Southern Co. countered arguments NCTA made in February, questioning a report from the utility company on the threat from low-power indoor (LPI) unlicensed devices to electric utility operations in the 6 GHz band (see 2202240042). “NCTA continues to rely on flawed, undisclosed simulations built on assumptions that defy reasonable engineering standards … and are inconsistent with real-world Wi-Fi and fixed microwave operations,” said a Southern filing, posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. “NCTA and other proponents of unlicensed LPI operations refuse to recognize that field testing of FCC-certified, off-the-shelf, commercially available LPI devices operating under real-world conditions demonstrates that such devices will cause harmful interference to licensed fixed microwave systems in the 6 GHz band, including those -- such as Southern’s licensed microwave systems -- which are critical to ensuring the reliability and resilience of our Nation’s energy infrastructure.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau granted nine more licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment to PDV Spectrum Tuesday, one in Missouri and the rest in Kansas. The FCC approved an order in 2020 reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband (see 2005130057).

NCTA, and CableLabs, encouraged the FCC “to act promptly” to address remaining questions on automated frequency coordination (AFC) operators in the 6 GHz band, in a call with Office of Engineering and Technology staff. “Implementing a measured and reasonable increase in low-power indoor (LPI) power limits and facilitating the introduction of AFC-controlled operations are crucial steps toward a future of next-generation Wi-Fi that meets the growing need for higher speeds and robust coverage,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. “Because Wi-Fi continues to serve as the primary onramp to the Internet for the majority of broadband connections [in] the country, adopting the … proposed LPI power limits would benefit not only American consumers and businesses, but also educational institutions, healthcare facilities, public transportation, among others.”

President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) Tuesday. The measure includes a carve-out in the 15% minimum corporate tax language that allows companies to deduct from "taxable income” the value of spectrum licenses bought after Dec. 31, 2007, “and before" Tuesday (see 2208080062).

Acconeer CEO Lars Lindell and others from the company urged the FCC to consider different rules for pulse radars and frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, in a meeting with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC is considering revised rules for short-range radars in the 60 GHz band, the topic of an NPRM last summer (see 2107130066). Pulse radar “does not have abrupt edges as short pulses are spread over a wide bandwidth to achieve the needed resolution,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 21-48. “Pulse radar uses very short pulses -- measured in nanoseconds rather than milliseconds -- which in itself is a co-existence mechanism,” the company said: “Absent the adoption of FCC rules aligned with the European rules, a wholesale rule for both 60 GHz pulse radar and FMCW radar may not result in equal treatment of both technologies.”

Encina Communications representatives spoke with FCC Wireless Bureau staff on the company’s proposal to use Part 101 frequency coordination procedures as an alternative to automated frequency coordination in the 6 GHz band, said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. Encina said approval would mean the immediate “safe deployment” of Wi-Fi 6E hot spots.

Longtime regulatory lawyer and founder of Harris Wiltshire Scott Harris joined NTIA Monday as senior spectrum advisor, the agency confirmed. Harris was also the first chief of the FCC International Bureau and chaired the FCC’s World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee before the 2015 conference. He was seen at one time as a front-runner to head the agency (see 2105120065). “We are thrilled for this opportunity for Scott and for our national spectrum policy,” said John Nakahata, Harris Wiltshire chairman: “He is an imaginative leader, with deep experience in spectrum use and sharing, and the skills needed to bring all stakeholders together.”

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel welcomed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s decision upholding the agency’s 2020 5.9 GHz order (see 2208120035). “In the more than two decades since the FCC allocated the 5.9 GHz band to support automobile safety, autonomous and connected vehicles have largely moved beyond dedicated, short-range communications technologies to newer, market-driven alternatives,” Rosenworcel said Friday: The decision "recognizes that by allowing this spectrum to evolve we can advance newer safety technologies and grow our wireless economy.” Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, noted the court reached a similar decision on the 6 GHz band. “Unsurprisingly, the D.C. Circuit reinforced its similar decision last December that the FCC has wide discretion to authorize unlicensed sharing of underutilized spectrum or even, in this case, to reallocate a portion of a lightly-used band to provide more bandwidth for next generation Wi-Fi,” Calabrese emailed: “Since Chairwoman Rosenworcel was a driving force behind the FCC’s unanimous 5-0 votes to authorize unlicensed use of both the 5.9 and 6 GHz bands, consumer advocates expect she will now move quickly to complete both proceedings and maintain the U.S. position as the global leader in Wi-Fi technologies.”

FCC information collection requirements for TV white space database rules, approved by commissioners 5-0 in 2019 (see 1903200059), are effective Friday, said a notice for that day’s Federal Register.

The Rural Wireless Association asked the FCC to request equipment manufacturers share their signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) information with smaller carriers, allowing them to comply with the agency’s broadband data collection requirements. Some equipment makers have to disclose the SINR information but say it’s “highly confidential, even after executing Nondisclosure Agreements with the carriers and/or their engineering consultants,” RWA said, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-195: “At the same time, these equipment manufacturers have apparently disclosed this SINR information to the larger carriers.” RWA also noted some of its members have Huawei and ZTE gear in their networks and are unable to get the information from the two Chinese companies, which are exiting the U.S. market. RWA members also have concerns with the broadband service location fabric data, the group said. “According to filers, there [are] a lot of missing locations due to outdated and inaccurate addresses.”