Verizon committed to offer Lifeline services for at least seven years after the close of the Tracfone buy, in a Thursday filing in docket 21-112. Verizon said the change from three years was intended to address FCC concerns. “All Verizon/TracFone’s Lifeline service offerings will meet or exceed the Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS) in place throughout this time period,” the carrier said. It committed to offering and advertising existing Tracfone Lifeline rate plans “for at least three years after the transaction closes unless the plan no longer meets Lifeline MSS standards.” California Public Utilities Commissioners unanimously cleared the deal Thursday, with FCC action expected shortly (see 2111180068).

Boost Mobile, Dish Network's prepaid wireless brand, unveiled an annual plan offering customers unlimited talk and text, plus 1 GB monthly, for $100 per year. “This is the first of many Carrier Crusher plans that Boost will launch throughout the holiday season,” said a Thursday news release. Boost said it’s targeting “the 85% of Americans who use under 10 GB of data per month and have finite unlimited data plans options.”

Equinix said Thursday it reached an agreement with Dish Network to provide digital infrastructure services as the provider launches a cloud-native, open radio access network-based 5G network (see here).

5G fixed wireless could serve 8.4 million rural households, about half the rural homes in the U.S., with a “'future-proof,’ rapidly deployable, and cost-effective high-speed broadband option,” said a CTIA-commissioned study by Accenture. “These findings underscore the value of U.S. infrastructure policy embracing both wired and 5G fixed wireless home broadband solutions to help connect the unconnected as fast as possible,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker Thursday.

AT&T’s claims that it offers a “faster internet experience” than cable for large file uploads was supported “in the context in which it was presented, as well as the claim that AT&T Internet delivers ‘consistent speed, even at peak times,’” the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division said Thursday. NAD recommended AT&T drop or modify “other challenged comparative performance, pricing, and bandwidth claims.” NAD looked at the claims after a complaint by Charter Communications. AT&T should make clear the difference between different tiers of service it offers, NAD said: AT&T should modify ads to “delineate the tier of service with ‘up to 20x faster upload speed,’ and, if stating a price offer, clearly and conspicuously disclose to which tier of service the offer applies.” AT&T and Charter didn’t comment.

Association of American Railroads representatives told staff from the FCC Wireless and International bureaus they're concerned (see 2109080043) about use of the 160.9 MHz band by maritime devices that mark fishing equipment, since railroads use the spectrum on a primary basis. The unlicensed nature of group B devices using automatic identification system technology “would expose railroad operations to potential -- and difficult-to-remedy -- harmful interference,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-230.

T-Mobile urged a prompt auction of the 2.5 GHz band and said the FCC should ignore calls by AT&T and Dish Network that it disclose before the auction “the terms of its leasing arrangements with incumbents” in the band. Both “simply wish to, contrary to Commission rules and precedent, obtain access to competitively sensitive information that is unrelated to the spectrum available for auction,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120. The information in the leases is “competitively sensitive,” T-Mobile said: “Not only do the leases include provisions regarding the intended use of the spectrum, but they also include information about fees charged for that use, any restrictions on use, and other carefully negotiated business terms.”

A blanket time extension for carriers to replace Chinese equipment in their networks and be reimbursed would be helpful as many consider adopting an open radio access network solution, the Competitive Carriers Association said in an FCC filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-63. “In preparation for the Reimbursement Program, many CCA members that have covered equipment in their networks have been evaluating potential vendor partners including Open RAN options, have been meeting with Open RAN vendors, and have engaged in testing of Open RAN equipment,” CCA said: “Smaller carriers often are not the first adopters of new technologies, and the Reimbursement Program presents a particularly complex network transition process on a short timeline.” The group met via videoconference with Office of Economics and Analytics, Office of Engineering and Technology, and Wireless Bureau staff.

Winners in the 3.45 GHz auction should be clear by Dec. 31, New Street’s Philip Burnett told investors Wednesday. The first phase ended Tuesday (see 2111160071). The assignment phase is likely to be over in one or two weeks once it starts, he said. AT&T likely spent as much as $9 billion, T-Mobile $8 billion and Dish Network $4 billion-$6 billion, he said: “There is a slim chance that T-Mobile got nothing and Verizon is the [complement], but that would be a big surprise.” NTIA tweeted Wednesday: “The results indicate confidence in the sharing framework for the band, developed by @FCC, @DeptofDefense, and NTIA.” Bidders “have reaffirmed how important it is for the U.S. communications industry to gain access to additional spectrum" for 5G, emailed Wiley’s Richard Engelman: “Bidders demanded 3.45 GHz blocks in every Partial Economic Area and at prices that approached -- or in some cases exceeded -- the prices paid earlier this year” in the C band auction. The level of bidding in the C band and 3.45 GHz auctions “demonstrates the demand for operators to gain spectrum that can help them deliver high-bandwidth, high-capacity connectivity in dense areas -- even if it costs them,” emailed Ronny Haraldsvik, Cohere Technologies chief marketing officer: “Carriers in the US now need to find the best way to leverage this hefty investment. Through the use of software, carriers can do a lot more with their existing and new spectrum assets, effectively doubling the capacity of the spectrum.” The 5Gfor12GHz Coalition said now that the auction is nearly complete, the FCC should take up the 12 GHz band, which offers five times as much spectrum: “This is an important accomplishment but will not satisfy the urgent need for more spectrum. 12 GHz is the only remaining unencumbered 5G spectrum between 6 and 24 GHz that can meet the exploding demand for mobile broadband.”

The Aerospace Industries Association urged FCC action on rules allowing use of 5030-5091 MHz for drones (see 2110130044), in a call with Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff. It's "the only spectrum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively” to unmanned aircraft system command and control, said an AIA filing posted Tuesday in RM-11798. AIA and members discussed their “interest in working with the Commission to develop a flexible, scalable regulatory framework that provides access to the C-band for both near-term and future-state operations,” it said. Aura Networks, Collins Aerospace, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin participated.