The FCC must be the decider in spectrum disputes, which was Congress’ intention when it approved the Communication Act in 1934, said Public Knowledge and the Digital Progress Institute in a paper released Wednesday. The paper notes the Commerce Department initially had authority to assign commercial spectrum licenses, but that duty was assigned to the Federal Radio Commission in 1927, and later the FCC. “Congress realized early on that giving an executive agency -- like the Department of Commerce -- the authority to regulate spectrum would create a massive conflict of interest in resolving spectrum disputes,” the paper said: “The reason is that the Executive Branch is a significant user of spectrum, and it would be difficult for a cabinet Secretary to be impartial when deciding either to grant a license to a commercial carrier or another executive agency.” Congress gave the FCC “a lot of tools to manage spectrum, as compared to the NTIA or any other agency,” the groups said: “Congress gave almost exclusive jurisdiction to the FCC to determine how commercial operators can use spectrum. … Congress had many opportunities to provide the NTIA with more spectrum allocation authority, but it did not.” The paper follows several disputes between the FCC and other agencies, most recently with the FAA over use of the C band for 5G.

The FCC Wireless and Public Safety bureaus reminded incumbent fixed microwave operators in the 6 GHz band they must maintain accurate information in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System. Automated frequency coordination systems that will be used to promote sharing with unlicensed users depend on an accurate database, the bureaus said Tuesday. “Licensees should confirm that their ULS records reflect actual operations to ensure that incumbent fixed microwave licensees are protected from harmful interference from both new unlicensed 6 GHz standard power access points and new fixed microwave links that may access the band,” they said.

The FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council will meet virtually March 30, starting at 1 p.m. EDT, said a Federal Register notice for Wednesday. It's the current CSRIC’s third meeting. The focus this term is 5G security (see 2104150056).

The industry expects between 700 million and 750 million 5G phones to be produced this year, Qorvo CEO Bob Bruggeworth told a Raymond James investment conference Monday. The company supplies RF modules and other components for 5G handsets from Samsung and other OEMs. 5G is under 50% share of the smartphone market, “so we’ve still got a long way to go” before reaching 5G’s potential, he said. Qorvo sees an increase of about $5 to $7 in content per device whenever an OEM brings out a 5G phone, he said.

Ericsson petitioned the FCC for a waiver to manufacture and market multiband radios that wireless providers can use on 3.45 and 3.7 GHz bands. “The multiband radio will serve the public interest by allowing Ericsson to introduce an innovative radio design, including more flexibility to operate in mid-band frequencies, with smaller, more energy-efficient, and more economical base stations, and with no adverse effects on nearby band operations,” said a filing posted Monday at the FCC: “With this radio, wireless providers that hold licenses in both bands will be able to deploy … in a cost- and energy-efficient manner.” The waiver would allow 3.45 GHz out-of-band emission levels at 3.7-4.0 GHz “at the 3.7 GHz Service OOBE levels,” Ericsson said.

CableLabs said the Commerce Department selected it as the host lab for the NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) 5G Challenge. ITS “will leverage CableLabs’ state-of-the-art lab deployment of fully virtualized 5G networks, including multiple cores, multiple radio access network and new network emulation equipment,” said a news release last week: “CableLabs is providing the standalone 5G network with the essential engineering capability to integrate multiple vendors simultaneously while testing and measuring technical performance metrics -- enabling innovators to compete in testing and validation on site.”

Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry and others from the group raised concerns about a shortfall in funding to cover the cost of ripping and replacing Huawei and ZTE gear in wireless networks. The FCC reported applicants requested $5.6 billion, nearly three times the $1.9 billion allocated (see 2202040066). CCA “cautioned” that a “proration approach contemplated” by the FCC “would not accomplish the goals of removing untrusted equipment and services while maintaining service in rural areas,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89. Some CCA members have “proactively replaced covered equipment, investing significant funds into securing their networks," the group said: “For many small carriers in particular, the financial burden to cover the remaining two-thirds of completing the program could prove financially ruinous, resulting in reduced provision of service or shuttering a business entirely. Many carriers may simply opt out of participating, leaving a great deal of insecure equipment left in the nation’s communications networks.” CCA and other groups last week urged the House and Senate Appropriations committees to give the FCC additional funding for the program, created under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (see 2203030074).

Members of the ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force updated FCC staff on the group’s work toward a goal of making all handsets hearing-aid compatible, said a filing posted Friday in docket 15-285. The group is “hard at work considering the questions posed by the Commission … and is preparing its report and recommendations for the FCC due at the end of 2022,” the filing said. A recent consumer survey found more than half of respondents “use direct Bluetooth audio streaming between their hearing device and their wireless phone,” the filing said: “Consumers generally use more than one way to connect the hearing device to a wireless phone, including Bluetooth, speakerphone, holding the wireless device to the microphone in the hearing device, removing the hearing device. … Some consumers experienced barriers to satisfactory wireless phone communication, such as noisy environments.” The task force is made of representatives of the wireless industry, device makers and consumer groups.

The FCC needs to stand strong as its decisions reallocating spectrum bands remain “under attack” from other federal agencies, Commissioner Brendan Carr said at an event Thursday, sponsored by CTA and WifiForward. The challenge isn’t new in the Joe Biden administration, he said. The Communications Act makes clear that the FCC should decide how spectrum is allocated, he said. “As spectrum becomes more important, as connectivity becomes more important” other agencies are “effectively trying to challenge that 1930s congressional decision that experts at the FCC should call the balls and strikes here,” he said. Carr sees artificial and virtual reality, and the need for spectrum to connect AR/VR goggles to the internet, as key drivers of continuing demand for Wi-Fi. “At the FCC, we’ve tried to do our part to make sure there is plenty of” unlicensed “spectrum out there,” he said: “We’ve got to continue to stay strong” and “push back against efforts to encroach on the FCC’s expertise.” Reps. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, chairs of the Congressional Wi-Fi Caucus, said the FCC has done a good job making more spectrum available for Wi-Fi and that push needs to continue. “The value of unlicensed spectrum is absolutely undeniable,” McNerney said. Opening the 5.9 and 6 GHz bands for unlicensed was critical, he said. “We can’t rest there,” he said. We have to continue to push the commission to open up more portions of the spectrum for unlicensed use, and that will continue to push innovation,” he said. “What would have happened” without unlicensed spectrum during the COVID-19 pandemic, Latta asked. “Tele-education, telework, just people staying in touch with their loved ones, those are the things that we came to rely on,” he said. “Think where we were 10 years ago, and then five years ago” and where we are today, he said: “We have a great reliance on unlicensed technology. … It’s a necessity now.” The U.S. doesn’t want to follow other countries, “we want to be the leaders,” he said. “Unlicensed spectrum supports a wide range of innovations, from drones and [VR] headsets, to mobile payments and wearables,” said David Grossman, CTA vice president-regulatory affairs.

More than 175 million people are expected to have Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband coverage by year-end, said the carrier Thursday. “This new fast tracked timeline is made possible by the incredible pace of deployment achieved by Verizon’s network engineering team,” said Verizon.