Spoke Safety sought a waiver Friday of the FCC’s 5.9 GHz rules for a cellular vehicle-to-everything safety device that can be installed on bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, motorcycles and similar light vehicles to “enable real time proximity or location-based alerts to help prevent collisions and other accidents.” The company said in docket 19-138 it can’t market or sell the device “absent a waiver that permits such deployment.”

Gogo Business Aviation petitioned the FCC for a proceeding to amend parts of its rules to enable more flexible air-to-ground operations in the 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz bands. In June, the Wireless Bureau approved a waiver of effective radiated power limits in the bands sought by Gogo (see 2206210068). The order directed the company to “submit a petition for rulemaking ‘seeking rule changes that would permit more flexible use of the band,’” said Gogo said in a petition posted Friday. “Consistent with the Waiver Order, the adoption of updated rules will similarly ensure that Gogo BA can continue to upgrade its technologies to meet the broadband needs of aircraft operating throughout the United States,” the provider said: “Thus, Gogo BA requests that the Commission begin a rulemaking proceeding to amend or remove sections 1.929(e)(2), 22.165(f), 22.313, 22.853, 22.859, 22.861, 22.863, and 22.867 of the Commission’s rules and any other necessary Part 22 rule changes.” APCO sought reconsideration of the waiver order Friday. “Gogo’s proposal for modified operations can adversely affect incumbent public safety licensees,” the group warned: “Gogo should be required to take all steps to ensure that it does not add to the effects of ghost interference or an increased noise floor, as it becomes increasingly difficult for public safety licensees (and Enforcement Bureau personnel, as the case may be) to identify interfering sources.” APCO said it has been working with FCC staff, but all its concerns haven’t been addressed so it submitted the petition for reconsideration.

Representatives of Encinca Communications spoke with staff for all four FCC commissioners on “the compelling case for updating Part 101 rules to harmonize with Part 15 rules in the 6 GHz band.” The FCC’s 2020 6 GHz order “encouraged the formation of an industry-led multi-stakeholder group (MSG) to address the technical and operational issues associated with the automated frequency coordination system,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. MSG members have “essentially run into a brick wall” and failed to reach industry consensus, Encinca said: “The practical reality of this result means that, more than two years after the adoption of the [6 GHz order], over 290 million consumers are still being denied the features and benefits of the outdoor use of the 6 GHz band -- Wi-Fi 6E based equipment for mobile fixed wireless access use.”

CableLabs, NCTA and member companies spoke with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff about the 6 GHz band, urging the FCC to address a remand from U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and make changes proposed in a 2020 Further NPRM. There have been reports OET started to draft an order further liberalizing rules for the massive Wi-Fi band (see 2207060036). Advocates presented a new report by CableLabs, “Enhanced 6 GHz Simulations Supporting the FCC’s Proposed Increase in LPI Power,” which they said “reflects updates to its probabilistic analysis of coexistence among 6 GHz LPI [low-power indoor] unlicensed services and Fixed Service (FS) users.” They urged action. “By adopting the 6 GHz FNPRM proposal to allow higher LPI power levels, the Commission can quickly deliver expanded benefits to consumers,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295: “Many 6 GHz LPI devices that currently are being deployed are tunable up to those higher power levels, and more than 338 million Wi-Fi 6E devices will enter the market this year.” Comcast, Cox Enterprises, Charter Communications and Midcontinent Communications were among the companies represented on the call.

Fixed-wireless provider Starry became the latest company to join the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition, the coalition said Wednesday. “Spectrum is an important and finite natural resource, and we believe the Commission should always be proactive in its efforts to open bands for new services,” said Starry CEO Chet Kanojia: “Opening up this band for two-way terrestrial service can foster technological innovations, enhance competition and lead to more affordable consumer access to connectivity.” The coalition said it now has 37 members. Advocates hope the FCC will soon complete an analysis on interference in the band and propose revised rules (see 2207130031).

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile are giving new and existing customers a free year of subscription VOD global streaming Spanish-language service ViX+, valued at $84, T-Mobile said Wednesday. ViX+, launching Thursday, will feature over 10,000 hours of entertainment programming in the first year, including live sports, it said. ViX+ customers also get access to programming on ViX, the service’s free, ad-supported tier, T-Mobile said.

The Open Technology Institute at New America hopes the FCC will act soon on changes to rules for the 6 and 12 GHz bands, it told an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. On 12 GHz, the FCC should “resolve at least the fundamental issue of coexistence between satellite incumbents … and potential two-way terrestrial use,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-443: “Although we agree that coexistence with mobile 5G is the initial focus of the proceeding, the public interest groups supporting more intensive use of the band expect that the Commission will consider the extent to which a low-power, indoor-only underlay for unlicensed use.”

The Coalition of Rural Wireless Carriers urged the FCC to stay focused on the need to fund 5G, in a series of calls with commission staff. Since NTIA was assigned to administer the broadband equity, access and deployment program, the FCC can focus “substantial attention on improving mobile broadband in rural America,” the group said: “The Commission can and should complement BEAD investments with a 5G Fund auction that enables mobile broadband providers to fill in unserved areas and improve underserved areas to a level of 5G service that is reasonably comparable to service available in urban areas.” The group spoke with aides to all commissioners but Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, and staff from the Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireline Bureau, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-476.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked the nation’s top 15 mobile wireless providers for information on their data retention and privacy policies and general practices. The letters ask about carrier “policies around geolocation data, such as how long geolocation data is retained and why and what the current safeguards are to protect this sensitive information,” the FCC said: “The letters probe carriers about their processes for sharing subscriber geolocation data with law enforcement and other third parties’ data sharing agreements” and ask “how consumers are notified when their geolocation information is shared with third parties.” Providers have until Aug. 3 to respond. The letters are in Wednesday’s Daily Digest. They went to AT&T, Best Buy Health, Charter Communications, Comcast, Consumer Cellular, C-Spire, Dish Network, Google, H2O Wireless, Lycamobile, Mint Mobile, Red Pocket, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon. “We do not sell customer location data,” a T-Mobile spokesperson emailed: “That data is released only when we receive a legal demand.” Others didn't comment Wednesday.

AT&T said FirstNet is prepared for hurricane season, with three storm systems already named by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The FirstNet Response Operations Group “led by former first responders … has been to Saint Croix, Saint John and Puerto Rico to ensure public safety agencies in the Caribbean have the mission-centric tools they require” and “on-island portable cell sites from the FirstNet fleet, they can quickly deploy … to provide a ‘bubble’ of connectivity following a major storm,” the carrier said Tuesday: “The team is also connecting with agencies," in Florida and along the Gulf to Louisiana and Texas.