Members of the Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute spoke with FCC staff about the group's tests of radio altimeter susceptibility to interference from 5G signals in the C band. “The discussion was based on a set of questions provided by the FCC to AVSI,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-122: “The discussion included the appropriate values of ground reflectivity to be used in further analysis of 5G interference.”

The future of 5G spells growth “way beyond the smartphone," blogged Alex Katouzian, Qualcomm Technologies senior vice president-general manager. “Widespread 5G deployment is accelerating into numerous industries, sectors, and governments, serving to quickly and efficiently connect organizations to every aspect of their business,” said Katouzian. “Ultra-fast” millimeter-wave 5G “is creating completely new use cases” for technologies like “connected intelligent edge” for immersive extended reality and “powerful AI through distributed computing,” he said. Rather than just being a “personal connectivity” technology, 5G is “fueling digital transformations around the world,” he said. It’s connecting people to their homes and cars, “businesses to their supply chains, robotics, and security, and cities to their transportation and infrastructure systems,” he said.

Ericsson submitted data to the FCC modeling altimeter interference exposure from use of the C band for mobile wireless, at the airport in Santa Monica, California, but the data was redacted as highly confidential. “This simulation modeled the emissions from base station equipment utilizing Ericsson specific Advanced Antenna System (AAS) patterns, as well as presenting data on the characteristics of those AAS in the vertical plane,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-122. Representatives of Ericsson and AT&T discussed the data with staff from the Office of Engineering and Technology and others from the FCC. AT&T and Verizon last week agreed to delay C-band deployments for a month as safety issues are studied (see 2111040042).

Dish Network's DBS subsidiary will offer $4 billion in senior secured notes, using the proceeds to fund the "potential purchase" of wireless spectrum licenses and for the buildout of "wireless infrastructure," said an 8-K Monday. Existing Dish wireless spectrum licenses may be used as collateral for the "intercompany loan," it said. The money potentially will be used to buy licenses in the 3.45 GHz auction, said New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin. “While there can be no guarantee that this is for 3.45 GHz spectrum, the filing specifies the proceeds will be used ‘in order to finance the potential purchase of wireless spectrum licenses and for general corporate purposes, including the buildout of wireless infrastructure,’” he said: “We don’t think Dish needs outside funding for the network right now." He thinks it's "certainly plausible this is for 3.45 GHz spectrum, given the auction’s price has nearly settled (the auction will continue through technical procedures for at least another month, however),” he said.

NTIA raised concerns about use of 5030-5091 MHz by drones within the National Radio Quiet Zone, in comments on behalf of the National Science Foundation. NTIA said it previously clarified that the scope of services “should be limited to the relevant allocation of aeronautical mobile (route) service (AM(R)S) communications.” NTIA said that alone won’t address all concerns. “We accordingly would recommend that additional criteria be developed, should this proceeding continue, to minimize … impact to particular radio astronomy sites, especially from low-altitude operations,” said the filing, posted Friday in docket RM-11798. Use of the band for drones has general support (see 2110130044).

The FirstNet board meets 11 a.m. Nov. 17 at the Park Hyatt Hotel, 1201 24th St. NW, Washington, says Friday's Federal Register. The physical meeting is closed to the public because of COVID-19 restrictions. It will be streamed.

Verizon asked the FCC for a waiver of its handset unlocking requirement for devices on the Tracfone network, after it completes a buy of the prepaid provider. “Wireless providers face a significant risk that opportunists will acquire heavily discounted devices and sell them or take them elsewhere, diverting subsidies intended to help customers obtain wireless service,” Verizon said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-112. Under rules for the 700 MHz C block Verizon bought in the 2008 auction, it’s subject to unique “open platform” requirements, including a limited ability to lock devices, the carrier said. “Since 2019, Verizon has operated under a waiver that allows Verizon to apply a 60-day lock to devices that include the 700 MHz C Block frequencies,” it said: “Verizon automatically unlocks the device at the conclusion of the 60-day period, absent evidence of fraud.” The problem is “some TracFone devices are not capable of unlocking automatically, and Verizon will need some temporary relief from the automatic unlocking commitment for those devices.”

Dish Network said T-Mobile delaying its CDMA shutdown by three months isn’t reason to deny Dish’s petition asking the California Public Utilities Commission to require the wireless carrier adhere to a three-year migration timeline. “While additional time is welcome, three months is not nearly sufficient to protect Boost consumers in California -- many of whom are low income -- who are expected to still be using the CDMA network beyond March 31,” Dish wrote Wednesday in A.18-07-011. Dish said similar last week after T-Mobile's announcement (see 2110250042). Dish will still have well over a million customers on the CDMA network by the cutoff, Chairman Charlie Ergen said on a quarterly call Thursday. “If T-Mobile has their way, those customers will lose service,” he said. “Based on T-Mobile’s testimony in California, they won’t even be able to make 911 calls.” Dish doesn’t oppose the shutdown, said Ergen. “Technology needs to advance, but you can’t do it on the back of customers.” T-Mobile will have to “live with the fact that they’re anti-consumer,” he said. T-Mobile didn’t comment.

OMB OK'd for three years information collection requirements in revised rules for hearing aid-compatible handsets (see 2102220064), says Thursday's Federal Register. The rules are effective immediately.

OMB OK'd information collection requirements in FCC March rules for a 3.45 GHz auction (see 2103170061) and the rules take effect immediately, says Thursday's Federal Register. The rules require “3.45 GHz Service licensees, as well as incumbent, non-Federal, secondary radiolocation operators, to comply with certain technical rules, coordination practices, and information-sharing requirements designed to ensure the efficient deployment of flexible-use wireless services in the 3.45 GHz band without causing harmful interference,” the notice said.