CTIA singled out agenda item 1.2 that seeks to identify mid-band spectrum for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) as critical in response to various positions adopted Sept. 12 by the World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (see 2209160033). Comments were due Monday in docket 16-185. “It is critical that the Commission support the View A proposal to identify the 3300-3800 MHz tuning range for IMT in Region 2, eliminate international barriers for domestic action in the 3300-3400 MHz band, and regionally harmonize the 3600-3800 MHz band consistent with Commission rules,” said a filing posted Monday. CTIA urged support for the consensus WAC proposal on agenda item 1.4, which proposes “no change.” The item explores the use of high altitude platform stations as IMT base stations in the mobile service in some bands below 2.7 GHz. CTIA said studies show that use is incompatible with mobile use by carriers: “Specifically, the 694-960 MHz, 1710-1885 MHz, and 2500-2690 MHz bands under consideration are essential to the development and deployment of 5G services, including in rural and underserved areas.”

Eligible T-Mobile customers will have access to free in-flight Wi-Fi and streaming on select United domestic and short-haul international flights, joining Alaska, American and Delta, the wireless carrier said Friday. The perk is part of T-Mobile’s Coverage Beyond benefit available to customers on Magenta Max, Business Unlimited Ultimate and equivalent Sprint wireless plans, it said. With Coverage Beyond, customers can “text, email, search and stream all flight long,” it said. Coverage Beyond launches on United’s 737s, Max8s, Max9s, select 757-300s and select A319s with Wi-Fi supported by Viasat and Thales InFlyt Experience; more flights and Wi-Fi partners will be added soon, T-Mobile said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau conditionally approved a Federated Wireless request for an emergency waiver of citizens broadband radio service rules to relieve the company of the requirement for environmental sensing capabilities to detect and protect federal incumbent users in the band from harmful interference in dynamic protection areas in Puerto Rico, hit by Hurricane Fiona. The waiver applies only to periods when the ESC sensors are unable to communicate with Federated’s spectrum access system “due to a power outage or backhaul outage,” said an order in Friday’s Daily Digest. It's limited to “the earlier” of Oct. 6 “or when commercial power and backhaul service is restored to the subject ESC sensors.

NAB fired back at Microsoft in an FCC proceeding on how often narrowband devices should have to check a TV white spaces (TVWS) database. “Microsoft has provided no new evidence to support a daily, rather than hourly, recheck interval,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 04-186: “To the extent that Microsoft’s argument is based on the fact that there have been no complaints of interference from TVWS devices to date, we noted that not only is it very difficult to ascertain the likely source of interference in the best of circumstances, but that there are still only 213 TVWS devices operating in the entire United States, which makes it exceedingly unlikely that any of the devices would have caused harmful interference.”

Florida Power & Light reported on meetings with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington and Wireless and Public Safety Bureau staff on the 4.9 GHz band. Filings were posted Thursday in docket 07-100. “FPL discussed how, given the critical infrastructure industry’s (CII) complementary mission and need for spectrum, CII could use” the band “on a secondary basis in ways that promote spectrum efficiency and the public interest without causing harmful interference to existing public safety users.” FPL urged the FCC to lift the restriction on airborne mobile operations “noting that its elimination could increase the band’s use by introducing new use cases (e.g., aeronautical operations by crewed aircraft and uncrewed aircraft systems).” The utility argued against use by wireless providers and said if a band manager is needed the FCC should use “a competitively neutral process based on objective criteria” to select one.

The FirstNet Authority posted on USAJOBS Thursday the listing for a new CEO. The CEO will “oversee all of the day-to-day operations of the FirstNet Authority,” coordinate policy teams and projects and “provide periodic, accurate, and timely reporting to the FirstNet Authority Board, and implement the policies and strategies approved by the Board,” the listing said. The proposed salary is $135,468-$203,700 per year. The new CEO will replace Ed Parkinson, who left earlier this year (see 2205040047). The position has always been part of the federal senior executive service, a spokesperson said. The deadline to apply is Oct. 24.

APCO urged the FCC to grant the FirstNet Authority a 10-year extension of its nationwide Band 14 license (see 2208230076). “APCO concurs with FirstNet’s demonstration that it has met and continues to meet its statutory obligations,” said a Thursday filing at the FCC. “FirstNet has not only been responsive to public safety input but has actively sought direction from the community through the Public Safety Advisory Committee, frequent stakeholder engagement events, and strong relationships with emergency responders across the country,” APCO said: “FirstNet has charted a course to continue meeting public safety’s requirements well into the future.”

The global uptake of 5G networks “is now doubling every year” hitting 813 million connections in Q2, and on target to reach 1.1 billion by the end of the year, 5G Americas said Wednesday. “The progress of 5G continues throughout the Americas with more spectrum, coverage, and usage,” said President Chris Pearson: “We are entering an era of innovation with an expanding 5G ecosystem that is learning how to take advantage of the technical capabilities of this great technology.” Recent data from Omdia found the world added 430 million global 5G connections year-over-year from Q2 2021, the group said. “Global 5G connections are forecast to again accelerate in 2023, approaching 2 billion and reaching 5.9 billion by the end of 2027,” 5G Americas said.

The OMB approved, for a period of three years, information collection for the FCC’s program for removing insecure equipment from carrier networks (see 2107130058), said a Wednesday Federal Register notice. The approval was effective Wednesday.

Comments on a Further NPRM on the FCC’s new enhanced competition incentive program, approved by commissioners 4-0 in July, are due Oct. 20, the Wireless Bureau said Wednesday. Replies are due Nov. 21, in docket 19-38.