Supporting a Minnesota wireless emergency alert (WEA) test planned June 18, the FCC Public Safety Bureau granted a limited waiver allowing participation by emergency alert system (EAS) entities and commercial mobile service providers. The test is a combined live EAS and end-to-end WEA test and will run 6:30-7 p.m. CDT, with a backup date of June 19, the bureau said in a Friday order. The proposed test "will help ensure that [Minnesota's] personnel is sufficiently well trained in how to use the EAS and WEA so that they can initiate an actual alert effectively when necessary." Testing EAS and WEA together "is a likely reflection of what would occur in an actual emergency," it said. The bureau conditioned the waiver on the state providing sufficient outreach so the test doesn't confuse emergency personnel or the public.

AT&T launched the LTE-M button, an enterprise version of Amazon’s Dash button consumers use to reorder products. It transmits over the cellular network, and is powered by Amazon Web Services IoT 1-Click service, said the carrier Wednesday.

The value of unlicensed spectrum to the U.S. economy grew 129 percent to $525.19 billion since 2013, said a study released Thursday by WifiForward. It's expected to reach $834.48 billion by 2020, boosted by "persistent growth in existing applications and technology" and "deployment of 5G networks, the efficiency contribution of IoT in vertical markets and an expansion of the Bluetooth-enabled ecosystem,” said study author Raul Katz, president of Telecom Advisory Services.

Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry met FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr on possible changes to wireless infrastructure rules. “Expeditiously address state and local siting procedures by shortening shot clocks for collocations and other deployments; limiting permissible local fees to nondiscriminatory, publicly-disclosed actual costs; creating a mechanism for batched application review; and clarifying provisions within Sections 332 and 253 of the Communications Act,” asked a Wednesday filing in docket 17-79.

Verizon representatives discussed the need for the FCC to make more high- and midband spectrum available for 5G, said a filing in docket 17-183 on meetings including Commissioners Mike O’Reilly and Brendan Carr. “We outlined the need for the Commission to move quickly to adopt a notice of proposed rulemaking exploring the possibility of making spectrum available for mobile broadband in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band,” Verizon said. “To be effective, any approach would have to free up well more than 100 MHz.” Verizon officials stressed the need to “reorganize” the 39 GHz band before it's ready for auction. “The Commission should encourage incumbent licensees to commercially negotiate license swaps to reorganize and rationalize the 39 GHz band as soon as possible,” the carrier said. “Rationalization of this band can occur much more quickly through such market-based efforts rather than through more complex Commission auctions.”

McDonald’s is adding wireless charging, using Aircharge's Qi-based surface wireless charging technology as part of the fast-food seller's Experience of the Future makeover, the vendor said Wednesday. EOTF includes Uber Eats delivery and mobile order and payment, the chain said last month.

The Federal Railroad Administration released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $250 million in positive train control grants. The grants will support PTC deployment for intercity passenger, freight and commuter passenger systems, the agency said in a Tuesday news release. Eligible projects include: "back office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability,” the FRA said. Applications will be due 45 days after Federal Register NOFO publication. “These funds are part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen our country’s rail safety by helping railroads to more rapidly deploy positive train control systems,” said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The FRA also released a status update, saying 14 railroads report they installed 100 percent of the hardware necessary for PTC system implementation by March 31. Altamont Corridor Express, Central Florida Rail Corridor, Consolidated Rail Corporation, Maryland Area Regional Commuter, Metro-North Commuter Railroad and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority reported they increased hardware installation by more than 10 percent in the last quarter. "Passenger railroads have made less progress," with the systems on 25 percent of required route miles, up 1 percent, versus 60 percent for freight operators, up 4 points, FRA said.

The main wireless carrier associations and other groups said they met with FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly on the latest discussions on the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. O’Rielly, overseeing a rewrite of the CBRS rules, urged stakeholders to negotiate (see 1802130041). “The parties continued to discuss their respective positions regarding the geographic licensing areas for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz band,” said a filing in docket 17-258. “The parties also continued to reiterate the importance of the 3.5 GHz band to serving a variety of business cases and deployment plans.” Officials from the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, General Electric, NCTA, NTCA, the Rural Wireless Association and Wireless ISP Association attended. The principals met O’Rielly in April (see 1805010052).

FCC Chief Administrative Law Judge Richard Sippel ordered a prehearing conference for May 24, starting at 11 a.m., on a proceeding that will decide whether Metro Two-Way is qualified to remain an FCC licensee (see 1805040009). Sippel will preside. The hearing will be in the ALJ’s courtroom at FCC headquarters.

Sprint added New York, Phoenix and its home base of Kansas City to cities where it will offer 5G next year. The three join Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington. “Additional markets will be announced as Sprint is planning to roll out its blazing fast mobile 5G service nationwide using its large amount of mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum,” said a Tuesday news release.