The Wireless ISP Association urged the FCC Friday to adopt proposals in a Further NPRM (see 2011180043) liberalizing rules for the 5.9 GHz band. Replies were due Friday in docket 19-138. “Broad consensus exists for adoption of the Commission’s proposed technical rules, enabling widespread outdoor unlicensed use of the 5.9 GHz band,” said Louis Peraertz, WISPA vice president-policy: As FCC grants of special temporary authority to use the band make clear, “the demand is there for it to go into quick and innovative service, keeping American’s connected during the pandemic, and beyond,” he said.

The Aerospace Industries Association fired back at wireless industry critics (see 2106220040) of its May petition asking the FCC to reconsider a decision in the 3.45 GHz auction order to not launch a coordination framework ensuring aerospace contractors have “dependable and reliable access” to the band (see 2105100023). “The Oppositions provide no cognizable rationale for the Commission to ignore the public interest and decline to provide for coordination to facilitate such contractor access,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-348. “Access to the 3.45 GHz Band is critical for contractors to conduct the testing [to] support the government radars operating in that band that serve the country’s national security interests." A coordination framework would mean more certainty for bidders in the 3.45 GHz auction, not less, “by clarifying the coordination expectations of the auction winners and the government contractors using the band," AIA said.

Shenandoah Telecommunications completed the sale of Shentel Wireless to T-Mobile, Shenandoah said Thursday (see 2106010017). Shenandoah receives cash proceeds of $1.94 billion, including a $60 million settlement of the waived management fees by Sprint, an indirect subsidiary of T-Mobile, Shenandoah said.

The Competitive Carriers Association sought additional clarity on the rules for the program to rip and replace insecure equipment in carrier networks. Commissioners vote on rules for the program July 13 (see 2106220060). The request came in calls with aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks and Wireline Bureau staff. CCA sought clarity that the program will pay for upgraded equipment rather than the test in draft rules. “An upgrade to, at a minimum, 4G LTE appears to be inevitable, both as a practical matter (2G and 3G equipment may not be available) and a policy matter (it makes little sense to invest in building new networks using older technologies),” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-89. “Since 2G vs. 3G vs. 4G LTE networks may rely on different architectures and different equipment to perform functions, the multi-factor, fact-specific test risks introducing uncertainty over whether any particular 4G LTE function or piece of network equipment has the comparable capabilities and functions as a 2G or 3G piece of equipment.” CCA asked that removal and disposal of gear be reimbursed even if not replaced, and for an immediate six-month extension of deadlines for completing replacement. “Carriers are working hard to develop their transition plans in the face of substantial uncertainty,” the group said: “Simply having the potential for a discretionary extension at some point in the future will not give carriers the comfort they need today to prepare their network transition plans.” Rural Wireless Association representatives raised concerns on definitions in the draft, in a call with a Wireline Bureau staff. “As proposed, the definition of ‘provider of advanced telecommunication service’ with 2 million or fewer customers includes all intermediary carriers, schools, libraries and health care providers, leaving no one in the second prioritization category, Priority 2,” the group said.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment by July 30, replies Aug. 16, on an application by the Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia, consolidated government to upgrade its private land mobile radio network. The locality proposes to add a new 800 MHz specialized mobile radio pool channel (857.6375 MHz) to six simulcast base station repeater sites.

Comments are due Aug. 2, replies Aug. 30, on an NPRM the FCC approved 4-0 in April on the future of wireless mics in the TV and other bands (see 2104220056), says a notice for Thursday's Federal Register.

Blue Origin, Relativity Space, Sierra Space, Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit want a 30-day extension for the comments and replies deadlines in the Further NPRM on dedicated spectrum for commercial space launches, per a docket 13-115 joint request Wednesday. The FNPRM questions "have implications for the long term interests of the commercial space launch ecosystem" and need more time for "significant and thoughtful analysis," they said.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network defended its standing to seek a stay of the FCC’s order reallocating the 5.9 GHz band (see 2106030075), in a filing posted Wednesday at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The FCC and others “claim that AREDN lacks standing because it is not strictly a membership organization,” the group said in docket 21-1141. AREDN cited the court’s test in Flyers Rights Education Fund v. FAA, a case from last year. “AREDN keeps track of its users” and its “expenses are paid from user donations.”

Ligado complaints that the aviation community isn't working with it on a base station information database (see 2011040054) are false and show how the FCC's database requirement is deficient, 14 aviation interest groups said in a docket 12-340 post Wednesday. They said that in a meeting with Ligado the company clearly hadn't identified or started engagement with those stakeholders to establish the database's necessary requirements, and it needs to start there. They said there's no formal implementation plan to fund the replacement of Inmarsat aviation terminals that receive interference from Ligado terrestrial operations. Signatories included the Aerospace Industries Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Cargo Airline Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association and Regional Airline Association.

Safe Technology Minnesota, Amicus Wired Broadband and other groups told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit they plan to file on behalf of Children’s Health Defense and four individuals asking for a stay of the revised rules for over-the-air reception devices approved by commissioners in January (see 2101070068). The groups all have 5G and RF health concerns, said a pleading (in Pacer) posted Wednesday in docket 21-1075. The court declined to stay the rules in April (see 2104010064). “The Commission refused to acknowledge significant policy, legal and practical problems” in the order, appellants said last week in a brief (in Pacer): “Worse, the FCC brushed aside extensive uncontested demonstrations the rule change will have devastating effects on many thousands, if not millions, of people.” The record shows “an astounding amount of evidence that RF radiation does make and has made people sick and/or exacerbates other pre-existing conditions. … There is no record evidence, not even a scintilla, rebutting or undercutting these showings,” appellants said.