Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler warned Tuesday there's “little formal oversight” of how U.S. providers implement the 5G standard and its open radio access network protocols. “Not only is there no comprehensive identification and assignment of the risk responsibilities inherent in 5G, but also the networks are free to pick and choose which of the security components they intend to implement,” Wheeler said in a Strand Consult blog post: “Securing the network essential for the ‘smart’ era but built using hackable software from a diverse collection of suppliers should not be a voluntary proposition.” Wheeler backs a national policy establishing “expectations for the security and behavior of all 5G networks.” 5G “can usher in a new era of wondrous capabilities that will help consumers, companies, and communities,” he said: “It can help grow the economy with new exportable products and increased productivity. But failure to assure its security will slow deployment, suppress use case demand signals, impair the ability to protect intellectual property, chill 5G investment, and expose critical infrastructure to increased risk of catastrophic failures.”

University of Utah and Federated Wireless representatives spoke with FCC Wireless Bureau staff on the school’s pursuit of an FCC waiver of citizens broadband radio service rules for its POWDER (Platform for Open Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research) platform, used for wireless research. The proposal has been controversial (see 2207190047). “The meeting participants discussed the application of Commission rules and equipment certification to the University’s POWDER platform,” said a filing Tuesday in docket 22-257. “The University provided additional information regarding the architecture of its platform, the platform’s security protocols, and its monitoring capability,” the filing said: “Commission staff raised questions regarding the platform’s software-defined radios and whether their dynamic nature would necessitate waiver of Section 96.39(g) of the Commission’s rules.”

Sennheiser demonstrated an “advanced working prototype” of its wireless multichannel audio system (WMAS) and explained how the prototype works, in a meeting with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology and Wireless Bureau staff, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-115. The wireless mic company urged FCC action on proposed WMAS rules, teed up in an April NPRM (see 2104220056). “WMAS is designed for stage- or arena-based performances, and ... the complexity of the system and software interface does not lend itself to unsophisticated consumer operation,” the company said: “Sennheiser demonstrated that the design of its WMAS means that it actually poses less risk of interference to conventional narrowband systems than conventional narrowband systems do in a co-channel situation.”

The National Spectrum Consortium welcomed NTIA’s Federal Register notice on the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (see 2212120019). "This Request for Comment is an important step toward strengthening, protecting and expanding our networks,” said a Tuesday statement: “Open Radio Access Networks offer great opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the field that will help the United States remain competitive.” The consortium said it plans to file comments.

T-Mobile hit its mid-band 5G year-end goal of covering 260 million POPs with “Ultra Capacity 5G” weeks early, the company said Monday. T-Mobile is also adding a new nationwide layer of mid-band spectrum at 1900 MHz. T-Mobile said its extended-range product covers 323 million POPs.

Representatives of the Edison Electric Institute, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the American Public Power Association and the Utilities Technology Council urged the FCC to focus on real-world tests of potential 6 GHz interference, in a call with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The advocacy is consistent with the long-term focus of utilities on the need for testing (see 2211030066). “The Commission has a critical role to play in supporting such testing, which must be conducted in a collaborative, transparent and inclusive manner,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. “Although simulations do play an important part in assessing the interference potential of unlicensed 6 GHz operations, the Commission should also recognize the accuracy of real-world interference testing in developing measurements from actual deployments,” the groups said. “Underlying inputs and the algorithms” used in simulations also “need to be disclosed so that they are repeatable and transparent,” they said.

NTIA asked for comments by Jan. 27 on implementing the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which is part of the Chips and Science Act signed into law in August (see 2208090062), said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register. NTIA also announced a virtual listening session on the program set for 10 a.m. EST Jan. 24. “This historic $1.5 billion investment aims to support U.S. leadership in the global telecommunications ecosystem, foster competition, lower costs for consumers and network operators, and strengthen our supply chain,” NTIA said: The 5G infrastructure market “is highly consolidated, with a small group of vendors making up the majority of the marketplace. This lack of competition can reduce supply chain resilience and security, contribute to higher prices, make it challenging for new, innovative U.S. companies to break into the market, and ultimately will exacerbate the digital divide.”

A coalition of 242 ISPs backed a proposal to make 500 MHz of the 10 GHz band available "for point-to-point commercial nationwide licensed use" on a shared basis. The Coalition for Coordinated Sharing petitioned the FCC in October to adopt a rulemaking (see 2210040062). The petition "presents a tremendous opportunity" and "demonstrates how the interests of federal and amateur users can be protected from harmful interference through nationwide licensing," the ISPs said in Friday's letter.

The U.S. wireless industry contributed $825 billion to the GDP and about 4.5 million jobs in 2020, said a new report by CTIA Wednesday. The report, written by Compass Lexecon, said the wireless industry contributed nearly $5.4 trillion in GDP over the past decade. “The wireless industry is driving the U.S. economy, and this report highlights its massive contributions to our GDP and support of American jobs,” said CTIA CEO Meredith Baker. "For the wireless industry to continue to provide these considerable, widespread positive effects to the American economy, it is necessary to provide mobile network operators access to dedicated, licensed spectrum," the report said.

Most broadband subscriber additions in 2022 have come via fixed wireless access, and that trend should continue with T-Mobile and Verizon likely having 11 million to 13 million FWA customers by 2025, T-Mobile said Wednesday in its "State of Fixed Wireless Access" report. T-Mobile said more than half of its 2-plus million FWA subscribers jumped from being cable broadband subs, lured by such advantages as lack of annual contracts or installation issues. It said T-Mobile FWA averages speeds of 145 Mbps.