The Wireless Infrastructure Association said the Wi-Fi Alliance will partner with the group at WIA’s Connectivity Expo conference, Aug. 3-6 in Boston. The alliance will offer a keynote update on Wi-Fi 6 and the 6 GHz band.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs supports petitions for reconsideration of the 4.9 GHz order submitted by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council and Public Safety Spectrum Alliance, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 07-100. “We encourage the FCC to work with the national public safety organizations to develop a proposal that protects the operations of incumbent public safety agencies." The FCC 3-2 reallocated the band to the states in September (see 2009300050).

“Move quickly” to grant licenses to winning bidders in the C-band auction to allow “rapid deployment” in the band, T-Mobile representatives urged aides to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Recognizing a 2.5 GHz auction is “unlikely” before the October 3.45 GHz sale, a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-348 encouraged "the steps necessary to begin the 2.5 GHz band auction soon after the 3.45 GHz band auction concludes.” Temporary changes to allow E-rate funds for remote learning is a welcome step, but the commission should consider making the changes permanent, T-Mobile said (see 2102180020). The FCC's data collection order also "suffers from fatal flaws" and should be stayed "until the results of the [emergency broadband benefit program] are clear," if not reconsidered or vacated, the company added (see 2102260039).

LightShed initiated coverage of Anterix with a “buy” rating Monday. “The power outages in Texas underscore the need for critical infrastructure investments,” said analyst Walter Piecyk. “Reliability, security, safety and control are all key requirements of critical infrastructure, and each are byproducts of a private wireless network.”

International Association of Fire Chiefs officials raised concerns over the FCC’s 4.9 GHz order in a call with Commissioner Nathan Simington. The FCC reallocated the band to the states with a 3-2 vote in September (see 2009300050). “Public safety utilizes the 4.9 GHz band to host broadband intranet networks, video camera networks, bomb disposal robot operations, and airborne public safety video operations,” the group said in a Monday posting in docket 07-114. It warned of interference to public safety from opening 6 GHz for unlicensed use.

Dish Network is buying Republic Wireless, a mobile virtual network operator on the T-Mobile network. Dish, which is building a stand-alone 5G network, gets some 200,000 subscribers, the Republic Wireless brand and other assets, Dish said Monday. "Republic has created a loyal following and established a brand known for innovation, customer service and value. We plan to build upon that," said John Swieringa, Dish chief operating officer. Citi’s Michael Rollins told investors more deals are possible: “DISH could pursue an acquisition of TDS and US Cellular that could provide DISH with immediate rural coverage, significant revenue and subscriber scale that can leverage the T-Mobile wholesale deal for national coverage (which could be cheaper than its current roaming arrangements), a healthy spectrum position in its markets, and additional assets that could [be] held or be monetized,” he said. Dish hopes the deal will close in Q2.

AT&T has $30 billion available after the C-band auction, where it was the second-highest bidder, Chief Financial Officer John Stephens told a Deutsche Bank virtual investor conference Monday. AT&T bid $23.4 billion and is likely on the hook for an additional $4 billion (see 2103040034). The carrier had $10 billion in cash Dec. 31 and secured almost $15 billion in financing, he said. Spending has “been managed, been well thought-out,” he said. The 80 MHz of C band that AT&T is getting “leaves us in a very healthy competitive position,” he said. Half of that is in the part that will be made available first, he said. “We'll continue to evaluate opportunities." Stephens said spinning off about one-third of its video distribution business to TPG (see 2102240046) means AT&T can more easily focus "more directly on our real pillars of 5G connectivity and fiber and software-based entertainment and customer experience.”

The National Emergency Number Association’s 3D Geoinformation Systems Working Group is making “significant progress toward requirements for using 3D location data” and will submit a report to the FCC Public Safety Bureau in the next few weeks, CEO Brian Fontes and others told an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The time for providers “to deliver vertical location information is now,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 07-114: “The sooner … providers can convey vertical location information, the sooner 9-1-1 can set about to extracting the greatest possible value from this information.”

MoffettNathanson’s Craig Moffett warned Friday of continuing financial pressures on AT&T and Verizon due to going big in the C-band auction (see 2103040034). This “left AT&T’s balance sheet in shambles,” he wrote investors: “Remarkably, their DirecTV ‘sale’ makes their leverage worse, not better. And Verizon’s leverage is now even higher than AT&T’s.” The auction “will be felt for years,” he said: “Carriers will be forced to make hard choices between dividends, diversification strategies, and capital investments in the very 5G network that the auction was intended to support.”

Deny petitions by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon (see here, here and here) for waivers of FCC vertical location accuracy rules, officials from the International Association of Fire Chiefs asked an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “911 location accuracy is so important,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 07-114: It allows "fire and EMS personnel to provide critical assistance.” Nationwide providers face a mandate to deploy dispatchable location or Z-axis technology in each of the top 25 cellular market areas by April 3.