Mongoose Works appealed a decision by the FCC Wireless Bureau upholding the C-Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse’s decision reducing Mongoose’s lump sum claim amount from $356,052 to $286,366 under the C-band relocation program. The bureau’s decision “parrots the RPC’s Decisional Memorandum and Response in its claims and conspicuously avoids any consideration of Mongoose’s crux arguments in its Appeal and Reply, which painstakingly refute each and every claim made by the RPC,” Mongoose said, in a filing posted Friday in docket 21-333.
The FCC will post in the Federal Register Monday detailed instructions for nonexempt fixed and mobile broadcast auxiliary services (BAS) and cable television relay services (CARS) licensees in the 12.7 GHz band to certify by Nov. 29 the accuracy of the information reflected on their licenses. The FCC is seeking the information as part of a Further NPRM on the band, approved by commissioners 4-0 in May (see 2305180052).
T-Mobile applauded a proposal FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to make changes to the E-rate program that would allow support for Wi-Fi on school buses and for Wi-Fi hotspots that public and school libraries lend patrons and students. “Addressing the need for off-campus connectivity within the E-Rate program as the Chair suggests is the logical progression from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which helped bridge the gap in internet connectivity experienced by millions of students across the country during the pandemic,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 13-184. “As ECF benefits end, schools and libraries will face an unmet need, and E-Rate is well-positioned to help continue funding off-campus connectivity,” T-Mobile said.
The FCC agreed to extend by 11 days, until Oct. 6, the deadline for filing comments on an NPRM on a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices (see 2308100032), after industry groups asked for a 30-day delay based on the complexity of the rulemaking and large number of questions posed (see 2309010031). The FCC extended the reply deadline to from Oct. 6 to Nov. 10. “While we find some relief is warranted to accommodate the concerns raised, we find that the full relief requested would unnecessarily delay the timely consideration of these issues by the Commission,” said a Friday order by the Public Safety Bureau, in docket 23-239: “Rather, we believe that a moderate extension to both the comment and reply comment deadlines will provide the needed time within which parties can organize and coordinate their input to the Commission.”
The next iteration of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7, will enjoy increased throughput due to use of the 6 GHz band and 4K quadrature amplitude modulation, and should support wireless device speeds of up to 5 Gbps in optimal wireless conditions, CableLabs Principal Architect-Wireless R&D Lili Hervieu blogged Wednesday. A key feature of Wi-Fi 7 will be multilink operation -- simultaneous connections to different bands -- which will improve reliability, enhance band steering and load balancing, and reduce latency, she said. The finalization of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' 802.11bn standard, which will support Wi-Fi 7, isn’t expected before 2027 or 2028, she said.
AT&T and Verizon representatives jointly met with FCC staff on the C-band transition and ongoing operations of the relocation payment clearinghouse, urging “deadlines to facilitate the conclusion of the C-band transition reimbursement process and the RPC’s operations.” The clearinghouse “has been diligent in reaching out to all potential claimants for C-band reimbursement costs, but many projected claims remain outstanding,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-122. “In particular, the FCC should set a deadline for submittal of cost claims, giving claimants sufficient time to submit their expenses to the RPC but not otherwise protracting the reimbursement process,” they said: The agency should “further specify when the RPC should issue a final funding request to C-band licensees after the cost claims are submitted in order to give licensees a predictable timeline on which to fund their obligations.”
ContiTech USA asked the FCC why it hasn’t acted on a request for waiver for a conveyor radar it developed to monitor the content carried on conveyor belts for a variety of applications, including mining. The Wireless Bureau sought comment last year on the device, which uses the 76-81 GHz bands (see 2207080050). “ContiTech is not aware of any substantive objections to, or clarification-related issues concerning, the Waiver Request,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 22-260. The radar is “currently in use in other countries, and there is interest in using ContiTech’s application in the U.S.,” the company said.
AT&T told the FCC it tested a signal booster allegedly causing interference with operations in 2.3 GHz spectrum and found that, despite the assurances of the company that makes the device, it's active in the wireless communications service band (see 2308280048). The booster is made by Shen Zhen Anntlent Communication Technology, marketed in the U.S. under the Phonetone and Anntlent brand names. The Chinese company told AT&T WCS operations had been turned off, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 10-4. “Preliminary testing suggests that, contrary to the FCC’s rules and Grantee’s on-the-record assertions, this device -- advertised and marketed as a FCC-compliant Consumer Signal Booster -- amplifies the WCS band,” AT&T said: “AT&T carefully calibrates and coordinates its WCS deployments to prevent harmful interference to third parties. If this booster -- or others like it -- are allowed to be sold and operated in the U.S., management of interference in the 2.3 GHz band will become an even greater challenge.” AT&T said it plans lab tests. The booster maker didn’t comment.
CTIA President Meredith Baker welcomed the appointment of State Department official Steve Lang to replace FCC Commissioner-elect Anna Gomez as head of the U.S. delegation to the World Radiocommunication Conference (see 2309120069). Lang’s “extensive background in public service, economics, and communications policy make him well-suited to fill the role heading into this pivotal time,” Baker said Wednesday: “We look forward to working with … Lang to ensure the United States goes into WRC-23 with a comprehensive global strategy to lead in future 5G spectrum availability.” Lang serves as deputy assistant secretary of state-international information and communications policy.
Dish Wireless asked the FCC to give confidential treatment to some of the data it’s submitting as part of the FCC’s broadband data collection. Dish sought protection for mobile wireless propagation modeling information, link budget information and mobile voice and data subscription numbers, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-195.