The National Institute of Standards and Technology Public Safety Communications Research Division posted a list of user devices approved for use on the FirstNet network, Joe Martinet, FirstNet director-devices, blogged Wednesday. “We’ve repeatedly heard from first responders at all levels about their need for a wide variety of user devices: commercial, ruggedized, and functional devices to support their respective lifesaving missions,” Martinet wrote. “Now that we are in the deployment phase of the network, our audit and verification role is vital to ensuring that the devices meet the needs of public safety. By providing validation and oversight, we are ensuring that FirstNet works for public safety.”

IEEE 802 raised concerns about a waiver Google is seeking for its Project Soli sensor technology. The tech uses the 57-64 GHz band and the company sought a waiver to operate at higher power levels consistent with what's allowed in Europe. The IEEE committee works on local area network and metropolitan area network standards. It isn't clear whether the proposal “incorporates sharing mechanisms for fair coexistence with other devices,” the committee said. It's also unclear whether at higher power levels, Soli devices would cause harmful interference to 802.11 devices, the committee said. Rules for the band were introduced in 1995 and were “designed with the understanding that multiple technologies that may be introduced in the future for operation in this band can share the spectrum,” the panel said: Google should have to produce more information. Comments were due Wednesday in docket 18-70 (see 1803120031). “Using a sensor that operates between 57 and 64 GHz, Project Soli devices capture motion in a three-dimensional space using a radar beam,” Google said, and such data can "enable touchless control of device functions or features.”

The FCC posted a new map of areas “presumptively ineligible” for Mobility Fund II support. “This map will help ensure a timely and effective MF-II challenge process as the map informs challengers of those areas for which they will need to test the coverage of only one unsubsidized mobile provider,” the FCC said Tuesday in docket 10-90. “This map is added as an additional layer to the existing Initial Eligible Areas map.” The FCC’s Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Wireless and Wireline bureaus released the map.

AT&T defended its December proposal for a temporary, voluntary repack of the 38.6-40 GHz band (see 1712120010). Verizon in January told the FCC it supports AT&T’s goal of a timely auction of the spectrum but opposes AT&T's proposed solution (see 1801260041). AT&T reported on a meeting with staff from the Wireless Bureau, including Chief Donald Stockdale, and from the Office of General Counsel. The FCC’s current band plan “is complex with multiple license boundaries and holders, even over the same geographic area,” AT&T said in an accompanying presentation. “Auction with separate assignment round maximizes potential for contiguity across the entire band in a faster and fairer manner to advance the delivery of 5G services for the U.S. Prior to auction, a temporary repack solution is required to create larger, contiguous blocks to support rapid 5G deployments.” The filing was posted in docket 14-177.

It’s a “dereliction of duty” if the FCC doesn’t address the threat of cell-site simulators now, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told us Monday, days after the Department of Homeland Security publicly acknowledged the devices’ presence in the Washington area (see 1804040051). “The FCC has got to get off the dime and get serious about this,” Wyden said. “We’ve been talking about it at a high decibel level for some time.” Several House Democrats urged the agency last week to look into the use of the devices, more commonly known as StingRays (see 1804050050). The FCC didn't comment.

Sprint agreed to pay $10 million and business partner Mobilitie $1.6 million to resolve “separate but related” investigations into whether they completed proper tower registration and environmental and historic impact reviews before starting construction of small cells and associated equipment. The FCC Enforcement Bureau said Tuesday it opened an investigation in response to a report that Sprint had allowed Mobilitie to build wireless facilities as part of the carrier’s densification and optimization program “without securing pre-build pre-requisites, in an apparent attempt to expedite deployment,” said an FCC consent decree. “Our Investigation revealed that the parties’ agreement made the third party responsible for all regulatory compliance regarding its poles and attachment rights, including compliance with the Environmental Rules.” Sprint agreed to update its compliance procedures and file a series of reports over three years, and take other steps to resolve the investigation. Mobilitie also agreed to put in place a compliance plan. “The law was clear and it is vital that carriers and infrastructure companies alike never duck their responsibilities,” said Christopher Killion, acting deputy chief of the Enforcement Bureau in a news release. “Even as our rules are updated over time, companies must abide by the law as it stands whenever they are building infrastructure, operating wireless facilities, or taking other actions under FCC jurisdiction.” Sprint didn't comment. "Mobilitie has been, and always will be, dedicated to regulatory compliance,” said Mobilitie CEO Christos Karmis. “Our agreement with the FCC demonstrates our continuing commitment to regulatory compliance, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationships with the Commission, municipalities, and other stakeholders as we bring much needed next-generation networks to the U.S."

Nokia said the FCC shouldn’t be swayed by early criticisms of a draft NPRM that would prevent using money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain. The NPRM is set for a vote at the April 17 commissioners’ meeting (see 1804090045). “There are parties that are promoting a narrative that the Commission is seeking to cast a wide net, to indiscriminately bar vendors that have a presence in, or manufacture in, certain geographies, such as China,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-89. “Essentially all” big technology and communications companies source some components in China, the Finnish equipment maker said. “Those who are against the Commission’s proposed action to secure our Nation’s infrastructure are using the fact that many companies share common countries of origin in their supply chains as a basis to suggest the draft order would therefore have sweeping effect and greatly limit equipment supplier options for carriers seeking USF support.” But the draft seems clear that’s not the case, Nokia said. “The Commission’s approach has less to do with country of origin as a basis of risk assessment and more to do with supplier trustworthiness.” The company said as rules are finalized, the agency should “make clear that identifying a company as a prohibited provider is an extraordinary act that the Commission expects would be used sparingly, and based on a review that takes into account the totality of the circumstances.” It said Monday that China Mobile had picked it to supply equipment for a regional optical transport network the Chinese carrier is building as part of its push toward 5G.

Dollar and unit sales of wireless charging mats more than doubled in Q4 vs. the year-ago quarter, attributed in part to Apple including Qi wireless charging in the latest edition of the iPhone, NPD Group reported Monday. NPD analyst Stephen Baker compared wireless charging devices’ sales growth to that of wireless headphones after Apple’s removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. Sales have slowed since Q4, Baker said, but January dollar sales were more than double the dollar sales for January 2017, with wireless charging an 11 percent share of mobile power market revenue. Wireless charging revenue totaled $132 million in the second half of 2017, Baker told us. Since the iPhone 8 launch, average weekly sales for wireless charging were nearly three times higher than in the quarter before the phones launched, with Belkin and mophie among the biggest beneficiaries, Baker said. NPD expects the category to continue having high revenue growth as more companies deliver innovative products such as the “highly anticipated” wireless charging pad from Apple. Despite rumors that the Apple AirPower charging pad -- capable of charging an iPhone, Watch and AirPods simultaneously -- would ship in Q1, the product hasn't hit stores. Apple didn’t comment Monday.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment on Nominet UK’s request to be designated a TV white space database administrator under Part 15 of the FCC rules. Comments are due May 9, replies May 24 in docket 04-186. The company told the FCC it has extensive TV white spaces (TVWS) experience in the U.K., in its application. “We also played a central role in Europe's first commercial TVWS broadband rollout, which took place on the remote Isle of Arran off the coast of Scotland. Our TVWS database was the first to complete the UK’s regulator’s qualification process, and has since been used for academic research, for exhibits, and in live trial projects.”

Microsoft representatives encouraged the FCC to resolve various petitions for reconsideration on the TV white spaces (TVWS), in a meeting last week with Julius Knapp, chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and other OET officials. Microsoft also raised other white spaces issues, said a filing in docket 16-56: “Specifically, we discussed the need to maintain the WMTS [wireless medical telemetry service] exclusion zones in Channel 37 and to replace the push notification requirement with fast-polling channels. We also thanked OET for its approval of Microsoft’s amended experimental license for the use of TVWS on school buses in Michigan.” OET amended Microsoft’s license last week (see 1804020040).