The FCC sought comment on whether any procedures should be adjusted for the licenses available in the upcoming 2.5 GHz auction “in light of additions to the initial license inventory,” said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Wireless Bureau also sought comment on minimum opening bids and upfront payment amounts for the additional licenses. Comments are due March 4 in docket 20-429. “In light of the limited scope of this Public Notice and comments urging the Commission to move expeditiously to the start of bidding, we provide for a single round of comments … with no filing period for reply comments,” the FCC said: “A subsequent public notice will announce final procedures for Auction 108, including the procedures, terms, conditions, dates, and deadlines for applying to and participating in Auction 108, as well as provide an overview of the post-auction application and payment processes.”
Ericsson released seven new radio access network products, with an emphasis on lower power consumption. The updated gear includes dual-band Radio 4490, which consumes 25% less power than the current product, and a high-power version, 4490 HP. “The portfolio additions will deliver sizable energy savings and up to ten-fold capacity increases -- with minimal or no added footprint,” the company said Wednesday. They use passive cooling “reducing power consumption further, as fans are not needed.”
5G Americas supports Doreen Bogdan-Martin’s candidacy to be the next ITU secretary-general, said a Thursday news release. ATIS supported her candidacy earlier, and other endorsements are expected (see 2201310055). “Bogdan-Martin has worked tirelessly as the Director of the Development Bureau to bring more women and girls into telecommunications, highlight the role of [information and communications technology] in achieving the UN’s Sustainability Goals, and bridge the digital divide for people around the globe,” said 5G Americas President Chris Pearson: “Her election would benefit the entire membership of the ITU, and their constituencies.”
UScellular CEO Laurent Therivel urged a clock-auction format in the 2.5 GHz auction, speaking with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr. “We advocated against the adoption of a sealed bid auction format,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-429: “We also stressed that the information advantage enjoyed by certain potential bidders in particular cautions against a single round sealed bid format.” The carrier said it plans to file comments, next week, on the recent notice in the proceeding seeking comment on an ascending clock auction (see 2202090068).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied a request by Children’s Health Defense for reimbursement of attorneys’ fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, in a Tuesday order. In August, the court remanded 2019 RF rules to the FCC for further work (see 2108130073).
Open radio access network installations will increase to 22.5 million globally in 2026 from 1.4 million in 2021, projected ABI Research Tuesday. ORAN revenue won't match that of “traditional” RAN but will slowly increase throughout the forecast period, it said. “Considerable vendor resistance” due to integration and technology development issues risks delaying or even killing ORAN momentum “before it reaches a large scale,” said ABI. The industry is now cognizant that ORAN “will still need years of development before it can match large vendor performance and cost efficiency,” it said. That translated into “reduced interest” in ORAN in early 2022, it said.
“Updated and correct maps” and transparency are critical to a successful 2.5 GHz auction, Verizon representatives told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Verizon also raised concerns with the relocation payment clearinghouse (RPC) being used in the C-band transition. “We are eager for the RPC to improve its transparency, pace, and overall performance level,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-122: “We noted that diligence and efficiency in processing reimbursement claims is a key tenet of ensuring the C-band transition continues to run smoothly.”
A representative of Broadcom, Cisco and Microsoft spoke with a staffer from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on “indoor operation of standard-power access points in the 6 GHz band,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. The companies cited “the importance of indoor operations to the overall success of the band, that APs operating indoors can seek spectrum access from [automated frequency coordination] under the 6 GHz Order, and that when assigning channels AFCs should consider all relevant technical parameters,” the filing said.
The FCC's 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC) voted Tuesday to adopt and forward a set of working group recommendations to the agency. On the WRC-23 agenda item about an aeronautical mobile satellite service allocation in the 117-137 MHz band, WAC voted to adopt an updated preliminary view that notes some existing aeronautical use that new allocations must protect. It also approved a draft proposal on allocation of 6425-7025 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz to international mobile telecommunications. Citing a resolution asking the ITU Radiocommunication Sector to study the use of IMT systems for fixed wireless broadband in the frequency bands allocated to fixed service on a primary basis, the NTIA in a letter to the FCC said the ITU-R already has a route for mobile technologies to provide flexed wireless access, and proponents of IMT use for fixed wireless access can revise existing recommendations that were done years ago rather than seek further action at WRC-27. A WRC-27 agenda item "could have far-reaching consequences," NTIA said. It said the U.S. backs consideration of new allocations to the non-safety aeronautical mobile applications service at 15.4-15.7 and 22-22.21 GHz, and protection levels used for radio astronomy service should project it from adjacent interference. WAC's recommendations will go out for public notice, then be reconciled with NTIA recommendations for creation of U.S. inputs going into the next Inter-American Telecommunication Commission meeting at the end of April, said Dante Ibarra, FCC designated federal officer to WAC.
NTIA’s Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is relaunching, as expected (see 2201190062), with 16 returning members and 13 new (see 2202140030), NTIA said Monday. Letters went out to those appointed in mid-January and the Commerce Department had been waiting to hear back from everyone before making an announcement, government officials said. Charla Rath, independent consultant and former Verizon spectrum veteran, and Jennifer Manner, EchoStar senior vice president-regulatory affairs, are co-chairs. The new members will mean unlicensed spectrum advocates will be represented. Among them: Intel’s Reza Arefi; Hilary Cain, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Harris Wiltshire’s Paul Margie, who represent tech companies; and Dave Wright, OnGo Alliance. Wireless ISPs get a voice with Louis Peraertz, Wireless ISP Association. With standards work increasingly in the focus, another new member is Glenn Reynolds of ATIS. “Spectrum powers so much of our modern world -- from commercial wireless services like 5G to aviation, space travel, climate observation and more,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. CSMAC members are considered “special government employees,” subject to financial reporting rules and are expected to provide their individual expertise to the department rather than represent their association or company. CSMAC last met in April.