FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said in a tweet her office asked the Enforcement Bureau to investigate reports that members of the news media weren't allowed to use their own Wi-Fi hot spots during Monday’s presidential debate at Hofstra University. Various news reports said thousands of journalists attending the debate at the Hempstead, New York, school were told to turn off their hot spots and asked to pay $200 to use the university's Wi-Fi service. “We are aware of reports of alleged Wi-Fi hot spot blocking at Monday’s debate,” an agency spokesman said. “However, as a policy, we do not confirm or comment on potential or pending enforcement investigations.” An FCC official noted action the agency took against Marriott in 2014 and Smart City last year for Wi-Fi blocking. But one complicating factor is that preliminary reports suggest Hofstra was acting on an agreement with media outlets not to use personal Wi-Fi hot spots while on the university’s campus, which is a different set of facts than the earlier cases, the official said.

On average, three-quarters of mobile internet users have made a purchase on their smartphones or tablets in the past six months, said an Interactive Ad Bureau survey report Tuesday on the global perspective of mobile commerce. IAB commissioned researchers to canvass 3,800 adults during July and August in 19 global markets, including the U.S., to gauge what items they bought on their mobile devices, how often they purchased and how much they spent. In a typical month, mobile purchases and payments made by those canvassed were 31 percent of total monthly purchases, “whether that be purchasing directly via their mobile device or by paying in store using their mobile,” the report said. “Convenience” and “value” are the features that drive most mobile purchases, and “overall satisfaction” is as high as 80 percent, which bodes fell for the future, it said. More than six in 10 (62 percent) plan to buy more products and services via their smartphones or tablets in the next six months, said IAB.

Representatives of wireless mic maker Sennheiser explained its pursuit of changes to rules for unlicensed use of the TV spectrum after the incentive auction. Sennheiser representatives met with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, said a filing in 12-268. On rules for antenna connectors, Sennheiser said the agency should “retain the waiver for unlicensed wireless microphones,” echoing Shure's recent filing (see 1609260061). On rules for measuring output power for Part 15 certified wireless mics, Sennheiser said: “A microphone that meets conducted power [requirements] will meet the same limit when measured as EIRP [equivalent isotropically radiated power], but measurements of conducted power are more precise. Sennheiser does not object to measuring by EIRP, so long as manufacturers are given the opportunity to measure using either conducted power or EIRP.” Audio-Technica also reported on a call with FCC staff. “We discussed Audio-Technica’s position regarding requirements relevant to the use of conducted or radiated power measurements as applied to its products,” said a filing by the company. “We also discussed Audio-Technica’s position regarding the application of Part 15 restrictions and requirements for antennas and antenna connectors as applied to its products.”

CTIA offered the FCC responses to questions the agency asked about the group’s proposal to be a spectrum access system (SAS) administrator and an environmental sensing capability (ESC) operator in the 3.5 GHz shared band. Parts of the response were redacted by CTIA in a filing in docket 15-319. Work is continuing, CTIA said. “CTIA has been working collaboratively with other leading SAS applicants to create a framework for sharing appropriate CBSD [Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device] registration information among SAS administrators,” the association said. “We are confident that these discussions will be finalized soon, and we will have a robust framework to present to the Commission. At that time, CTIA will modify its application to describe that framework.” The FCC has been working to open the 3550-3650 MHz band for shared use and use by small cells since a December 2012 NPRM (see 1212130044). The FCC still must approve SASs and ESCs that will help make sharing work in the band. Others also made filings in the docket on their SAS and/or ESC plans.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau cited privately held SCMS for marketing in the U.S. uncertified external RF power amplifiers and low-power FM transmitters that can operate on frequencies below 144 MHz. “SCMS should cease marketing these devices and take immediate steps to come into compliance with the Communications Act,” the bureau said in a Tuesday citation/order. “If SCMS fails to comply with these laws, it may be liable for significant fines.” The bureau noted the agency could issue fines of $16,000 per violation per day or $122,500 for "any single act or failure to act." SCMS "will comment in depth at a later date,” President Bob Cauthen told us. “We disagree with the finding and will be making the appropriate response from both SCMS and the manufacturer BW Broadcast.”

The FCC must be aware of limitations faced by 911 call centers if it imposes a requirement that industry move from text telephone (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) technology, APCO said. The National Emergency Number Association backed a phased transition when the FCC took comments over the summer (see 1607270022). APCO said in a filing in docket 16-145 that its representatives and representatives of the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators met with FCC officials to discuss concerns. “RTT has the potential to enable faster, more robust text communications with 9-1-1 than TTY or SMS, but its support for implementation of RTT is contingent upon compatibility with TTY and existing IP-based solutions, to the extent Public Safety Answering Points have adopted them,” APCO said. “APCO also re-emphasized the need to ensure interoperability to avoid the challenge of integrating different solutions and interfaces.”

Comments are due Oct. 26, replies Nov. 10, on an Aug. 22 Further NPRM on proposed changes to the 700 MHz public safety narrowband service rules, the FCC said in a Monday notice in the Federal Register. The agency is seeking comment on trunking on vehicular repeater systems (VRS). "We seek comment on the costs and benefits of trunking as applied to VRS,” said the NPRM in docket 13-87. “Do VRS units on the market today have the capability to support trunking? If not, would there be any potential benefits to requiring them to do so? For example, is there a spectrum efficiency advantage to trunking VRS units?” The FCC also asks whether it should require certain radio features as essential for interoperability.

Shure representatives met with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff to discuss the wireless mic maker’s pursuit of changes to rules for unlicensed use of the TV bands after the incentive auction. Shure cited its December petition asking the FCC to clarify that antenna connector limitations don't apply to unlicensed wireless mics, said a filing in docket 14-165. “We also discussed Shure’s position with respect to existing and proposed requirements relevant to the use of conducted or radiated power measurements as applied to wireless microphones.”

The FCC approach on wireless emergency alerts should be built on collaboration with industry, CTIA officials said in a meeting with Jessica Almond, aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler. "The hallmark of WEA has been the voluntary nature of the service that accounts for the unique aspects of cell broadcast technology, which was specifically developed to enable clear and succinct mass notifications to protect wireless subscribers while minimizing congestion and adverse impacts to wireless providers’ networks,” CTIA said in a filing in docket 15-91. The wireless association raised particular concern about any mandate that WEAs be able to transmit embedded URLs. Any decision on embedded active links should come only after “a substantial effort among all stakeholders … to develop and implement standards, agree on approaches to mitigate customer confusion and safeguard against adverse impacts to wireless networks,” CTIA said. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on updated WEA rules Thursday (see 1609220008). Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., backed WEA enhancements (see 1609260042).

Andrea Electronics is seeking an exclusion order banning imports of Apple and Samsung products that it says infringe its patents for "audio processing hardware, software, and products containing the same," in a Tariff Act Section 337 complaint filed with the International Trade Commission Tuesday. Andrea said Apple and Samsung computers, smartphones, watches and other products are equipped with "certain audio processing capabilities" that allegedly infringe its patents. Andrea seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order banning import and sale of infringing products. The ITC seeks comment, it said in Friday's Federal Register. Apple and Samsung didn't comment Friday.