An NPRM seeking comment on whether to adopt four new or updated standards for equipment authorization and the certification of the telecommunication certification bodies that review new RF devices had few changes while it was before FCC commissioners, based on a side-by-side comparison with the draft. The changes were mostly cosmetic. For example, open field sites became open area test sites in the final version. The final updates a summary of standard C63.25.1:2018 to say it “Consolidates qualification and validation procedures for radiated test sites intended for use over various frequency ranges.” None of the commissioners had statements. Comment deadlines in docket 21-363 will be set by a Federal Register notice. Commissioners OK'd two wireless items before Thursday's meeting (see 2201260016).

5G is "the fastest-scaling mobile technology we have seen" in Ericsson's history, "and deployments around the world have truly accelerated this past year," said CEO Borje Ekholm on a Q4 earnings call Tuesday. Ericsson has 109 live 5G networks globally, plus 170 agreements or contracts with customers on 5G networks yet to be deployed, he said. The strong 5G momentum continues in North America, “where we saw very good development” in the fourth quarter, said Ekholm. Revenue in the region increased 17% year over year to 22.3 billion Swedish kronor ($2.4 billion), “driven by strong demand for 5G,” he said. “It's worth remembering” that during 2021, Ericsson signed new 5G contracts with all tier 1 operators in the U.S., “representing the biggest contracts in our company's history,” he said. “We think we're still relatively early in the 5G rollouts if you look on the globe,” said Ekholm. The characteristics of 5G are “so different from any other mobile technology that, in reality, was only consumer-centric,” he said. “With 5G, we're opening up one completely new field or new segment, being enterprises. So I think we're underestimating the growth potential in 5G."

The Rural Wireless Association asked the FCC to reject Mediacom arguments that the FCC can't make changes to its rip-and-replace program and to rescind a decision not to fully fund eligible telecom carriers. RWA asked for the change in September. “The Commission modified its rules exactly as directed by Congress, and RWA provides no rationale under which the Commission would be free to ignore that direction,” Mediacom said. “Mediacom argued that the Commission had ‘no discretion to deviate from the prioritization scheme established by Congress and was required to revise its prior plan to prioritize ETCs,’” RWA replied, posted Tuesday in docket 18-89: “This statement is inaccurate.” NCTA supported RWA, saying Congress gave the FCC freedom to retain funding for ETCs when it OK’d the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act as part of an omnibus appropriations bill (see 2012210055). “The well-reasoned basis for prioritizing ETCs to ensure they receive full reimbursement for the cost of removing and replacing covered equipment and services has not changed,” NCTA said. PTA-FLA and Flat Wireless jointly supported the Mediacom arguments: “To set the background for this issue, we must observe that the funding currently available for this program has always been finite, leaving the distinct possibility, if not the certainty, that some rip and replace costs incurred by eligible carriers will go unreimbursed.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau tied up a loose end Monday, approving the 2016 docket 13-59 request by Cornerstone SMR and Comtran Associates to withdraw a petition seeking reconsideration of the 2015 order granting PTC-220 a waiver so it could provide positive train control (see 1503130071). PTC-220 represents the nation’s seven Class I freight railroads and required a waiver of coordination requirements and power and antenna height limits for the 220-222 MHz band. The bureau's decision “does not make clear what technical criteria will guide a PTC-220 operator in the deployment of mobile units and what notification requirements are necessary to assure that mobile units do not produce spurious or out-of-band or adjacent channel interference to non-PTC-220 Operations,” Cornerstone and Comtran said in a 2015 petition.

The Wi-Fi Alliance asked an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for quick action on a limited remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit of one part of the agency’s 6 GHz order (see 2112280047). The court instructed the FCC to address NAB concerns about interference in the 2.4 GHz band. The FCC should “respond to the 6 GHz Court Order by explaining that the underlying premise of the NAB’s assertion -- that contention-based protocols failed to protect licensed users in 2.4 GHz band -- simply lacks any merit because its claims are unsupported and the contention-based protocol requirement that it asserts failed to protect [electronic newsgathering] operations at 2.4 GHz does not exist,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. The alliance earlier spoke with staff from the Office of General Counsel and Office of Engineering and Technology.

RS Access CEO Noah Campbell met with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to urge action on the 12 GHz band, said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-443. “The 12 GHz band offers an ideal environment for next-generation 5G wireless broadband deployment,” the company said.

Blame the Donald Trump administration, not the FAA, for the fight over the C band that slowed 5G deployment, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler blogged Friday. Wheeler noted the NTIA received a letter in December 2020, before the C-band auction, raising concerns, but the letter was never passed along to the FCC or the wireless carriers. President Joe Biden has shown the leadership needed to reach a compromise, Wheeler said. “When the prior administration’s failure to resolve the interagency dispute ended up putting at risk the wireless companies’ $81 billion [in C-band bids] and threatening the economic growth promised by 5G, President Biden and his aides stepped up,” he said: “Instead of meaningful spectrum policy management, the Trump administration produced slogans.” The CEOs of two major airlines said on earnings calls last week a resolution is in sight. “While we don't have a final resolution quite yet, I'm confident we'll get there,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: “While I wish it happened earlier, the good news is we now have everyone engaged, the FAA and [Department of Transportation] at the highest levels, the equipment aircraft manufacturers, airlines and the telecoms. And I'm confident we'll soon have a clear set of objective criteria that will allow a full rollout of 5G without significant impact to aviation.” The fight wasn’t the airline industry’s “finest hour,” said American Airlines CEO Doug Parker. “It's taken a while to get to the right spot, but I feel like we're in the right spot,” he said. “I don't think you're going to see any material disruption going forward because of this.” Neville Ray, T-Mobile president-technology, emphasized to customers that C-band delays didn't affect his company because it’s mostly using 600 MHz and 2.5 GHz. “T-Mobile’s 5G network, already covering over 1.7 million square miles and 310 million people nationwide, and our customers are not affected by this,” he said: “By the time we’re ready to put our C-band licenses to use in late 2023, we’re confident today’s concerns will have been resolved.”

The FCC Public Safety Bureau reminded part 90 and part 101 public safety licensees Thursday to update their license contact information with an email address. The bureau also reminds licensees to “file timely renewal applications and construction notifications,” a notice said.

T-Mobile asked the FCC to schedule the 2.5 GHz auction, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120. “Others seek to prevent T-Mobile and potential 2.5 GHz license holders from using the spectrum to provide service to the public,” T-Mobile charged, citing a December filing by Verizon (see 2112200040). “Verizon’s recent ex parte letter is the latest in a series of disappointing attempts to stall the auction -- this time by seeking to inject an unrelated and irrelevant contractual dispute into the Commission’s consideration of procedures for the 2.5 GHz auction,” T-Mobile said: “Verizon contends that the Commission should, prior to auction, require the release of the relevant terms of existing leases involving the 2.5 GHz band, including the duration, whether there are rights of first refusal, and lease termination provisions.” Verizon didn't comment.

Microsoft representatives spoke with aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington about concerns with the notification requirements for white spaces devices, in a draft item scheduled for a commissioner vote next week, completing a circuit of commissioner offices (see 2201180058). The company also had a call with acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 04-186.