The FCC conditionally approved Fairspectrum, Nokia and Red Technologies as spectrum access system administrators for the citizens broadband radio service band, said a Friday release. The three passed the first phase of a two-phase approval process. The FCC also cleared CommScope, Google, Federated Wireless and Key Bridge to be environmental sensing capability operators in the 3550-3650 MHz part of the band in Puerto Rico and Guam. Federated was approved as an SAS in American Samoa. “No matter who you are or where you live, you need access to modern communications,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “This is true, of course, for those living in Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa too.”

The announcement by UScellular, Qualcomm, Ericsson and Inseego Thursday of sustained uplink and downlink speeds over 5G millimeter wave on a commercial network is “a huge milestone in addressing the ‘last mile’ connectivity challenge,” said ABI Research analyst Khin Sandi Lynn. Only 81% of U.S. households are connected to fixed broadband access, she said. Multi-gigabit speeds over mmWave will benefit consumers and businesses, supporting the increased broadband demand since COVID-19, Lynn said: “The solution solves the limited propagation characteristic of mmWave and will accelerate deployments of fixed wireless access services in rural and underserved areas and contribute to achieving broadband for all.” Speeds were reached at 7 kilometers, the farthest U.S. 5G mmWave FWA connection, with sustained average downlinks of about 1 Gbps, sustained average uplink speeds of about 55 Mbps and instantaneous peak downlinks at more than 2 Gbps, said the companies. At 1.75 km with no line of sight, average downlink speeds reached about 730 Mbps, with sustained average uplinks of 38 Mbps on UScellular’s network in Janesville, Wisconsin. Tests were done with Ericsson’s Antenna Integrated Radio 5322 advanced antenna system, with an Inseego Wavemaker 5G outdoor CPE FW2010 powered by Qualcomm.

Qualcomm officials spoke with aides to FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the company’s proposal for licensed sharing of the entire 600 MHz-wide lower 37 GHz band. “Our proposal offers a state-of-the-art regulatory paradigm optimized for this novel shared licensed millimeter wave band,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 14-177.

Google sought FCC certification as a spectrum access system administrator in the citizens broadband radio service band in American Samoa. The company also reported recent growth in the CBRS market. Base stations being served by Google’s SAS continue "to rapidly increase, especially as relaxation of pandemic restrictions begins to allow significant growth in enterprise CBRS deployments,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 15-319.

Wi-Fi mesh systems and fixed wireless access services are “the key technologies to bring better broadband to all,” reported ABI Research Wednesday. As demand for broadband connectivity increases, “many mature markets have reached close to 100% household penetration, resulting in higher competition among broadband operators,” it said. “Deployment of solutions and services which support better broadband user experience is becoming critical for broadband operators to achieve business success.” Wi-Fi mesh systems are gaining popularity for complete home Wi-Fi coverage and to support network management tools such as parental control, device-level traffic manipulation and troubleshooting technical issues, said ABI.

12 GHz Alliance members concerned about having enough time to comment on feasibility of sharing the band with 5G have the reply stage and ex parte presentations, the FCC Wireless Bureau ordered in docket 20-443 Tuesday, denying a request for extension of comment and replies. OneWeb, Kepler, SpaceX, Intelsat and SES sought extension until after RS Access submits its technical analysis of sharing the band (see 2104290062). The alliance didn't comment.

T-Mobile continued industry-leading growth in Q1, adding 1.4 million customers, including 773,000 postpaid phone net adds. Both were down from last quarter, in which 1.7 million new customers and 794,000 phones were added. Postpaid churn was 0.98%. Revenue rose 78% over the same quarter last year to $19.8 billion, with $933 million in profit, down slightly. Customers are switching to T-Mobile as it’s increasingly perceived as having the best 5G network, with gains among “prime” and “most discriminating” consumers, CEO Mike Sievert told analysts. “We’re really starting to pull away from the pack like we told you we would,” he said: “Consumers and businesses are taking notice.” Its extended range 5G “covers 295 million people across 1.6 million square miles, 4x more than Verizon and 2x more than AT&T,” T-Mobile said. Its faster 5G offering covers 140 million, with projections of 200 million by Dec. 31. “We’re tracking ahead of schedule,” Sievert said. Half of Sprint customer traffic and 20% of Sprint customers are on the T-Mobile network, the carrier said. T-Mobile said it now expects $2.8-$3.1 billion in 2021 synergies as a result of buying Sprint. T-Mobile executives were together for the call as workers “gradually and safely” are returning in-person, Sievert said.

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel marked the two-year anniversary Monday of Prague 5G Security Conference principles (see 1905030052). “The FCC has made real progress in advancing many of the recommendations,” she said: “But I am reminded every day that we still have more work to do to ensure that our 5G future is safe and secure for all.” Working with allies and multilateral institutions “can multiply our strength" globally, she said.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network sought reconsideration of the FCC 5-0 November order opening 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi, while allocating 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything (see 2011180043). The order “exceeds the Commission’s rulemaking authority,” AREDN said in a petition posted Monday in docket 19-138: It “requires FCC licensees to disobey rules of the U.S. Department of Transportation that have the force of law” and “usurps the Secretary of Transportation’s statutory authority to set [intelligent transportation system] and motor vehicle safety standards.” AREDN also sought a stay. Most of the 5.9 GHz order takes effect July 2, said Monday's Federal Register. "We encourage the FCC to build on these rules to enable outdoor Wi-Fi, encourage the development of a robust equipment ecosystem and expand rural broadband access," WifiForward said in a statement.

Public interest groups and the Rural Wireless Association asked the FCC Monday to look to Communications Act authority to prevent T-Mobile from closing its CDMA network by year-end (see 2104140036). Dish Network says closure would harm its Boost customers that Dish acquired as part of T-Mobile buying Sprint. “Exercise its general authority under Section 201(b)3 and its general authority under Title II, Title III and other relevant provisions to protect Boost and rural carrier subscribers from disruption,” the letter asked. “Sunset of aging 2G/3G networks, like the Analog Sunset and other industry-wide transitions before it, has the potential to bring enormous benefits to the public. Also like the transitions before it, it will require the FCC to ensure that the transition does not result in unintended consumer harms.” Public Knowledge, the Open Technology Institute at New America, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the Center for Rural Strategies, X-Labs, the Greenlining Institute and TURN-The Utility Reform Network signed. “This transition is absolutely in the best interest of the public, especially those consumers who are stuck using an antiquated network,” a T-Mobile spokesperson said: “There are no barriers preventing DISH from taking great care of their Boost customers during the CDMA sunset, just as we are doing with our Sprint customers.”