 12 GHz band. … Over the summer, there was significant activity on the debate, but nothing that gives us a high level of conviction on which way the FCC will rule.” The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology is key player but unlikely to “support one side or the other 100%,” Levin said. “It is more likely to say something to the effect of the spectrum can be shared without material harm ‘if’ and then list a bunch of conditions. Then the question will be whether a terrestrial service is viable under those conditions.”

The FCC should use as a model the 3rd Generation Partnership Project's adjacent channel rejection standard, which requires wireless receivers “to reject signals on adjacent channels even if they are stronger than the primary signal,” consultant Preston Padden said in a filing Friday in docket 22-137, the FCC receiver performance docket. “Given the plethora of wireless allocations, our entire system of wireless communications would not be possible without this requirement,” he said: “As spectrum becomes more scarce and demand continues to increase, the FCC must adopt strict receiver standards -- not compromise half-measures.”