CTIA stressed the importance of high-frequency spectrum to wireless operators and urged the FCC to finalize rules for numerous bands, in a filing in docket 14-177 in response to a second Further NPRM on spectrum frontiers. “Millimeter wave spectrum will play a vital role in supporting the successful roll-out of next-generation products and services for American consumers, particularly as we race with other nations to lead in 5G, and the Commission’s efforts in this proceeding have been instrumental in achieving that goal.” The FCC should “promptly seek comment on auction procedures to allow the rapid auction” of the 24, 28, 37/39 and 47 GHz bands, it said. Also in CTIA’s crosshairs -- allocation of the 29, 31, 32, 42 and 50 GHz bands. The FCC should also “prioritize the identification, allocation, and licensing of additional spectrum for exclusively licensed terrestrial flexible use,” the group argued. The 26 GHz band should be “allocated for flexible, exclusive use licensing, as international entities have focused on this band for the deployment of 5G services,” CTIA said. Separately, CTA said the FCC should both make more spectrum available and lay out a timetable for future auctions. “These next generation services and applications will improve consumers’ lives, make industry more efficient, power smarter cities and government, foster American leadership, and create new jobs,” CTA commented. Making "this spectrum available brings opportunity for investment, innovation and competition, all of which the Commission must be mindful when finalizing the [millimeter wave] band service rules,” the Competitive Carriers Association said. If the agency gets the rules right, CCA members could “develop next-generation technologies,” from 5G to the IoT “on an equal playing field with the largest carriers,” it said.

The CTIA Spectrum Clearinghouse reported to the FCC no links were relocated in the AWS-1 band and no reimbursements paid in the last half of 2017. The clearinghouse filed a required report in docket 02-353. “The requirement that AWS-1 licensees participate in cost-sharing for incumbent relocations in the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz band terminated on November 29, 2016,” the filing said. The clearinghouse identified “several new cost-sharing instances totaling over $11.8 million" of reimbursement opportunities and notified affected licensees.

T-Mobile US said it completed its acquisition of Layer3 TV, a deal announced in December (see 1712130046). The acquiree's "team has joined T-Mobile and will drive the Un-carrier’s initiative to launch a disruptive new TV service in 2018,” T-Mobile said Tuesday. About 200 Layer3 employees are making the move to T-Mobile, led by CEO Jeff Binder, now a T-Mobile executive vice president.

Verizon is prepared to keep a promise of offering 5G in three to five cities later this year, CEO Lowell McAdam said Tuesday during a call on Q4 results. Fifth-generation was on display at CES, McAdam said. “There was a lot of discussion about devices and we believe that there will be mobile [5G] devices late in 2018 and then more available as we get into 2019.” Not long ago, many questioned whether 5G would be possible before 2020-2022, he said. “Only one carrier has been consistent in its actions and messaging regarding 5G,” McAdam said. “Verizon has the spectrum bandwidth needed to provide the rich services of true 5G, our intelligent edge network capabilities and engineering know-how to lead the industry in providing the full suite of 5G gigabit services.” The carrier projected capital spending of as much as $17.8 billion this year, including the costs of the commercial launch of 5G. But the cost of deploying it is likely to be lower than initially expected, he said. McAdam said the company is testing 5G at some 200 sites: “We continue to learn every day,” with throughputs better than expected. Verizon is contacting cities that might be part of the launch, McAdam said. “I am personally out meeting with some of the mayors, talking about what we're going to be providing, and the reception has been extremely positive.” Verizon reported earnings and revenue in line with expectations. It tabulated 1.2 million retail postpaid net adds to its wireless network, including 647,000 postpaid smartphones. Postpaid churn was 1 percent. Verizon also said tax reform will boost its cash flow by $3.5 billion to $4 billion this year.

The latest generation of iPhones had 61 percent of U.S. iPhone sales in Q4, led by the iPhone 8 at 24 percent, said Consumer Intelligence Research Partners Monday. The iPhone X followed at 20 percent and the iPhone 8 Plus had 17 percent of domestic iPhone sales. The 61 percent share was below the 72 percent share of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus a year earlier. The Apple model pie is further divided now with eight models, “the most ever,” said Josh Lowitz, CIRP partner. “Older models held their own,” said CIRP Partner Mike Levin. The firm surveyed 500 U.S. Apple customers who bought an iPhone, iPad or Mac from October to December.

Fourteen percent of U.S. mobile subscribers reported switching cellular providers as the most recent change to their mobile service plan, Parks Associates blogged, despite efforts by the top four providers to lure new subscribers. Some 39 percent made a plan change in the past 12 months, typically to upgrade a service plan or phone, it said Monday. A third of mobile customers haven’t made any changes to their mobile services in more than two years, as unlimited data offerings are “no longer effective levers” to draw customers from competitors, said analyst Kristen Hanich. "The challenge now is to find ways to increase ARPU [annual revenue per user] without negatively impacting customer satisfaction.” With few exceptions, the top spenders give their mobile carriers a low net provider score that’s some 10 points lower on average than the lowest spenders, she said, leaving carriers to search for “new ways to upsell without alienating their subscriber base." For example, AT&T exempted DirecTV from mobile data caps, “so its subscribers get video benefits with their mobile services," Hanich said. In response, T-Mobile and Verizon are moving to introduce their own over-the-top TV services this year, she said.

CTIA raised concerns on a draft order that would set a Nov. 30, 2019, deadline for launching geo-targeted wireless emergency alerts, set for a vote at next week’s FCC meeting. CTIA officials met with Public Safety Bureau staff and aides to commissioners, said a filing in docket 15-91. “CTIA expressed general support for the Draft Order’s goal of enhancing the geo-targeting capabilities of the Wireless Emergency Alert system,” the group said. “CTIA also expressed significant concern about the Commission’s aggressive timeline for implementing the enhanced WEA geo-targeting requirement. CTIA stated that, if adopted, the wireless industry will work intently to meet the … deadline.”

T-Mobile officials met with FCC Wireless Bureau staff on antenna standard rules for the 70 and 80 GHz bands. “Since the conclusion of the incentive auction, T-Mobile has been rapidly expanding and strengthening its LTE network and laying the groundwork for a nationwide 5G network using its 600 MHz spectrum,” T-Mobile said in a filing in docket 10-153. “Critical to the success of these efforts is access to gigabit backhaul.” T-Mobile said it has found that the bands, with their light licensing approach and 10 GHz of available spectrum, are “ideally suited to providing rapid access to these essential links which will provide high speed connections between access points and T-Mobile’s core network.”

Local governments are urging the FCC to require more accurate geo-targeting of wireless emergency alerts. The WEA system “is urgently in need of life‐saving technology updates,” said Oregon governments led by the city of Portland Bureau of Emergency Management. “Our region faces a range of natural, human‐caused, and technological hazards and where the public may need to be informed quickly to take action to stay safe, including 9‐1‐1 outages, flooding, winter weather, the release of hazardous materials, wildfires, civil disturbances, boil water notices, dam failures, public health emergencies, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions,” they said in a filing Thursday in docket 15-91. “For example, the Eagle Creek Fire last September in the Columbia River Gorge reached the edge of the metro region and for a time was the top fire priority in the country.” The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency told the FCC it's concerned the commission still hasn't imposed device-assisted, geo-targeting capability requirements. “Now is the time to act on WEA geo-targeting improvements that are precise within one-tenth of a mile,” the department said.

The UHD Alliance has “absolutely no intention of letting the trademark lapse or become abandoned” on the “Mobile HDR Premium” certification logo for qualified smartphones, tablets and laptops, President Mike Fidler told us Wednesday. The logo has had “clear usage in the market since early last year,” said Fidler. The trademark “is fully valid and in force and will continue to be an integral part of our premium mobile strategy,” he said. “The Mobile HDR Premium mark will continue to be a very visible part of our marketing communications and anticipated expansion as we move forward into 2018.” Fidler had no explanation why the alliance was unresponsive to a Patent and Trademark Office examiner's report rejecting the application to register Mobile HDR Premium as a certification mark. PTO declared the application dead Dec. 27, but the alliance has two months to petition the agency to revive or reinstate it (see 1801160024 or 1801140001).