NTCA raised concerns with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel after the FCC reported that providers requested $5.6 billion from an FCC program to cover the cost of ripping and replacing Huawei and ZTE gear from their networks, nearly three times the $1.9 billion allocated by Congress (see 2202040066). “As it stands currently, participating carriers will receive approximately one-third of the funding they have requested to remove equipment deemed unsecure,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-89: “The Commission could not have anticipated the number of applicants to be quadruple of what was estimated and the amount of necessary funding to be triple.” The amount Congress allocated was based on “out of date and incomplete information,” the group said. The Rosenworcel aides said during the call they "believe the Commission has no flexibility regarding funding due to Congressional directives” and the commission is “obligated to announce the applicants’ individual qualifying funding amounts mid-June,” NTCA said.

More than 90% of retailers surveyed expect an increase in in-store use of consumer mobile devices by 2025, and 83% anticipate more technology will be deployed in stores, said a Tuesday Incisiv study, sponsored by Verizon. Real-time inventory tracking and employees' access to Wi-Fi were ranked as the highest priority deployments for store personnel in the next two years. “As more mobile and IoT technology is deployed in stores, it will drive the need for more robust network connectivity,” said Jerri Traflet, Verizon managing partner-global solutions.

The National Association of Tower Erectors said Tuesday it hit a record of 1,100 member companies. The group is meeting this week in Las Vegas.

AT&T is the first U.S.-based carrier to join Ericsson’s global “Startup 5G” program, aimed at speeding the commercialization and monetization of future 5G innovations by leveraging “years of research on consumer behavior and trends,” said Ericsson Monday. Ericsson estimates there’s a global $3.7 trillion business opportunity “within the 5G consumer market by 2030,” it said. Communications service providers that collaborate with Startup 5G are “bolstered” by Ericsson's consumer research and analytical data, plus “exclusive access” to a global network of 5G startups, numbering more than 40 companies, it said.

T-Mobile supports the FCC's proposal for an ascending-clock auction in the 2.5 GHz band, representatives told staff from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-120. “T-Mobile supports the use of the proposed clock auction … including the proposed use of intra-round bids and proxy bidding,” the carrier said: “Those bidding procedures are familiar tools that address the concerns raised by commenters about the potential for a lengthy auction, and the associated costs and burdens on bidders, especially smaller entities, while also providing the price discovery necessary for rational bidding.” Comments are due Tuesday on a recent FCC public notice (see 2202090068).

The FCC approved Key Bridge to be an environmental sensing capability (ESC) operator in various markets, for the citizens broadband radio service, said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology gave preliminary clearance earlier but told the company to submit its sensing software to NTIA for retesting (see 2007140055). “Based on these results, we find that Key Bridge has satisfied the retesting condition and is approved for full commercial operation of their ESC,” the FCC said in docket 15-319.

The FCC sought comment on whether any procedures should be adjusted for the licenses available in the upcoming 2.5 GHz auction “in light of additions to the initial license inventory,” said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Wireless Bureau also sought comment on minimum opening bids and upfront payment amounts for the additional licenses. Comments are due March 4 in docket 20-429. “In light of the limited scope of this Public Notice and comments urging the Commission to move expeditiously to the start of bidding, we provide for a single round of comments … with no filing period for reply comments,” the FCC said: “A subsequent public notice will announce final procedures for Auction 108, including the procedures, terms, conditions, dates, and deadlines for applying to and participating in Auction 108, as well as provide an overview of the post-auction application and payment processes.”

Ericsson released seven new radio access network products, with an emphasis on lower power consumption. The updated gear includes dual-band Radio 4490, which consumes 25% less power than the current product, and a high-power version, 4490 HP. “The portfolio additions will deliver sizable energy savings and up to ten-fold capacity increases -- with minimal or no added footprint,” the company said Wednesday. They use passive cooling “reducing power consumption further, as fans are not needed.”

5G Americas supports Doreen Bogdan-Martin’s candidacy to be the next ITU secretary-general, said a Thursday news release. ATIS supported her candidacy earlier, and other endorsements are expected (see 2201310055). “Bogdan-Martin has worked tirelessly as the Director of the Development Bureau to bring more women and girls into telecommunications, highlight the role of [information and communications technology] in achieving the UN’s Sustainability Goals, and bridge the digital divide for people around the globe,” said 5G Americas President Chris Pearson: “Her election would benefit the entire membership of the ITU, and their constituencies.”

UScellular CEO Laurent Therivel urged a clock-auction format in the 2.5 GHz auction, speaking with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr. “We advocated against the adoption of a sealed bid auction format,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-429: “We also stressed that the information advantage enjoyed by certain potential bidders in particular cautions against a single round sealed bid format.” The carrier said it plans to file comments, next week, on the recent notice in the proceeding seeking comment on an ascending clock auction (see 2202090068).