The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied a request by Children’s Health Defense for reimbursement of attorneys’ fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, in a Tuesday order. In August, the court remanded 2019 RF rules to the FCC for further work (see 2108130073).

Open radio access network installations will increase to 22.5 million globally in 2026 from 1.4 million in 2021, projected ABI Research Tuesday. ORAN revenue won't match that of “traditional” RAN but will slowly increase throughout the forecast period, it said. “Considerable vendor resistance” due to integration and technology development issues risks delaying or even killing ORAN momentum “before it reaches a large scale,” said ABI. The industry is now cognizant that ORAN “will still need years of development before it can match large vendor performance and cost efficiency,” it said. That translated into “reduced interest” in ORAN in early 2022, it said.

“Updated and correct maps” and transparency are critical to a successful 2.5 GHz auction, Verizon representatives told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Verizon also raised concerns with the relocation payment clearinghouse (RPC) being used in the C-band transition. “We are eager for the RPC to improve its transparency, pace, and overall performance level,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-122: “We noted that diligence and efficiency in processing reimbursement claims is a key tenet of ensuring the C-band transition continues to run smoothly.”

A representative of Broadcom, Cisco and Microsoft spoke with a staffer from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on “indoor operation of standard-power access points in the 6 GHz band,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. The companies cited “the importance of indoor operations to the overall success of the band, that APs operating indoors can seek spectrum access from [automated frequency coordination] under the 6 GHz Order, and that when assigning channels AFCs should consider all relevant technical parameters,” the filing said.

The FCC's 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC) voted Tuesday to adopt and forward a set of working group recommendations to the agency. On the WRC-23 agenda item about an aeronautical mobile satellite service allocation in the 117-137 MHz band, WAC voted to adopt an updated preliminary view that notes some existing aeronautical use that new allocations must protect. It also approved a draft proposal on allocation of 6425-7025 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz to international mobile telecommunications. Citing a resolution asking the ITU Radiocommunication Sector to study the use of IMT systems for fixed wireless broadband in the frequency bands allocated to fixed service on a primary basis, the NTIA in a letter to the FCC said the ITU-R already has a route for mobile technologies to provide flexed wireless access, and proponents of IMT use for fixed wireless access can revise existing recommendations that were done years ago rather than seek further action at WRC-27. A WRC-27 agenda item "could have far-reaching consequences," NTIA said. It said the U.S. backs consideration of new allocations to the non-safety aeronautical mobile applications service at 15.4-15.7 and 22-22.21 GHz, and protection levels used for radio astronomy service should project it from adjacent interference. WAC's recommendations will go out for public notice, then be reconciled with NTIA recommendations for creation of U.S. inputs going into the next Inter-American Telecommunication Commission meeting at the end of April, said Dante Ibarra, FCC designated federal officer to WAC.

NTIA’s Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is relaunching, as expected (see 2201190062), with 16 returning members and 13 new (see 2202140030), NTIA said Monday. Letters went out to those appointed in mid-January and the Commerce Department had been waiting to hear back from everyone before making an announcement, government officials said. Charla Rath, independent consultant and former Verizon spectrum veteran, and Jennifer Manner, EchoStar senior vice president-regulatory affairs, are co-chairs. The new members will mean unlicensed spectrum advocates will be represented. Among them: Intel’s Reza Arefi; Hilary Cain, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Harris Wiltshire’s Paul Margie, who represent tech companies; and Dave Wright, OnGo Alliance. Wireless ISPs get a voice with Louis Peraertz, Wireless ISP Association. With standards work increasingly in the focus, another new member is Glenn Reynolds of ATIS. “Spectrum powers so much of our modern world -- from commercial wireless services like 5G to aviation, space travel, climate observation and more,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. CSMAC members are considered “special government employees,” subject to financial reporting rules and are expected to provide their individual expertise to the department rather than represent their association or company. CSMAC last met in April.

The FCC warned a Medina, New York, man to stop operating a TV antenna that allegedly is interfering with transmissions by Verizon and other carriers, after Verizon complained. Clyde Holloway “operated a radiofrequency device in his residence that caused harmful interference to a Commission licensee and refused to permit an agent of the FCC Enforcement Bureau to inspect the premises to identify the source of the interference,” said a Friday citation by the Enforcement Bureau: “We therefore direct Holloway take immediate steps to cease and desist from operating devices that cause harmful interference to licensed radio communications. If Holloway fails to comply with these laws, he may be liable for significant fines up to $22,021 per day.” Holloway couldn't be reached for comment.

Utilities Technology Council President Sheryl Osiene-Riggs and others from the group said, “Utilities need access to interference-free spectrum with sufficient capacity and coverage for reliable private internal communications to address a variety of new and increasing demands and challenges,” in a meeting with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. They said: “At the same time, they need access to funding to accelerate broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. They also need to be able to protect their communications networks and ensure the reliability and integrity of their infrastructure as well as the safety of their personnel and their operations, particularly during emergency response.” UTC repeated concerns about Wi-Fi interference in the 6 GHz band.

The FCC Wireless Bureau deemed “acceptable for filing” the applications of additional tribal entities to use the 2.5 GHz band for broadband, made during a 2020 tribal window. The FCC said Friday it has already granted 328 licenses to Tribes or tribally controlled entities to use the band. “That an application has been accepted for filing means that the application, upon initial review, is complete and contains sufficient information to be accepted for processing and further review, including a required period during which public comment on the application is sought,” the notice said. The applications were filed by the Native Village of Unalakleet, Skagway Village, the Alaska Tribal Spectrum, the Chilkoot Indian Association, the Native Village of Igiugig and Nikolai Village, all in Alaska. Petitions to deny are due March 14, oppositions March 24 and replies March 31.

Shipments of millimeter-wave-enabled handsets will grow from 14% of 5G smartphones sold in 2021 to 43% by 2026, reported ABI Research Thursday in a white paper. It projects 5G smartphone shipments will top a billion handsets globally in 2024, expanding to 1.3 billion in 2026, of which nearly 560 million will be mmWave-capable. The “impetus” behind mobile mmWave “continues to build with a number of regions and countries targeting deployments, broadening across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and gaining support from a growing number of chipset suppliers,” said ABI analyst David McQueen. “This ecosystem expansion, along with resolving the inherent complexity and high costs of implementation, will aid the extensive growth of 5G mmWave smartphones.”