New Street cut growth estimates for Verizon Monday, saying “guidance for medium-term growth of 3-4% looks increasingly out of reach” after last week’s Q2 report (see 2207220061). “Verizon is in a difficult position, in large part due to their past success,” wrote analyst Jonathan Chaplin: “Market share of close to 40% will be tough to defend in a market with four well-resourced competitors. The Company’s position is made more untenable by the fact that they are priced at a substantial premium and the network differentiation that justified that premium in the past is waning. Verizon’s pricing will be still more difficult to sustain if we enter recession.” Chaplin said Verizon invested in promotions during Q2, which failed to “stem the loss of subscribers”, then raised prices for some customers “which will only widen the gap in value with T-Mobile and Cable, the two most prominent challengers.”

The Global mobile Suppliers Association said 5G fixed wireless customer premises equipment shipments more than doubled to 3.6 million in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 162%, and are likely to double again this year. Most shipments (84%) in 2021 remained LTE-only, said vendors surveyed. Among the 5G shipments, 160,000 were millimeter-wave-based devices, “an increase from 130,000 from the previous year; however, 88% of respondents indicated that they have, or plan to introduce, 5G mmWave products in the next few years,” said a Monday release. “The majority of respondents are expecting no or minor component shortages in 2023, at the same time most are expecting inflationary pressures to remain.”

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.