Acting on the 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system operator approval process is important to “the overall success of the ban,” a representative of Cisco and Hewlett Packard Enterprise said in a call with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “When assigning channels AFCs should consider all relevant technical parameters, including the appropriate propagation model, confidence intervals, reliability factors, building entry loss, and power,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. In December, 14 organizations sought FCC certification to be an AFC system operator in the band (see 2112010002).

Changes from the drafts of a notice of inquiry on receiver performance and a Further NPRM on wireless emergency alerts appear to follow changes highlighted by FCC staff Thursday, based on side-by-side comparisons. Both were approved 4-0 and were listed in Friday’s Daily Digest. The NOI had more changes, focused on promoting innovation (see 2204210049). The final version uses the word innovation 48 times, compared with 38 in the draft. In one change, a question on how the FCC could “assess voluntary approaches in the context of innovation and the marketplace” now includes the words “and which approaches would be most or least effective when it comes to facilitating innovation while promoting improved receiver performance.” The FNPRM now asks how various approaches on receivers “might affect innovation in spectrum utilization.” The FCC asks: “How might these measures affect the development and costs and benefits of innovation associated with new wireless use cases? Compared to the Commission’s approach to receiver performance to date, how might any of the approaches … potentially serve to promote innovation in spectrum use, including not only in receiver but in transmitter design and performance as well?” The final version also raises new public safety and national security concerns. “Would improvements in receiver interference immunity performance (e.g., selectivity to reject unwanted emissions) enhance the ability of receivers to reject jamming and spoofing attempts?” it asks: “How might the Commission best consider the trade-offs concerning potentially affected stakeholders?” The FNPRM also adds a paragraph on the life cycle of devices. “Should receivers that may meet a standard when they are deployed be upgraded or replaced in the future to merit interference protection under the Commission’s rules if new receiver standards are developed that provide increased interference immunity?” it asks: “We note that different systems have different expected lifecycles. We request comment on whether the Commission should consider a specified time frame from the date a receiver was deployed after which it should be expected to meet newer standards.” The biggest change to the FNPRM from the draft addresses questions raised by CTIA on the technical feasibility of new requirements in light of current cell-broadcast technology, as officials indicated Thursday (see 2204210050). “If it is not feasible for Participating CMS [commercial mobile service] Providers to collect this information from WEA networks and devices as currently designed, then what network or device firmware or software changes would be needed for Participating CMS Providers to comply with the proposed reporting requirements?” the FNPRM asks: “How much time would be necessary to complete these steps?” The FNPRM also updates numbers, noting that as of April 7 “639 emergency management agencies across the nation have issued 62,819 WEA alerts,” compared with 619 agencies and 61,764 alerts tabulated earlier.

T-Mobile said Wednesday it topped 1 million Home Internet customers, a year after the 5G service launched. About 40 million households nationwide are eligible to subscribe. “T-Mobile’s remarkable growth in broadband -- a market that’s full of big behemoth corporations -- just underscores how hungry customers are for a real alternative to the Carriers and the Landline ISPs,” said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert.

DroneDeploy, which offers software for drones, raised concerns about a potential crackdown on the flyers. The FCC should “work with other federal agencies in promoting the development of alternatives to drone makers that might ultimately be added to the covered list” and “consider hardware market realities and ensure that adequate alternatives exist before any restrictions on authorizations take effect,” the company told an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr, per a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-232. Carr called attention in October to China-based DJI (see 2110190051), which has more than half the U.S. drone market. The company also spoke with aides to the FCC Democrats (see 2204070033).

Wireless needs to be part of the broadband equation as the government awards money to build infrastructure approved under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2204180045), said CTIA in a statement. “Fixed wireless is emerging as a consumer favorite for home broadband, and those same 5G signals can connect school buses, farm tractors, first responders and an array of mobile solutions,” the group said: “When you factor in the cost and speed of deployment, we’re confident that NTIA and the states will recognize that a truly connected nation requires a mix of technologies, including wireless.”

The 5G for 12 GHz Coalition updated aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington on the group's push for revised rules to use the band for 5G, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 20-443. The proposal “continues to gain support from a wide array of policy thought leaders, public interest groups, and service providers,” coalition representatives said. The filing highlighted the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s recently announced support (see 2203210056).

T-Mobile wants to explore the use of the 6 GHz band in its operations. The carrier sought special temporary authority to run tests to “evaluate additional Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and performance utilizing 6 GHz spectrum” in the Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia, markets. T-Mobile said in its application it hopes to start the tests now, to run through Sept. 1.

Comments are due May 2 on a petition by T-Mobile to be allowed to use stage 2 mobile support through a program providing emergency relief to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to pay for the deployment of distributed antenna systems. Replies are due May 9, in docket 18-143, said a Monday FCC Wireline Bureau notice. “DAS networks in approved buildings would remain operational with redundant signal sources and power even if the surrounding network is not operational,” T-Mobile said in its petition: “The deployments will make the network more resilient, particularly in the event of an emergency, and are fully consistent with the rules.”

Representatives of Broadcom, Kyrio and the Wi-Fi Alliance asked the FCC to start approving automated frequency control operators for the 6 GHz band, in a call with Office of Engineering and Technology staff. “The next steps are for OET to conditionally approve applicants that demonstrate that their proposed systems would comply with all AFC requirements and begin the trial period,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295: “There’s no reason to delay granting conditional approvals.”

The FCC revised its list of licenses that will be available in the 2.5 GHz auction, taking 19 off the list Friday (see 2203220066). A March notice “did not account for all canceled, terminated, or expired licenses that were granted waivers for late-filed renewals,” said a notice from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics. “The analysis that resulted in the March 21 inventory incorrectly reduced the geographic service area of certain active licenses because it assumed that those active licenses had their geographic service areas reduced by the canceled, expired, or terminated licenses,” the FCC said: “Upon further analysis, Commission staff found 19 instances where county/channel block combinations that had been listed in the March 21 inventory in fact had no unassigned spectrum.” The licenses are in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee and Vermont and are listed in a footnote of the notice. The FCC will offer some 8,000 licenses in the auction, which starts July 29.