High-tech companies met virtually with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to lay out a plan for a regulatory framework for the 60 GHz band. The plan proposes effective isotropic radiated power levels of 20 dBm in the lower part of the band, which is double the limit in current rules. “The Radar Representatives offer this proposal in the spirit of compromise to advance the resolution of the above-referenced proceeding and enable reasonable coexistence between a wide variety of unlicensed communications devices and radar devices, as well as other technologies, throughout the 60 GHz Band,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-264. Amazon, Google, IEE Sensing, Infineon Technologies Americas, Texas Instruments and Vayyar Imaging were on the call. The FCC sought comment last summer in a Further NPRM, seeking revised rules for short-range field disturbance sensor radars in the 60 GHz band (see 2107090047).

Allowing grandfathering of 60 GHz automotive safety equipment manufactured under previous waivers under revised rules for the band is important to public safety, IEE Sensing said in a comment to the FCC. “IEE Sensing is particularly concerned about being able to transition/migrate to the new rules without needing to try to implement a ‘flash cut,’ because given the long lead times in the automotive sector to introduce new technology, it would otherwise leave a gap before the re-engineered sensors were qualified and deployed,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-264: “Particularly given the life-saving nature of these sensors in this particular use case, such a gap would be contrary to the public interest.”

The FCC asked for comment by Aug. 23, replies Sept. 2, on a waiver request by Ericsson of 3.45 GHz rules to allow the company to offer a multiband radio. “Ericsson requests relief to permit the multiband device to exceed the 3.45 GHz service out of band emission levels in the 3.7 GHz band when the device is operating in carrier aggregation mode across both the 3.45 GHz and 3.7 GHz bands,” said a Monday notice by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology, in docket 22-298.

AT&T is offering the family members of FirstNet subscribers up to 25% savings on eligible unlimited wireless plans, all on a single account. AT&T said FirstNet has 3.7 million subscribers in more than 21,800 agencies and organizations. “For those who dedicate their lives to serving their communities, many only see the badge, the firehose, or the stethoscope; but first responders are also moms and dads, husbands and wives, daughters and sons,” the carrier said Monday.

APCO expressed appreciation for concessions offered by Gogo in an opposition to the public safety group’s petition for reconsideration (see 2208020060) but still has concerns about a waiver of effective radiated power limits for air-to-ground operations in the 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz bands (see 2206210068). “The Opposition does not dispel APCO’s concern that the Bureau lacked an adequate technical analysis of potential interference to public safety systems,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-282: “To the contrary, the Opposition cites precedent that highlights the importance of technical analyses for reaching the conclusion that interference to public safety licensees is unlikely.”

Dish Network joined RS Access in dismissing DirecTV's analysis about the viability of 5G/satellite sharing of the 12 GHz band (see 2208020049) as full of distortions. In a docket 20-443 filing Monday, Dish made many of the same arguments RS Access did and said the DirecTV study "showcas[es] the worst possible scenario no matter how implausible." Dish said the DirecTV study ignores 5G mitigation techniques like account horizon nulling and time variability, and it doesn't account for the direct broadcast satellite subscriber declines and DirecTV's minimal use of the 12 GHz band. DirecTV didn't comment.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr said they're awaiting an Office of Engineering and Technology analysis of whether the 12 GHz band can open to 5G service. There has been heavy lobbying by proponents and opponents, but "this continues to come down to the engineering" and OET's take, Carr said Friday after the agency's August meeting (see 2208050023). He said he's "open to landing this in a win-win situation." "It's an engineering matter," Rosenworcel said, saying she's relying on OET "to help show us the way forward." Consultancy RKF Engineering stands by its technical studies on satellite sharing of the band with 5G, including its finding that such 5G deployments wouldn't affect at least 99.85% of non-geostationary orbit operations in the band, RS Access said in docket 20-443, recapping meetings CEO Noah Campbell had with aides to Rosenworcel and Commissioners Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks. It said RKF reconciled its findings with a SpaceX analysis showing likely sizable interference to its Starlink receivers (see 2206220042). RS Access said the SpaceX analysis was loaded with conclusions unfavorable to sharing, such as assuming 12 GHz is the only downlink frequency being used, an excessive deployment of 5G macrocells and 5G operating at 1,000% power. SpaceX didn't comment.

China’s Chuhang Technology asked for a waiver of FCC rules to allow marketing its 60 GHz short-range sensing radar device. The waiver would “serve the general public interest by (i) timely alerting the driver of children or infants left behind in the car or rear seat belts not fastened during driving, ensuring passenger safety without causing additional interference to authorized users of the 57-64 GHz band; and (ii) enabling Chuhang Technology to manufacture good performance radar sensors at lower cost, thus making this vital sign detection technology available for vehicles at all levels of consumer affordability, and not only limited to higher-end vehicles,” said a filing posted Friday.

The FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology certified Sony Thursday for a five-year term as a spectrum access system administrator in the citizens broadband radio service band in American Samoa. Sony was previously approved to operate in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam, the FCC said. The FCC also approved new environmental sensing capability sensor deployment and coverage plans for Guam, submitted by Federated Wireless.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded Thursday to comments about the need for her office to work out an agreement with the union representing agency employees to get more staff back to in-person work (see 2208030046). Rosenworcel “is being very thoughtful about return-to-work policies, and has consistently prioritized the health and safety of FCC employees in planning next steps in our phased reopening,” a spokesperson emailed.