The draft and final bidding procedures for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band auction, approved by commissioners 5-0 Friday (see 2002280031), had no major differences. That's based on a side-by-side comparison. The priority access license auction starts June 15. The Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireless Bureau released an updated guide on technical and mathematical details of the bidding procedures Tuesday.

Boingo Wireless won’t comment on “rumors or speculation” that it’s putting itself up for sale, but “we can share that we have received multiple inquiries regarding a potential strategic transaction,” said CEO Mike Finley on a Q4 call Monday. Boingo’s board hired strategic advisers “to help us assess these opportunities,” so it's suspending 2020 forecasts “until further notice,” he said. Boingo's Wi-Fi offload services are "an important way that we partner with the carriers to help solve the insatiable growth of mobile data traffic," said Finley. "We remain confident that it is not a question of if, but when, every domestic carrier is participating in some form of offload to ease congestion on their cellular networks." Shares closed 18% higher Tuesday at $14.04.

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) asked the FCC to not reallocate part of the 5.9 GHz band to Wi-Fi, as proposed in a December NPRM (see 1912120058). Georgia is working on a smart transportation system and needs spectrum, said Duncan (R) in a posting Tuesday in docket 19-138. “Most technology adoption follows a traditional curve, with many years of very slow usage and research, then a tipping point is hit and massive adoption follows very quickly,” he said: “Due to the slowness of usage until now, I understand how the FCC would think the spectrum could be reallocated. However, we believe that vehicle safety radio technology is at this exact knee of the curve tipping point, and, thus, it is a bad time to be changing the spectrum.” ATSSA said more than 36,000 people died on U.S. roadways in 2018: “By and large, these fatalities and injuries are preventable through proven lifesaving roadway safety infrastructure countermeasures as well as developing vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure technologies.”

Tech companies told the FCC they are unable to replicate data in a December NAB filing on unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band (see 1912060007). The companies said in January the study, by Alion, was riddled with errors (see 2001150042). “We appreciate NAB’s and Alion’s willingness to discuss these issues with us, but, unfortunately, we still have not been able to obtain the information necessary to replicate NAB’s study,” Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Microsoft, NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm said in docket 18-295, posted Monday. “Given what we have learned, we reiterate our previous objections to that study -- its assumptions were so wildly inaccurate that the Commission cannot rationally rely on it in evaluating the risk of harmful interference.” NAB didn't comment.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) told the FCC a proposal to bifurcate the 5.9 GHz band to allow Wi-Fi in 40 of the 75 MHz available is “wrong and misguided.” Commissioners approved an NPRM that proposes 5-0 in December to reallocate the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi and cellular vehicle to everything, while potentially preserving a sliver for dedicated short-range communications (see 1912120058). “Paramount” to states is “eliminating the nearly 37,000 fatal vehicle crashes which occur on our roadways each year as well as the safe deployment of connected and automated vehicles,” ASHTO said. Transportation for America objected: “This proposed rule would make it more difficult to harness the potential of technology.” The comments were posted Monday in docket 19-138.

Nothing stops the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from transferring a lawsuit against the FCC’s December RF safety order to the D.C. Circuit, the FCC said in a Friday reply (in Pacer) in case 20-70297. The commission requested transfer earlier this month (see 2002130006). Petitioner Children’s Health Defense argued it’s too soon to transfer because the petitions filed first in D.C. Circuit and second in 9th Circuit are still subject to dismissal. “Wrong,” said the FCC, because U.S. Code “Section 2112 is a mechanical rule that requires transfer to the court in which the record is to be filed (in this case the court of first filing) regardless of whether the petitions that have been filed may be subject to dismissal, for prematurity or any other reason.”

Bluespan Wireless sought a waiver to operate equipment in the citizens broadband radio service band under Part 90 of FCC rules, after an April 17 deadline. The wireless ISP said it has moved all its 3.65 GHz access points to software-upgradeable equipment certified under Part 96 rules and migrated most customers to compliant customer premise equipment. But in recent weeks, vendor “Baicells confirmed to Bluespan that its first-generation CPE will not be certified under Part 96, requiring Bluespan to undertake an unanticipated second hardware change-out for 300 customers in various parts of Bluespan’s networks,” said a petition posted Thursday in docket 18-353. Bluespan sought waiver through the end of next year.

The Wireless ISP Association told the FCC it should ignore an effort to license part of the 6 GHz spectrum, being examined for unlicensed use. “CTIA is attempting to resurrect study of licensed spectrum in this band well after the Commission has made clear that the exclusive focus of this proceeding is to enable unlicensed services in this band,” WISPA said, posted Thursday in docket 18-295. Comments offer “an extensive record detailing how making 5925-7125 MHz available for unlicensed use would have numerous positive, critical effects,” the group said.

CTIA and the Edison Electric Institute will launch a cross-sector resiliency forum aimed at improving coordination between the wireless and electric power sectors, a CTIA spokesperson confirmed. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai wanted the initiative to begin before the next wildfire and hurricane seasons start. “Americans need reliable communications service during emergencies,” Pai said Thursday: “But as the FCC’s investigation into the slow pace of wireless service restoration after Hurricane Michael revealed, and last fall’s power shutoffs in California underscored, a lack of effective coordination between the electric power and communications sectors prolongs and increases the scope of communications outages. This coordination problem was also starkly evident in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, when the electric utility did not provide needed information to the communications sector for disaster recovery.” CTIA is grateful to Pai for “facilitating this dialogue,” emailed Matt Gerst, CTIA vice president-regulatory affairs: “Public safety is a top priority for the FCC and our industries, and enhancing coordination before, during and after disasters will enhance resiliency and ensure wireless is available when Americans need it most.”

The Farm Bureau told the FCC it supports an NPRM set for commissioner vote Friday (see 2002250068), which would allow devices in unlicensed TV white spaces to operate at higher power levels in less-congested areas. The filing posted in docket 20-36 Wednesday.