The 12-month compliance timeline in the FCC's draft next-generation 911 order might be insufficient for smaller providers, according to the Competitive Carriers Association. The order is part of the FCC's July agenda (see 2406260058). In a docket 18-64 filing Monday recapping meetings with the offices of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr, CCA said non-nationwide commercial mobile radio service providers should have at least 18 months for each phase of the NG911 transition following a request from a 911 authority, rather than 12 months. It urged the FCC to clarify that it will consider waiver requests from non-nationwide CMRS providers in completing connections. In addition, it asked the FCC to clarify that when a provider falls into two categories for the purposes of compliance time frames, the longer compliance time frame applies.
Global smartphone shipments increased 6.5% year over year to 285.4 million units in Q2, IDC said Monday. While that marks the fourth consecutive quarter of shipment growth “and builds the momentum towards the expected recovery this year, demand has yet to come around in full and remains challenged in many markets,” IDC said. Samsung led with an 18.9% market share, down from 20% a year ago. Apple was second at 15.8%, down from 16.6%. China’s Xiaomi was third at 14.8%, up from 12.4% a year ago. Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team, noted that prices are increasing, as is buzz about generative AI smartphones. “As Apple and Samsung both continue to push the top of the market and benefit the most from the ongoing premiumization trend, many leading Chinese [manufacturers] are increasing shipments in the low end in an attempt to capture volume share amidst weak demand,” Popal said.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, who earlier met with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to oppose giving FirstNet and AT&T control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2407010041), discussed the band with Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Vestberg repeated arguments that the FCC shouldn’t provide AT&T free access to mid-band spectrum valued at more than $14 billion. “If the Commission chooses to make the 4.9 GHz band available for public safety and commercial wireless use, it must assign this spectrum through an appropriate competitive process (e.g., auction, bidding process, etc.) rather than gifting the spectrum to one commercial provider,” said a filing Thursday in docket 07-100. AT&T didn’t comment. The filing doesn’t clarify how Verizon arrived at the $14 billion figure.
Peter Adderton, CEO of MobileX and founder of Boost Mobile, urged the FCC to move forward on its draft handset unlocking NPRM set for a commissioner vote on Thursday (see 2406270068). “Locked phones create significant challenges and confusion for consumers, hindering their ability to switch carriers and access better deals,” a filing posted Friday in docket 24-186 said. The practice “disproportionately affects some of our most financially vulnerable citizens, who may already be struggling to manage their mobile expenses,” Adderton said.
Google is asking for a waiver of FCC rules requiring environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference in Texas markets that Hurricane Beryl affected. The FCC last week approved a similar waiver for Federated Wireless (see 2407080030). Google sought the waiver Friday in a filing in docket 15-319.
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Open Technology Institute at New America asked the FCC to expand its draft order allowing schools and libraries to use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services to include partnerships with nontraditional providers (see 2406270068). The draft order “would only provide subsidy for traditional, commercially available hotspots and services, which could skew the market and prevent schools and libraries from considering lower-priced and higher quality options,” the groups said: They asked the commission to consider allowing support for alternative services and devices, including anchor-enabled networks, “outside of those offered by traditional mobile carriers.” The groups met with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Anna Gomez, and Wireline Bureau staff, a filing posted Friday in docket 21-31 said. The Wireless ISP Association, meanwhile, met with aides to Starks and Gomez on whether the FCC has legal authority to adopt the order. With those meetings, the group has now met with aides to all five commissioners (see 2407100028).
Mint Mobile customers now get unlimited talk, text and 3GB of high-speed data per month when they roam in Canada, parent T-Mobile said Thursday. Mint subscribers already enjoy free calling in Mexico and the U.K. “Roam like a Canadian, but without the Canada-sized bill,” T-Mobile said.
CTIA asked the FCC to add questions to the draft handset unlocking NPRM set for a vote July 18 (see 2406270068). CTIA said the FCC should ask whether “lost or stolen phones also fall under an exception to the 60-day unlocking requirement,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-186 said. In addition, CTIA requested that the draft be changed to ask about “other consumer impacts,” including “any digital equity implications” and the potential effect on the push to close the digital divide.
AT&T responded to NCTA after the group Wednesday joined the fray on the 4.9 GHz band, saying FirstNet and by extension AT&T shouldn't gain control of it (see 2407100020). “This is a public safety issue, not an industry issue,” a spokesperson emailed. “Contrary the filing, we support public safety and join major public safety groups … in supporting FCC action to preserve this spectrum for public safety and meet the critical and evolving future communication needs of first responders.” AT&T noted the support of the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its position, “among many others.”
The Wireless ISP Association said the FCC should stick with revised rules for the 4.9 GHz band, allowing nonpublic safety use of the spectrum on a secondary basis (see 2301180062). The commission “correctly held” that a band manager model “would ensure that public safety operations are fully protected, while promoting spectrum efficiency, fostering innovation, and reducing equipment costs,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 07-100 said. WISPA noted that the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance has urged the FCC to change the rules: “PSSA is incorrect that secondary, non-public safety access on a preemptible basis would complicate the Band Manager’s ability to fulfill its frequency coordination and band management responsibilities,” WISPA said.