The Wireless Innovation Forum warned of potential problems with data in the universal licensing system, which is to be used for locating fixed microwave links in 6 GHz under FCC rules for automated frequency control. “There are inherent issues with the ULS and some of the data contained in it,” including blank, conflicting and uncollected data, WInnForum said. Members of the forum reported on a call with FCC staff, in filings posted Wednesday in docket 18-295.

The FCC 3.45 GHz auction hit $893 million in gross bids Wednesday, its second day, up from $672.4 million Tuesday (see 2110050068).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit formally remanded (in Pacer) 2019 RF safety rules to the FCC for further work Tuesday, based on its August decision in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC (see 2108130073).

Ericsson, working with PowerLight Technologies, said Monday it showed a 5G millimeter wave base station can be powered wirelessly, through a laser beam. The technology converts electricity into high-intensity light, converted back to electricity at the base station. Ericsson noted the technology has been shown to work for smaller devices like cellphones. “The ability to safely transfer power across distances without having to be connected to the power grid eliminates one of the big obstacles we have when building new cellsites,” said Kevin Zvokel, Ericsson North America head-networks.

New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin predicts a $25 billion 3.45 GHz auction. “This assumes Verizon drops out and AT&T, T-Mobile, Dish [Network], and others bid aggressively,” the analyst told investors Monday. “If Verizon bids to win,” a $35 billion auction is possible, he wrote: If T-Mobile drops out, “the auction could fail.” The auction starts Tuesday.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council urged FCC OK of Verizon buying Tracfone, in a letter posted Monday in docket 21-112. MMTC noted it normally doesn’t weigh in on such transactions, but “the need to maintain competition and customer choices in this market to benefit the communities we serve convinces us of the need to take a stance.” Giving Tracfone access to the Verizon network “will enhance the quality of service, service plans, and product availability for low income customers,” the group said. Tracfone, meanwhile, cited T-Mobile’s recent move to offer Metro, its prepaid brand, at 2,300 Walmarts (see 2109130009). “Standalone TracFone is constrained in its ability to respond to our main competitors in the prepaid space at the same pace and with the same efficiencies,” the company said. “As a pure reseller, TracFone cannot pivot or adjust its offerings with the speed or agility necessary to compete with the offers of competitors like Metro, Cricket, and Boost that have the backing of a network operator.”

Open Radio Access Network Policy Coalition representatives spoke with Wireless and Wireline bureau staff about steps the FCC can take to promote ORAN, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89. “We discussed ways in which the FCC can ‘leverage the [Supply Chain Reimbursement Program] process and related funding to inform testbeds, demonstration projects and pilots, which in turn can accelerate and enhance network upgrades,’ including the possibility of the FCC convening additional events or record-building inquiries."

The 4.9 GHz order and Further NPRM, released Friday, is substantially the same as the draft, as indicated Thursday (see 2109300053). One change is the FCC now directs the Wireless and Public Safety bureaus to lift a freeze in place since September 2020 within 30 days. The draft left timing to the bureaus' discretion. The lifting of the freeze is only for “incumbents wishing to modify their existing licenses or license new permanent fixed sites.” The FCC imposed the freeze prior to last year’s order on the band (see 2009090048), overturned by the Thursday order.

The Wireless ISP Association said Thursday it’s developing a certification program “designed to protect vulnerable internet and cloud access from climate-related events.” WISPA tapped David Theodore, chief technology officer of Climate Resilient Internet, to chair a working group developing best practices here.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology extended through March 31 a waiver of the push notification requirement for fixed and mode II personal/portable TV white space devices, set to have expired Thursday. The original waiver was approved in a 2015 order on Part 15 rules. “This action will ensure that manufacturers may continue to market previously approved white space devices, and that users may continue to operate them,” said a Thursday notice: “The ability of all approved white space devices to satisfy the at-least-once-daily database re-check requirement will ensure that wireless microphones will continue to receive interference protection from white space devices.”