AT&T has increased its administrative fee twice in recent months, which will likely lift annual revenue by $800 million and boost post-paid average revenue per user by $1, BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk wrote Wednesday. “The Administrative Fee first appeared on the bills of AT&T wireless customers back in the second quarter of 2013, generating some unfavorable press,” he wrote. “2013 also happened to be the last time AT&T reported an increase in post-paid ARPU.”

Qualcomm announced new Snapdragon mobile platforms at Mobile World Congress Shanghai that promise higher performance, better battery life, more efficient designs, “impressive graphics” and artificial intelligence capabilities for its highest selling platforms, along with mass-market platforms with more premium features. It also unveiled its first platform dedicated to the fledgling kids’ smartwatch category. The Snapdragon 632 platform for smartphones, with up to 40 percent more computing and graphics processing, offers mainstream gaming, 4K video capture, AI and an X9 LTE modem that supports LTE Advanced technologies including carrier aggregation, Qualcomm said. The designed-for-kids watch segment is seeing widespread demand for “highly capable devices,” said Anthony Murray, general manager-wearables.

The Fairfax County, Virginia, 9-1-1 System urged the FCC to allow third-party applications and providers to deliver supplementary location information for wireless 911 calls directly to public safety answering points without going through carrier’s routing elements. “To stifle the ability of third-party providers and applications by mandating they only work through the carrier interconnect routing elements is against the public interest,” the county said in docket 18-64. “Several recent cases in the news have demonstrated that lives of emergency callers have been lost due to the inability to locate a caller because of the inadequacy of the current wireless location technologies in use in the 9-1-1 industry.”

Sprint asked the FCC to allow its Assurance Wireless affiliate to submit Lifeline data to the FCC in a slightly different format than mandated by the Wireline Bureau. Sprint asked for additional time for Assurance to adjust its filings to meet the requirements. “Sprint requests that as part of its electronic processes, Assurance Wireless be allowed to present certain information, and to obtain certain end user responses, in an order or format slightly different than that reflected on the paper universal forms,” the carrier said in docket 11-42. “None of these differences is substantive, and all information needed to determine an end user’s initial or on-going eligibility will be requested using the language mandated by the paper universal forms.”

FCC rules to promote spectrum efficiency, interoperability and flexibility in 700 MHz public safety narrowband spectrum take effect July 28, after expected publication in Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved an order in February exempting 700 MHz low-power vehicular repeater systems from a trunking requirement (see 1802130023). “All commenters that addressed the trunking issue support exempting VRS systems from the trunking rule because doing so would provide public safety with needed flexibility to meet operational needs and because of the technical challenges,” the FCC said then.

The Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing a new generation of Wi-Fi security, Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3), replacing WPA2. “WPA3 adds new features to simplify Wi-Fi security, enable more robust authentication, and deliver increased cryptographic strength for highly sensitive data markets,” the alliance said. Devices containing the old technology will continue to provide “recognized security” as WPA3 is deployed, it said Monday.

Twilio General Counsel Karyn Smith said the FCC must maintain integrity of 10-digit North American Numbering Plan phone numbers, meeting last week with an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “We noted the Commission’s recent efforts to preserve the rights of subscribers on enabling text messaging for toll free numbers," Twilio said Monday in docket 17-192, "and expressed concerns about recent anti-competitive behaviors by wireless carriers.”

ATIS and the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Alliance announced a development they say will make use of the 3.5 GHz band more commercially viable. The work was done by ATIS’ International Mobile Subscriber Identity Oversight Council. The IMSI council oversees U.S. assignment of IMSI numbers, a 15-digit international identifier that allows for network roaming. In collaboration with the CBRS Alliance, “ATIS developed an innovative new IMSI code that is specifically allocated for use by CBRS spectrum operators," they said Tuesday. The council “will also begin administration of an IMSI Block Number (IBN), under the oversight of the IMSI Administrator, iconectiv,” they said. “The IBN will be assigned to CBRS spectrum operators to support the implementation of network services. This work is essential for utilizing CBRS for LTE services while also advancing IoT applications.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment on the first edition of the new “Communications Marketplace Report,” required by Congress under the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill (HR-1625) (see 1803230038). The report must be filed with Congress in Q3 of every even numbered year and subsumes the former Mobile Wireless Competition Report, which was due every year. The notice seeks comment on "whether laws, regulations, regulatory practices or demonstrated marketplace practices pose a barrier to competitive entry into the mobile wireless marketplace, or to the competitive expansion of existing providers,” the bureau said Tuesday. “Information is sought on the extent to which any such laws, regulations or marketplace practices affect entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the mobile wireless marketplace.” The bureau wants comment on “criteria or metrics that could be used to evaluate the state of mobile wireless competition.” Comments are due July 26, replies Aug. 16, in docket 18-203.

Revised FCC service rules on narrowband operations in 769-775/799-805 MHz are to take effect July 26, after expected publication Tuesday of a notice in the Federal Register. In 2016, commissioners gave the Telecommunications Industry Association partial relief from an October 2014 700 MHz narrowband transition order (see 1608220066). In January 2015, TIA sought revisions, saying it may not be feasible for a manufacturer to complete all the requirements for the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program certification at the time it submits a device to the FCC for approval (see 1501060055). “We agree and modify our rules to allow CAP compliance or the equivalent to be completed after equipment certification but prior to the marketing or sale of that equipment,” said the 2016 order in docket 13-87.