The FCC should stand firm on rules opening the 5.9 GHz band to Wi-Fi, Citizens Against Government Waste officials urged Commissioner Nathan Simington. CAGW warned of “efforts to thwart the progress the FCC has made on opening up portions of the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use,” said a Tuesday posting in docket 19-138. Remain vigilant on 911 fee diversion, the group said.
T-Mobile filed to participate in the FCC emergency broadband benefit program, a spokesperson emailed Tuesday. “T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network and our deep experience addressing the critical needs of low-income and underserved consumers positions us uniquely to support this program's goal.”
NTIA’s Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee will meet virtually April 8, 1-3 p.m. EDT, says Tuesday's Federal Register. CSMAC last met in January (see 2101140048). This will be the first meeting under the Joe Biden administration.
NextNav is working with AT&T and Verizon on finding the vertical location of wireless 911 calls, CEO Ganesh Pattabiraman and Executive Chairman Gary Parsons told an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing posted Monday in docket 07-114. Major carriers face an April 3 deadline for providing Z-axis data in the largest 25 cellular market areas.
The Coalition of Rural Wireless Carriers urged the FCC to reserve judgment on which areas are eligible for the 5G Fund until after better broadband maps are available, counsel David LaFuria said in a call with an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. With more accurate maps, “the Commission will be better positioned to decide where 5G Fund support should be invested,” said a Monday posting in docket 20-32.
Comments are due April 12, replies April 2 in docket 18-89 on an FCC NPRM proposing revised rules for a program to pay to replace equipment from Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks (see 2102170049), says Monday's Federal Register.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked the FCC to delay by 30 days comment and reply deadlines for the 12 GHz NPRM from April 7/May 7. “The questions posed involve factual, legal and technical issues that take time to address -- especially for organizations that represent an array of interests and that also have been working diligently on the implementation of COVID-19-relief programs that are critical for the nation,” said Friday's posting in docket 20-443. The NPRM “raises substantial technical, legal, and policy issues that require thorough analyses from engineers, lawyers, and consultants on the feasibility of various sharing and coordination frameworks,” they said.
AT&T urged the FCC to act on a June CTIA and USTelecom petition seeking relief on pro forma filings (see 2006050039), said a posting Thursday in docket 20-186. AT&T said it reviewed the data on all pro forma applications filed in the universal licensing system in 2020. It found the three major national wireless carriers generated 17% and “the remaining unique file numbers included other communications businesses, but also state/local governments, individuals, educational institutions, healthcare providers and public safety.”
NTIA sought applications by April 16 from those interested in being on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, said Wednesday's Federal Register.
Global smartphone shipments fell 8.5% last year, reported ABI Research Wednesday. 5G helped prop up sales with a diverse range of handsets and a “rapid rush” to lower-priced models, said analyst Khin Sandi Lynn. ABI forecasts the 5G smartphone market will grow at a 43% compound annual growth rate to pass 1.1 billion units in 2025, accounting for 73% of all smartphone sales.