The FCC’s vertical location accuracy targets will be challenging, AT&T said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 07-114. Commissioners vote on rules July 16 (see 2006250062). “AT&T would have preferred the adoption of the alternate framework that allowed a phased in approach as suggested by CTIA and its nationwide wireless provider members, but we remain committed to working with our partners to achieve a successful z-axis deployment,” the carrier said. Testing required to demonstrate compliance by April could be difficult because of the pandemic, AT&T said.

USTelecom and member companies raised concerns similar to those by NTCA (see 2007070031) on the draft broadband mapping order and Further NPRM set for a commissioner vote July 16 (see 2006250062). AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier and Verizon were among the companies on calls with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. USTelecom supports “the concept of setting a maximum buffer for fixed polygon reporting to ensure that reporting is accurate and granular, and providers are not encouraged to submit overly broad polygons,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-195: But “the 6,660 feet maximum buffer may not be appropriate for all technologies, particularly in rural areas.” For fiber deployments, “the distances are frequently much longer,” it said.

CTIA and its largest carrier members raised concerns about collecting infrastructure information as part of a draft broadband mapping order and Further NPRM set for a commissioner vote July 16 (see 2006250062). Carriers spoke with aides to all five commissioners. “Any collection of infrastructure information should uphold long-standing government policy that such sensitive infrastructure information is presumed confidential due to competitive and network security issues,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-195. Seek further comment on the proposal through the FNPRM, CTIA urged: The draft order “acknowledges that the infrastructure information is commercially sensitive and disclosure raises national security concerns, but, contrary to long-standing government policy, nevertheless proposes not to treat the information as confidential.” CTIA supported the proposed parameters for mapping mobile wireless coverage and the draft proposal to seek further comment on whether to adopt additional modeling standards. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular representatives were on the calls. NTCA and Vantage Point said proposed rules on how close aggregation points must be to qualify as offering service must be changed. The proposal is “inconsistent with how rural networks are engineered and operated,” they said in calls with Wireline Bureau, Office of Economics and Analytics and other staff: “A buffer of 6,600 route feet for fiber fails to capture the capabilities of fiber as proven by real-world deployments and as ensconced in long-standing industry standards.” There’s no need for a separate requirement for the connection from the mainline wire running down a street to each house, they said. “This drop buffer would appear to preclude any wireline provider from claiming to serve a house that has a setback/driveway longer than 240 feet.”

APCO asked the FCC to change vertical location accuracy rules set for a July 16 commissioner vote (see 2006250062). “The draft Order will add confusion, effectively creating major loopholes in an already unclear set of requirements,” said a Tuesday filing in docket 07-114: “This will empower carriers to assert a watered-down interpretation of the rules and avoid the investments necessary to provide dispatchable location, floor labels, or z-axis information in the manner that emergency communications centers and first responders have been promised.” Eliminate loopholes, APCO said: “The draft Order would create significant loopholes that a) would allow carriers to comply with the vertical location information requirements simply by deploying dispatchable location technology, and b) render meaningless the specious 2022 target to provide dispatchable location.”

Elliott Associates wrote Crown Castle board seeking a focus shift back to its core tower business. Elliott claims a $1 billion stake. “While we admire Crown Castle’s investments in the wireless tower industry, we believe that the Company’s expansion away from its core and into fiber infrastructure has detracted from shareholder returns,” Monday's letter said. The investor said it has been in discussion with management: “While we currently appear to have differing views on the right path forward, we are hopeful that this discussion can continue.” The U.S. “is the best market in the world for shared communications infrastructure ownership,” CCI said. “We remain confident in our ability to generate compelling value.” New Street’s Spencer Kurn said Crown Castle International should stick with its small-cell focus. “Similar to Elliot, we have been unenthused by the returns that CCI has generated in its fiber segment,” Kurn told investors: “Small cells will enhance the return profile of the fiber segment, and all of the companies we heard from during our recent ‘5G Infrastructure Transformation’ meeting series expect small cells growth to accelerate as 5G networks are deployed.”

Sharing is possible in at least part of the 3100-3550 MHz band, NTIA reported. “The 3450-3550 MHz portion of this band is a good candidate for potential spectrum sharing, including at the commercial system power levels sought by the wireless industry,” it said Monday. “Although ultimately some sharing of spectrum below 3450 MHz may be possible as well, additional analysis of the entire band should be conducted to assess the various sharing mechanisms and the potential for relocating incumbents from some portion of the remainder of the band for commercial use.”

Comments are due Aug. 5, replies Sept. 4 on an NPRM on 5G backhaul and deployment of broadband services to aircraft, ships and other uses in 70/80/90 GHz, approved by FCC members 5-0 in June (see 2006090060). Dockets include 20-133, says Monday's Federal Register.

A general theme of 5G comments to NTIA (see 2007010067) is that the government needs to make more mid-band spectrum available, Jennifer McCarthy, Federated Wireless vice president-legal advocacy, emailed us Thursday. “Leveraging spectrum sharing technology will get more mid-band spectrum into commercial hands quickly, which is needed for 5G.”

Make lower 3 GHz available for 5G, CTIA urged the FCC. CTIA submitted a new study by Analysys Mason on the reallocation of 3 GHz spectrum in other countries. The 3.1-3.55 GHz band “is a critical new opportunity for the U.S. to expand its 5G spectrum pipeline and keep pace with other countries that are moving aggressively to make midband spectrum available for next-generation 5G networks,” CTIA said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-348.

FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly wants a new schedule for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to complete wireless deployment on the Metrorail system, considering COVID-19 delays. “Public safety of riders demands it,” the Republican tweeted Tuesday. WMATA didn’t comment Wednesday.