T-Mobile continued industry-leading growth in Q1, adding 1.4 million customers, including 773,000 postpaid phone net adds. Both were down from last quarter, in which 1.7 million new customers and 794,000 phones were added. Postpaid churn was 0.98%. Revenue rose 78% over the same quarter last year to $19.8 billion, with $933 million in profit, down slightly. Customers are switching to T-Mobile as it’s increasingly perceived as having the best 5G network, with gains among “prime” and “most discriminating” consumers, CEO Mike Sievert told analysts. “We’re really starting to pull away from the pack like we told you we would,” he said: “Consumers and businesses are taking notice.” Its extended range 5G “covers 295 million people across 1.6 million square miles, 4x more than Verizon and 2x more than AT&T,” T-Mobile said. Its faster 5G offering covers 140 million, with projections of 200 million by Dec. 31. “We’re tracking ahead of schedule,” Sievert said. Half of Sprint customer traffic and 20% of Sprint customers are on the T-Mobile network, the carrier said. T-Mobile said it now expects $2.8-$3.1 billion in 2021 synergies as a result of buying Sprint. T-Mobile executives were together for the call as workers “gradually and safely” are returning in-person, Sievert said.

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel marked the two-year anniversary Monday of Prague 5G Security Conference principles (see 1905030052). “The FCC has made real progress in advancing many of the recommendations,” she said: “But I am reminded every day that we still have more work to do to ensure that our 5G future is safe and secure for all.” Working with allies and multilateral institutions “can multiply our strength" globally, she said.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network sought reconsideration of the FCC 5-0 November order opening 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi, while allocating 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything (see 2011180043). The order “exceeds the Commission’s rulemaking authority,” AREDN said in a petition posted Monday in docket 19-138: It “requires FCC licensees to disobey rules of the U.S. Department of Transportation that have the force of law” and “usurps the Secretary of Transportation’s statutory authority to set [intelligent transportation system] and motor vehicle safety standards.” AREDN also sought a stay. Most of the 5.9 GHz order takes effect July 2, said Monday's Federal Register. "We encourage the FCC to build on these rules to enable outdoor Wi-Fi, encourage the development of a robust equipment ecosystem and expand rural broadband access," WifiForward said in a statement.

Public interest groups and the Rural Wireless Association asked the FCC Monday to look to Communications Act authority to prevent T-Mobile from closing its CDMA network by year-end (see 2104140036). Dish Network says closure would harm its Boost customers that Dish acquired as part of T-Mobile buying Sprint. “Exercise its general authority under Section 201(b)3 and its general authority under Title II, Title III and other relevant provisions to protect Boost and rural carrier subscribers from disruption,” the letter asked. “Sunset of aging 2G/3G networks, like the Analog Sunset and other industry-wide transitions before it, has the potential to bring enormous benefits to the public. Also like the transitions before it, it will require the FCC to ensure that the transition does not result in unintended consumer harms.” Public Knowledge, the Open Technology Institute at New America, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the Center for Rural Strategies, X-Labs, the Greenlining Institute and TURN-The Utility Reform Network signed. “This transition is absolutely in the best interest of the public, especially those consumers who are stuck using an antiquated network,” a T-Mobile spokesperson said: “There are no barriers preventing DISH from taking great care of their Boost customers during the CDMA sunset, just as we are doing with our Sprint customers.”

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is tacking contraband cellphones in correctional facilities, an area that has been quiet in recent years after it was an early focus of then-Chairman Ajit Pai. Rosenworcel last week circulated an order and second Further NPRM. It would establish “new requirements for wireless providers to disable identified contraband cellphones when requested by a designated correctional facility official,” an FCC spokesperson said Monday: “It would also, among other things, seek further comment on additional technological solutions to combat [such] contraband devices.” In April, CTIA said a process for disabling these devices should ensure systems used to identify contraband phones are “accurate, … the procedures used to direct the disabling of specific phones are reliable” and “disabling orders that direct wireless providers to stop service to devices are clear.” Carrier officials said they want to know more about the proposal before commenting. Rosenworcel also sought a vote on a stay request on 4.9 GHz rules, a spokesperson confirmed. The order permitted one statewide licensee per state “to lease some or all of its spectrum rights to third parties, including commercial, critical infrastructure, and other users, thus making up to 50 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available for more intensive use.” Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks dissented on the September order (see 2012300047). Both items are on the circulation list.

5G broadcast Release 16 moves technology forward and is a continuing Qualcomm focus, Lorenzo Casaccia, Qualcomm Europe vice president-technical standards, blogged Friday. “We envisioned 5G as a unified platform that can connect diverse devices, services, and deployments,” he said: “5G broadcast in Release 16 is defined to do so by supporting two distinct modes: 5G standalone broadcast and mixed-mode multicast.” The standard supports “a wide set of applications, from delivering linear TV services and new immersive experiences … to facilitating public safety communication, better automotive safety, and more,” he said.

Lockheed Martin sought OK for test facilities in Cazenovia and Liverpool, New York, that use the 3.1-3.55 GHz band, adjacent to the C-band spectrum sold in an FCC 5G auction. “This waiver seeks to create a dependable and predictable coexistence framework for Lockheed Martin and a small set of potentially affected 3.45 GHz Service licensees,” said a filing posted Friday: “Lockheed Martin and bidders in Auction 110 will benefit from greater certainty on the regulatory status of Lockheed Martin’s Liverpool and Cazenovia sites, which are encompassed within a single contour.”

The FCC granted 125 priority access licenses won in the citizens broadband radio service auction and approved 13 long-form applications. Among the licenses approved Friday were those won by AtLink Services, Cherokee Telephone, Nemont Communications and SkyPacket Networks. The auction ended in August.

NTIA reopened the application window Friday for nominations to the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. The deadline was April 16; a new date will come in a Federal Register notice. “NTIA seeks to expand the pool of applicants and best ensure the composition of the committee reflects balanced points of view,” it said.

T-Mobile and Verizon saw broad agreement in initial comments (see 2104150054) on rules for the 3.45 GHz auction, per replies posted Friday in docket 21-62. Commenters “resoundingly agree” the FCC should work with NTIA and DOD to “make available additional information about federal encumbrances and transition plans and to conduct workshops as soon as possible,” T-Mobile said: They want “graduated minimum opening bids, upfront payments, and bidding units to more accurately reflect the spectrum and geographic landscape” and “bidding procedures that will minimize exposure risks and stranded investments.” Potential bidders “have made clear that to encourage participation in the auction and promote a robust auction, potential bidders require additional information about the auction products and clearing process as soon as possible,” Verizon said. UScellular urged certainty: “To the extent feasible,” assign contiguous frequencies to a bidder winning generic blocks in both bidding categories in the 72 multi-category markets for sale. Smaller carriers represented by the Blooston law firm want smaller license sizes. “The amount and complexity of information that is yet to be disclosed about the 3.45 GHz band sharing and interference protection criteria is daunting,” Blooston said.