AT&T representatives met with Erin McGrath, aide to FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, about the carrier’s real-time text petition for rulemaking, said a filing posted Monday in docket 15-178. The FCC is to take up proposed rules for the transition from text technology (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) technology at its April 28 open meeting (see 1604070067). “AT&T generally discussed its petition and stated that the rules need to be flexible enough so that services can evolve with new technology,” the filing said.

The entire 57-64 GHz band should be open for in-flight connectivity applications since there's little chance of interference to Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) operations, the Wi-Fi Alliance said in a filing Tuesday in docket 14-177. "WiGig" technology doesn't rely on reflected signals, instead using narrow beams with highly directional antennas, unlike the omnidirectional antennas used in Wi-Fi, meaning no line-of-sight transmissions between WiGig devices and EESS satellite receivers, "and any energy 'reflected' towards [aircraft] windows will have negligible power levels," Wi-Fi Alliance said. It also said National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) suggestions that prohibit in-flight use of WiGig Channel 1 (57.24-59.4 GHz) are unnecessary, pointing to its own interference analysis and saying limiting WiGig channels on flights would restrict unlicensed capacity there and could mean the necessity of installing more access points throughout an aircraft. Wi-Fi Alliance also said the CORF-suggested requirement of RF-reflective window films "would be a costly impediment to the adoption of unlicensed technologies in the millimeter wave bands" and a fix for a reflected signals problem "that will not exist in the first place." It said CORF red flags about WiGig use in the 64-71 GHz band causing interference with Radio Astronomy Service operations are similarly misplaced because RAS doesn't have an allocation there. NAS didn't comment.

The FCC should take into account the cost of deploying new 5G services as it considers a second mobility fund, U.S. Cellular officials told Wireless Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins and Deputy Chief Jim Schlitchting in a meeting. “We urged the Commission to consider the implications of the coming deployment of 5G technology on the funding that will be necessary to effectively deploy 5G across rural America in light of the anticipated need for significant additional towers to accommodate the reduced propagation characteristics of high band spectrum,” U.S. Cellular said in a filing in docket 10-208. The carrier also counseled against using a reverse auction to award funds. “We explained that this placed mountainous terrain at a distinct disadvantage over flat terrain to stand a reasonable chance of winning and the further difficulty of being able to accurately project the costs of deploying facilities in such geography in advance of submitting bids,” the carrier said.

Apple is maintaining its “strong share” of the premium smartphone market, although analyst firm Canaccord Genuity expects negative year-over year iPhone sales for the rest of the fiscal year, said analyst Michael Walkley in a research note Thursday. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s have enabled Apple “to materially increase its share” of the premium smartphone market via Android switchers, said Walkley. Canaccord estimated the installed base of iPhone users grew 26 percent last year from 402 million to 506 million “much faster” than the company's growth estimates for the overall smartphone market. Overall, connected Apple devices now exceed a billion users, Walkley said, and the “impressive installed base” is expected to drive strong future iPhone replacement sales and earnings. Canaccord maintained a "buy” rating on Apple, saying the iPhone SE will help moderate the iPhone unit sales decline. Walkley predicts a “reacceleration of replacement sales,” led by the upcoming iPhone 7 that's expected to drive strong iPhone sales during FY 2017. Total iPhone unit sales are projected to grow from 216 million in FY 2016 to 239 million in FY 2017, he said.

The FCC established a pleading cycle on AT&T’s proposed buy of a single 700 MHz B-block license from Qualcomm. The license covers a single market in New Jersey, the FCC said. “The Applicants maintain that the proposed transaction would provide AT&T with additional spectrum that would enable it to increase its system capacity to enhance existing services, better accommodate its overall growth, and facilitate the provision of additional products and services in one Cellular Market Area,” a Monday FCC notice said. “The Applicants assert that, as a result of this proposed transaction, AT&T would hold 24 megahertz of contiguous, paired Lower 700 MHz spectrum in this CMA, allowing for a 10×10 megahertz LTE deployment.” Under the preliminary analysis the buy would give AT&T 111 MHz of spectrum, including 61 MHz of spectrum below 1 GHz in the Hunterdon market, the FCC said. Petitions to deny are due May 9, oppositions May 16 and replies May 23. The FCC also sent letters to both companies asking for additional information. “Explain in detail the decision made by Qualcomm to assign to AT&T the Lower 700 MHz B Block spectrum that is the subject of this application, including any attempts made to enter into a sale of this spectrum or alternative arrangements with parties other than AT&T,” the letter to Qualcomm said.

FirstNet is focused on building a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) that will endure, said FirstNet CEO Mike Poth Monday in a blog post. “We do not know today what technology the public safety community may require 20 years from now to carry out its mission,” Poth wrote. “But we can, and are, planning for the future of the network. At FirstNet, we want to be ready for and encourage innovation that will bring better applications, devices and services to the public safety community, and we want to invest in the NPSBN to ensure its readiness for whatever may come.” With an eye on continuity, the FirstNet request for proposals anticipates finding partners in industry for a contract that will be as long as 25 years, he said. The length of time “will allow the awardee to confidently invest in the network and in the provision of services to the public safety community, while also serving its commercial users with excess network capacity,” he said. “Market forces will undoubtedly self-mandate continued awardee investment and upgrades in the network, including implementation of [3rd Generation Partnership Project] 3GPP standards and other standards as they develop and advance throughout the life of the network.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology said they will allow “first wave” proposals from prospective spectrum access system administrators and environmental sensing capability operators in the 3.5 GHz band until May 16. The application window opened Jan. 15. “It is in the public interest to grant an extension to allow parties to fully address the issues raised in the 3.5 GHz Order and SAS/ESC Public Notice,” a public notice said. “Based on our understanding of the status of work in the ongoing multi-stakeholder process, we believe that additional time would allow prospective SAS Administrators and ESC operators to more thoroughly address the complex issues raised in this proceeding.”

Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure apologized for a controversial advertisement calling T-Mobile “ghetto” last week. In the video ad, released last week, Claure asks a focus group of wireless customers what comes to mind when he says the name T-Mobile, and a customer replies, “Oh my God, the first word that came to my head is ‘ghetto.’” The use of that description in the ad triggered immediate backlash. Claure took to Twitter to apologize. “My job is to listen to consumers,” he tweeted Tuesday. “Our point was to share customer views. Bad judgment on our part. Apologies. Taking the video down.” T-Mobile CEO John Legere tweeted, “I don’t think I need to respond.” Wednesday, Claure apologized again, tweeting, “As a proud Hispanic immigrant, I should have been more sensitive and known not to publish the customers’ comment.”

The Federal Aviation Administration will host a two-day symposium on drones in Daytona Beach, beginning Tuesday, featuring keynotes by FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker. The FAA said it's seeking input from the drone industry and others about integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into national airspace. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will co-host the event.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau found in favor of AT&T in a data roaming dispute with Worldcall Interconnect (WCX), said an interim order released Thursday. “AT&T is not obligated to offer data roaming to WCX in all of the areas that WCX has requested and that WCX has not demonstrated that AT&T’s proposed rates are commercially unreasonable,” the bureau said. “We direct the parties to resume good faith negotiations of a roaming agreement that is consistent with the guidance provided herein, and to submit to the Enforcement Bureau staff assigned to this matter a report on the progress of their negotiations within 60 days of the release of this Order.” In an April 2011 order, a divided FCC required carriers to offer data roaming at commercially reasonable terms and conditions (see 1104080077).