The Wi-Fi Alliance asked an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for quick action on a limited remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit of one part of the agency’s 6 GHz order (see 2112280047). The court instructed the FCC to address NAB concerns about interference in the 2.4 GHz band. The FCC should “respond to the 6 GHz Court Order by explaining that the underlying premise of the NAB’s assertion -- that contention-based protocols failed to protect licensed users in 2.4 GHz band -- simply lacks any merit because its claims are unsupported and the contention-based protocol requirement that it asserts failed to protect [electronic newsgathering] operations at 2.4 GHz does not exist,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. The alliance earlier spoke with staff from the Office of General Counsel and Office of Engineering and Technology.

RS Access CEO Noah Campbell met with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to urge action on the 12 GHz band, said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-443. “The 12 GHz band offers an ideal environment for next-generation 5G wireless broadband deployment,” the company said.

Blame the Donald Trump administration, not the FAA, for the fight over the C band that slowed 5G deployment, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler blogged Friday. Wheeler noted the NTIA received a letter in December 2020, before the C-band auction, raising concerns, but the letter was never passed along to the FCC or the wireless carriers. President Joe Biden has shown the leadership needed to reach a compromise, Wheeler said. “When the prior administration’s failure to resolve the interagency dispute ended up putting at risk the wireless companies’ $81 billion [in C-band bids] and threatening the economic growth promised by 5G, President Biden and his aides stepped up,” he said: “Instead of meaningful spectrum policy management, the Trump administration produced slogans.” The CEOs of two major airlines said on earnings calls last week a resolution is in sight. “While we don't have a final resolution quite yet, I'm confident we'll get there,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: “While I wish it happened earlier, the good news is we now have everyone engaged, the FAA and [Department of Transportation] at the highest levels, the equipment aircraft manufacturers, airlines and the telecoms. And I'm confident we'll soon have a clear set of objective criteria that will allow a full rollout of 5G without significant impact to aviation.” The fight wasn’t the airline industry’s “finest hour,” said American Airlines CEO Doug Parker. “It's taken a while to get to the right spot, but I feel like we're in the right spot,” he said. “I don't think you're going to see any material disruption going forward because of this.” Neville Ray, T-Mobile president-technology, emphasized to customers that C-band delays didn't affect his company because it’s mostly using 600 MHz and 2.5 GHz. “T-Mobile’s 5G network, already covering over 1.7 million square miles and 310 million people nationwide, and our customers are not affected by this,” he said: “By the time we’re ready to put our C-band licenses to use in late 2023, we’re confident today’s concerns will have been resolved.”

The FCC Public Safety Bureau reminded part 90 and part 101 public safety licensees Thursday to update their license contact information with an email address. The bureau also reminds licensees to “file timely renewal applications and construction notifications,” a notice said.

T-Mobile asked the FCC to schedule the 2.5 GHz auction, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120. “Others seek to prevent T-Mobile and potential 2.5 GHz license holders from using the spectrum to provide service to the public,” T-Mobile charged, citing a December filing by Verizon (see 2112200040). “Verizon’s recent ex parte letter is the latest in a series of disappointing attempts to stall the auction -- this time by seeking to inject an unrelated and irrelevant contractual dispute into the Commission’s consideration of procedures for the 2.5 GHz auction,” T-Mobile said: “Verizon contends that the Commission should, prior to auction, require the release of the relevant terms of existing leases involving the 2.5 GHz band, including the duration, whether there are rights of first refusal, and lease termination provisions.” Verizon didn't comment.

Microsoft representatives spoke with aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington about concerns with the notification requirements for white spaces devices, in a draft item scheduled for a commissioner vote next week, completing a circuit of commissioner offices (see 2201180058). The company also had a call with acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 04-186.

AT&T’s industry-leading bids of $9.1 billion in the 3.45 GHz auction won't affect its ratings since expenditures in that range were expected, S&P Global Ratings said in a Wednesday note. AT&T’s adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio remains “elevated in the 3.7x-3.8x range” but should decline after its sale of Warner Media, S&P said. “We view AT&T's longer-term competitive position as weaker relative to that of its wireless peers Verizon and T-Mobile,” S&P said: “While the acquisition of 40 MHz of nationwide spectrum will improve the company's overall mid-band spectrum position, it still operates at a competitive disadvantage to T-Mobile, especially given T-Mobile's head start in building out its 2.5 GHz band for 5G services.” The firm sees few opportunities to buy more mid-band spectrum this year.

CTIA asked the FCC to make the change it sought in its September petition for partial consideration of rules on combating contraband cellphones in prisons (see 2112210032). It was the lone party to file reply comments, due Tuesday in docket 13-111. “CTIA sought only one very limited adjustment to the … service termination rules, to allow wireless providers sufficient time to disable contraband devices upon receipt of a qualifying request,” the group said. It asked the FCC to say providers must disable contraband devices “as soon as practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of a qualifying request” rather than within the two days now required. “The record that has now been compiled … confirms that two days is unworkable, and no party filed in support of retaining the two-day deadline,” CTIA said, posted Wednesday.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel named Dean Brenner, a former Qualcomm executive, as chairman of the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council, replacing longtime chairman Dennis Roberson. The focus will be on 6G, Rosenworcel said. The U.S. “must lead the world in advancing ambitious 6G research and development," she said Wednesday: "Maintaining our leadership in high-priority emerging technology requires careful planning and execution. There are signals that need our attention, from the need for more spectrum to the vulnerabilities of supply chains to the changing dynamics of global standards development.” The new TAC scheduled its first meeting online for 10 a.m. EST Feb. 28. The FCC rechartered the group for a two-year term in July and asked for nominations for membership. The agency said then the first meeting was likely in October (see 2107230039). The group last met a year ago. Other members of TAC will be included in upcoming communications personals sections of this publication.

Ookla's Q4 market report found T-Mobile’s network was faster than those of AT&T and Verizon. Tests found a median download speed of 90.65 Mbps on modern chipsets for T-Mobile, up from 62.35 Mbps in Q3. AT&T was at 49.25 Mbps, Verizon Wireless 44.67.