Comments are due Aug. 6, replies Sept. 7, in FCC docket 21-230 on an NPRM, OK’d by commissioners 4-0 in June (see 2106160062), on rules and use of the automatic identification system for devices used to mark fishing equipment, says Wednesday's Federal Register.

Commercial Drone Alliance representatives urged a rulemaking to develop service and licensing rules allowing drone use of the 5030-5091 MHz band, in a call with an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The alliance supports allowing command and control operations in other flexible-use bands, said a filing posted Tuesday in RM-11798.

Facebook, Intel and Qualcomm urged a tweak to the FCC draft NPRM on short-range radars in the 57-64 GHz band, set for a commissioner vote next week (see 2106220060). The draft repeatedly cites European Telecommunications Standards Institute standard EN 305 550 as “its basis for recommending” a 20 dBm average effective isotropic radiated power limit, but the standard is undergoing “a major revision with the likely outcome that new requirements will be established for multiple diverse use cases targeting the 60 GHz band,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-264. The draft should note possible changes, the companies said.

Automakers urged the FCC to require reimbursement for relocating dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) out of the 5.9 GHz band, in replies posted Tuesday in docket 19-138. Disagreements continue on the 5-0 November order reallocating the spectrum for Wi-Fi and cellular-vehicle-to-everything technology (see 2011180043). The Alliance for Automotive Innovation wants a program in which unlicensed users in the lower 45-MHz would have to pay to move DSRC. The alliance cited costs incurred by states and cities. “The request for reasonable compensation is a bipartisan concern,” the group said: “It would be extraordinary for the Commission to transfer spectrum worth billions of dollars from traffic safety use by the auto industry to commercial use by the cable and unlicensed communities without at least requiring the new entrants to pay relocation costs.” The alliance wants more spectrum for auto safety. The Intelligent Transportation Society of America urged reimbursement “consistent with almost thirty years of precedent” that “any licensees displaced by the Commission’s action be provided with reasonable compensation of their expenses incurred in complying with an otherwise unfunded mandate.” Paying relocation costs would be “unworkable and unprecedented,” NCTA countered. Information from DSRC users “demonstrates that all or the vast majority of the asserted costs to those licensees are attributable to the transition from DSRC equipment and operations to C-V2X equipment and operations,” NCTA said: “None of the parties seeking to require consumers, schools, and businesses who purchase Wi-Fi devices to compensate them explain why the costs of shifting from DSRC to C-V2X should fall on broadband consumers.” There's “no obligation to reimburse incumbents for their investments in a failed technology … that never deployed and left virtually the entire … band vacant nationwide,” said Public Knowledge and New America. The auto industry is “shifting to C-V2X whether or not the Commission moved to reallocate the 5.9 GHz band,” the groups said. The Wi-Fi Alliance said a reimbursement program would require congressional action: When the FCC has required that moving costs be paid, it's “in the context of the reallocated spectrum being licensed through competitive bidding, to new entrants, with the new entrants paying relocation costs.” The 5G Automotive Association urged the FCC to act quickly on rules for C-V2X in the band. The group said there's broad agreement the proposed emission limit for the unlicensed use of the band outdoors won’t protect auto safety. T-Mobile sought “flexible technical rules that will allow C-V2X operators to innovate” and protections for safety from Wi-Fi interference.

The Wireless ISP Association urged the FCC Friday to adopt proposals in a Further NPRM (see 2011180043) liberalizing rules for the 5.9 GHz band. Replies were due Friday in docket 19-138. “Broad consensus exists for adoption of the Commission’s proposed technical rules, enabling widespread outdoor unlicensed use of the 5.9 GHz band,” said Louis Peraertz, WISPA vice president-policy: As FCC grants of special temporary authority to use the band make clear, “the demand is there for it to go into quick and innovative service, keeping American’s connected during the pandemic, and beyond,” he said.

The Aerospace Industries Association fired back at wireless industry critics (see 2106220040) of its May petition asking the FCC to reconsider a decision in the 3.45 GHz auction order to not launch a coordination framework ensuring aerospace contractors have “dependable and reliable access” to the band (see 2105100023). “The Oppositions provide no cognizable rationale for the Commission to ignore the public interest and decline to provide for coordination to facilitate such contractor access,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-348. “Access to the 3.45 GHz Band is critical for contractors to conduct the testing [to] support the government radars operating in that band that serve the country’s national security interests." A coordination framework would mean more certainty for bidders in the 3.45 GHz auction, not less, “by clarifying the coordination expectations of the auction winners and the government contractors using the band," AIA said.

Shenandoah Telecommunications completed the sale of Shentel Wireless to T-Mobile, Shenandoah said Thursday (see 2106010017). Shenandoah receives cash proceeds of $1.94 billion, including a $60 million settlement of the waived management fees by Sprint, an indirect subsidiary of T-Mobile, Shenandoah said.

The Competitive Carriers Association sought additional clarity on the rules for the program to rip and replace insecure equipment in carrier networks. Commissioners vote on rules for the program July 13 (see 2106220060). The request came in calls with aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks and Wireline Bureau staff. CCA sought clarity that the program will pay for upgraded equipment rather than the test in draft rules. “An upgrade to, at a minimum, 4G LTE appears to be inevitable, both as a practical matter (2G and 3G equipment may not be available) and a policy matter (it makes little sense to invest in building new networks using older technologies),” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-89. “Since 2G vs. 3G vs. 4G LTE networks may rely on different architectures and different equipment to perform functions, the multi-factor, fact-specific test risks introducing uncertainty over whether any particular 4G LTE function or piece of network equipment has the comparable capabilities and functions as a 2G or 3G piece of equipment.” CCA asked that removal and disposal of gear be reimbursed even if not replaced, and for an immediate six-month extension of deadlines for completing replacement. “Carriers are working hard to develop their transition plans in the face of substantial uncertainty,” the group said: “Simply having the potential for a discretionary extension at some point in the future will not give carriers the comfort they need today to prepare their network transition plans.” Rural Wireless Association representatives raised concerns on definitions in the draft, in a call with a Wireline Bureau staff. “As proposed, the definition of ‘provider of advanced telecommunication service’ with 2 million or fewer customers includes all intermediary carriers, schools, libraries and health care providers, leaving no one in the second prioritization category, Priority 2,” the group said.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment by July 30, replies Aug. 16, on an application by the Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia, consolidated government to upgrade its private land mobile radio network. The locality proposes to add a new 800 MHz specialized mobile radio pool channel (857.6375 MHz) to six simulcast base station repeater sites.

Comments are due Aug. 2, replies Aug. 30, on an NPRM the FCC approved 4-0 in April on the future of wireless mics in the TV and other bands (see 2104220056), says a notice for Thursday's Federal Register.