FCC commissioners rejected an application for review of a 2015 FCC Wireless Bureau order that denied a request for a waiver by Spectrum Networks Group (SNG) so subsidiary M2M Spectrum Networks could offer a third-party service providing machine-to-machine communications using 900 MHz business/industrial/land transportation channels (see 1504130062). SNG’s main argument was the bureau “treated it differently from similarly situated parties and penalized it for being candid about its contemplated operations,” said Monday's order. “Based upon our review of the record and licenses at issue, we … find no basis for SNG’s allegation of differential treatment.” SNG also argued rejection was opposed to the FCC’s broader policy, the agency said: “Whatever the tension between the policy of increasing flexibility for incumbent B/ILT licensees and reserving unused channels for traditional B/ILT operations, the appropriate venue for resolving it is a new Commission rulemaking.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force approved long-form applications for eight licenses bought in the TV incentive auction by Channel 51 License Co. The licenses are in some major markets -- Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Houston and New Orleans. “All Auction 1002 long-form applications have been granted,” said a public notice in Friday's Daily Digest.

Bids hit $677.4 million after four rounds Friday in the 28 GHz auction, the FCC’s first of high-band spectrum. It has provisionally winning bids on 2,889 of 3,072 licenses up for sale after 50 rounds. Four bidding rounds are also scheduled for Monday.

Microsoft President Brad Smith met FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to update her on the company’s Airband Initiative, which brings broadband to rural areas through TV white spaces. Microsoft previously committed to reaching 2 million unserved Americans by 2022, and is increasing it to 3 million, said a filing Friday in docket 16-56. “Microsoft and its partners are well on their way to achieving this goal with deployments in 17 states," said the filing. Other attendees included former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell of Cooley, it said.

The Wireless ISP Association asked the FCC to modify a draft order's conclusion to offer Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support to rate-of-return carriers in areas already served by unsubsidized providers with broadband below 25/3 Mbps. Lower the speed threshold to 10/1 Mbps or seek further comment in a Further NPRM attached to the draft slated for a vote at Wednesday's commissioners meeting, suggested WISPA Friday in meetings with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly. It hadn't been posted, but a similar filing Thursday on a meeting with an aide Commissioner Brendan Carr posted in docket 10-90. WISPA said the FCC "should rely on the most recent version of Form 477 in determining the broadband speeds offered by unsubsidized competitors in defining areas eligible for A-CAM II support, and should consider adopting an interim reporting or challenge process to allow incumbent providers to provide updated information."

T-Mobile supported the FCC’s draft ruling clarifying wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I information service, set for a commissioner vote Wednesday (see 1812050019). Other carriers also supported the ruling, while Free Press raised concerns. T-Mobile reported on a call with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai in docket 08-7. The ruling “will remove regulatory uncertainty and allow T-Mobile and other wireless messaging providers to continue to incorporate robotext-blocking, anti-spoofing measures, and other anti-spam features into their service,” T-Mobile said. “It will allow industry to continue to protect the messaging ecosystem and spare [consumers] from receiving unlawful and unwanted spam.” “This classification ensures greater consistency in the regulatory treatment of these services across the messaging ecosystem,” AT&T said in meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. “The Draft Declaratory Ruling empowers wireless providers to continue protecting consumers from unwanted text messages thereby keeping messaging services relatively spam-free.” Verizon also endorsed the ruling in meetings with commissioner aides. The action would "stand firm with millions of wireless consumers in the battle to safeguard messaging from unscrupulous robotexters,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker in a letter. Free Press slammed the ruling, saying it's “full of the same kinds of mistakes, errors, and lies that Pai and his team have made their specialty, all delivered with the knowing smirk and feigned concern that serves as the facade for their every utterance.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and eight other senators opposed the declaratory ruling, writing Pai to “classify text messaging as a telecommunications service” to provide such communications “protections that promote innovation and support freedom of speech.”

Many consumers see 5G as a “speed bump” but don’t fully grasp its potential impact on media and entertainment, said a Thursday Intel report. An August Intel report found 58 percent of Americans said they weren’t knowledgeable about 5G, leading the tech company to create a study illustrating new entertainment experiences 5G can enable. Consumers responded favorably in the latest study, said Intel, with 54 percent of participants saying they're willing to switch to 5G for their connected home needs. Among top uses Americans expect to benefit from 5G were next-generation TV (54 percent), augmented instruction (41 percent) and immersive live events (40 percent). Willingness to pay for 5G-enabled experiences skewed younger, with 72 percent of respondents ages 16-25 willing to pay a $20 monthly premium over current 4G service vs. 27 percent of Americans overall. Four in 10 respondents said they would pay an additional $10 a month for 5G to get faster speed (64 percent), reliability (43 percent) or responsiveness (36 percent). Business models will be “reinvented” in the 5G era, said Intel, as companies tap into new revenue streams and attempt to create relevance with their audience at scale. “In the golden era of television, having the best content in the world will cease to be enough if it gets snarled up in an inevitable communications traffic jam,” it said. Over the next decade, media and entertainment companies will be competing for a share of a $3 trillion cumulative wireless revenue opportunity, said Intel, forecasting 5G-enabled experiences to account for $1.3 trillion.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council reported issues are raised by implementation of mission critical push to talk on FirstNet, focusing on identity management. “Identity is a critical component of first responder safety," it noted Tuesday. "Today, most public safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems support the transmission of a Unit ID which is used by communications center personnel and field supervisors to verify which first responder is communicating. That identity information is crucial during high-risk events and other emergencies.”

Representatives of the Aerospace Industries Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Boeing and Lockheed Martin raised concerns about protecting aviation systems in the 3-7-4.2 GHz C-band, meeting with aides to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Presentations focused “in particular" on "critical aviation safety equipment known as radio altimeters and wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC) systems operate in the adjacent radio frequency band 4200-4400 MHz,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-122. “The radio altimeter is a critical avionics system to the safe operation of flight, specifically the landing of aircraft. The group stressed it is vital to ensure that proper testing of cellular systems operating in the adjacent band is conducted before a new primary mobile allocation of the entire 3700-4200 MHz band is made.”

New York City asked the FCC to modify its draft ruling clarifying wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I information service to account for emergency texts. The item is set for a vote Wednesday (see 1812050019). The city would have the FCC require message providers work with public safety agencies on texts. New York warned of the potential for unintended consequences. “As there are many emergency mass notification providers which often rely on the same downstream aggregators, the City is concerned that, absent a carefully considered regulatory framework, efforts by commercial mobile service providers to curtail spam have the potential to prevent the delivery of critical messages to recipients that need them and have either opted in to the system … or have been imported into the system as part of a sanctioned program,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 8-02. Software company Zipwhip said the FCC is right to provide clarity. The ruling would "remove uncertainty on the matter and enable companies like Zipwhip to continue their efforts to protect consumers by adopting blocking protocols that eliminate spam,” Zipwhip said.