T-Mobile announced gasoline and concert deals for its latest Tuesday promotion, as foreshadowed by CEO John Legere Sunday (see 1902110046). Customers can save 10 cents per gallon on up to 20 gallons weekly via Shell's Fuel Rewards, and they can sign up for access to exclusive stage-front tickets to sold-out Ariana Grande concerts, said the carrier Tuesday.
Google Pixel in Q4 was the fastest-growing “major” smartphone brand in the U.S., outpacing its top-10 rivals, including the iPhone, Samsung and Lenovo’s Motorola, blogged Strategy Analytics Tuesday. Overall U.S. smartphone unit shipments declined 23 percent in the quarter from “a lack of wow designs,” but Pixel shipments “bucked the downtrend” and increased 43 percent, it said. The Pixel 3 “is starting to resonate” with American consumers “searching for something new,” such as eSIM connectivity or artificial intelligence, said SA: Questions abound how Google might exploit this year’s impending Pixel 4 introduction to tap into momentum.
Baltimore County said the FCC should protect microwave systems operating in 6 GHz spectrum, as the agency explores new rules for mid-band spectrum. The county said it uses 22 6 GHz microwave paths for public safety communications. “If unlicensed devices are allowed in these frequency bands, the County urges the FCC to consider a practical implementation of an automated frequency control/coordination system, registration of devices as well as an accurate and timely listing of all 6 GHz systems in use and those included in the Prior Coordination Notice process,” it said in docket 17-183. “It would be very unfortunate if ... a multimillion dollar microwave system providing critical life safety radio traffic, is dependent upon low cost devices and users following the registration process.”
Verizon representatives met FCC Public Safety Bureau staff on the carrier’s efforts to restore wireless service last year in the Florida Panhandle area following Hurricane Michael. “The discussion principally focused on Verizon’s challenges in repairing and maintaining fiber backhaul in the hardest-hit areas in Florida, coordination with electric utilities, roaming arrangements in the storm’s aftermath, and steps we are considering to address those issues,” Verizon said in docket 18-339.
R Street Institute officials met Rachael Bender, aide to Chairman Ajit Pai, about FCC work on the C band. It identified "strengths and weaknesses of alternative proposals the Commission is considering,” said a filing in docket 18-122. “Some commenters ... oppose certain reallocation plans on grounds related to their own interests rather than actual economic problems. We encouraged the Commission to focus its attention on productive allocation of spectrum, rather than any one private interest." The group called the C Band Alliance proposal "a helpful model for working toward a final Commission decision."
CTIA announced a voluntary, common industry standard for evaluating pre-owned wireless devices, established by its Reverse Logistics and Service Quality Working Group. “This collaboration by America’s wireless industry will make the grading of wireless devices more straightforward and consistent,” said Tom Sawanobori, CTIA chief technology officer, Monday. “The standard will help create uniformity.”
The FCC will take offline its antenna structure registration system for about four hours Thursday at 6 a.m. EST, as it puts in place a new process for reporting changes in such ownership, said a Monday public notice. “To increase the security of the ASR system and reduce the risk of unauthorized changes being made, going forward, both the current owner and the new owner of a structure will be required to approve any change in ownership registration,” the PN said.
Carriers need access to a “sufficient supply of harmonized low band, mid band and high band spectrum to deliver on 5G promises,” 5G Americas reported Friday. The group stressed the need for more licensed spectrum in the 7-24 GHz range. It put special emphasis on the C band: “All or a significant portion of the 3.70-4.20 GHz band for licensed flexible deployment should be made available as soon as possible.”
The Enforcement Bureau proposed a $20,000 fine against Viaero Wireless, licensee of FCC radio station WQUP435 Kersey, Colorado, for allegedly transmitting without authorization in the 3650-3700 MHz band. “Such unregistered stations undermine the Commission’s primary mission to manage radio spectrum,” said a notice of apparent liability Friday. “This spectrum band is shared by a limited number of [Defense Department] radar systems, fixed satellite service earth stations, certain wireless broadband services … and, in the future, the citizens [broad]band radio service." The carrier didn't comment.
AT&T Communications CEO John Donovan met FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about the company’s “ongoing 5G deployment and the importance of millimeter wave spectrum to 5G technologies,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 14-177. Donovan and other AT&T executives also discussed the national security NPRM (see 1812120043): "Any measures to address national security threats related to the communications supply chain should be proportionate to the risk and applied to all networks and providers, not to just entities that use Universal Service Support.” The Telecommunications Industry Association called for action on security rules in a meeting with Wireline Bureau staff. The record the FCC is building “provides details about specific concerns,” TIA said in docket 18-89, in a meeting handout. “Marketplace needs certainty as 5G is being rolled out in earnest.” The USF proceeding should target specific suppliers of concern, the group said.