Charter Communications said a new technical analysis shows C-band operations are an interference threat to licensed and unlicensed use of the nearby citizens broadband radio service band. “The level of interference that will be experienced by CBRS could result in degradation and devaluation of this valuable mid-band spectrum, undermining the competition and innovation that will only continue to grow and flourish in this spectrum band,” Charter said in calls with FCC staff. But Charter said the FCC could solve problems by requiring C-band licensees to make time division duplexing (TDD) available to CBRS licensees and users upon request: “Mandating TDD synchronization is critical because there is no assurance that larger carriers will voluntarily work cooperatively with new entrants and smaller carriers to address this problem and resolve interference for all carriers.” Charter spoke with staff from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology and aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-122.

CTIA countered recent arguments by Hughes Network on earth station siting rules (see 2003240056). “Many of the requests … are inconsistent with the Commission’s rules, which allow for siting of new earth stations in bands shared with Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service licensees under very limited circumstances,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-172. The FCC International Bureau “must ensure that it does not limit prior coordination in any way,” CTIA said: “Earth station applicants will not have a way to determine where an UMFUS licensee may have constructed facilities within its license area, and therefore cannot limit prior coordination notices to only those licensees who have constructed and operational facilities within the proposed earth station’s power flux density contour.”

CTIA officials told an aide to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr about the need for the declaratory ruling on wireless infrastructure set for a commissioner vote June 9 (see 2005190058). “Examples in the record show that confusion remains regarding the Commission’s rules governing deployment of facilities on existing infrastructure,” CTIA said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-250: “Misinterpretations of the Commission’s rules regarding concealment elements, equipment cabinets, and shot clock procedures are slowing down eligible facilities request review processes and hindering access to existing wireless infrastructure.” Carr has led FCC efforts on the ruling.

Verizon is launching a virtual lab to speed the development of “new 5G solutions and applications,” adding to its seven, the carrier said Wednesday: San Diego will be the 35th U.S. city with its 5G ultra wideband.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association said 4,500 attended its virtual ConnectX conference Tuesday. The presentations remain online.

ATIS urged policymakers to start focusing on 6G. “Today's investments in 5G networks, devices and applications already point toward the future opportunities,” ATIS said Wednesday: “The world is exploring opportunities that will light the path to 6G.” COVID-19 “has also shone a spotlight on the critical role of communications networks in our daily lives," said ATIS President Susan Miller.

CTIA and member companies supported improving mobile wireless broadband deployment data. A March broadband data law (see 2003240049) requires but doesn’t fund mobile coverage maps, an issue as the FCC takes up the 5G Fund (see 2004200063). Participants supported adopting "specifications in the Act regarding propagation maps for 4G LTE reflecting not less than 5/1 Mbps at the cell edge with 90% probability and 50% cell loading factor,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 11-10. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular representatives spoke with Wireless and Wireline bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff.

The threat from Huawei is real and the Chinese company holds a commanding position “in the competition for baseline 5G equipment,” American Enterprise Institute's Claude Barfield blogged Monday. Last year, Huawei’s revenue topped $120 billion, “more than double that of Ericsson and Nokia combined,” he said. For years, Huawei has invested 20% percent of revenue in R&D, Barfield said: “After being exposed for a major theft of intellectual property from Cisco in 2003, the company built a large patent portfolio." Chinese companies are "working to bend the international 5G standards process to their interests,” he wrote: The emergence of open radio access networks won’t erase the importance of equipment makers. Huawei didn't comment.

The FCC released carrier-specific 4G LTE coverage maps based on data submitted for the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process order. The agency didn’t release data from AT&T, which objected, citing competitive harm. The FCC no longer plans an MF-II auction, and money will be awarded instead through the proposed 5G Fund. Commissioners approved an NPRM on the fund 3-2 last month (see 2004230046). “The steps we take today will allow the public to better understand the issues that the Commission faced in the Mobility Fund Phase II proceeding, which should allow for a more robust discussion and analysis of how best to improve the Commission’s collection of mobile broadband data,” said Monday's order by the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force, in conjunction with the Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireless and Wireline bureaus.

The Commerce Department announced increased restrictions on foreign-made chips exported to and made by Huawei. The department said Friday it doesn't expect to issue another temporary general license extension for the Chinese telecom gearmaker after its latest 90-day renewal expires Aug. 13. The agency is amending the direct product rule to apply restrictions to foreign-produced semiconductor designs and items, such as chipsets, that are direct products of controlled U.S. software and technology, and will require a license when the exporter has “knowledge” that the item’s destination is Huawei. To mitigate impact on the industry, Commerce said the rule change won't affect foreign-produced items as long as they're re-exported, exported from abroad or transferred within 120 days from the rule’s effective date. The company didn't comment.