A technology white paper Thursday by 5G Americas on the spectrum environment and future requirements for the wireless industry looks at spectrum that will be needed under various use cases, examining possible FCC allocation. “Countries and regions that want to be leaders in the new 5G wireless era will need to provide more licensed spectrum available to the mobile wireless industry,” said President Chris Pearson. “The time is now for the planning and allocation of harmonized spectrum in low, mid and high bands to help progress 5G.”

Sprint backed changes in the “historic review process, including tribal historic review,” as the FCC takes up wireless infrastructure rules, in meetings with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mike O‘Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel. “Costs for Section 106 review have increased dramatically in recent years and constitute a substantial barrier to the deployment of small cells that are essential to provide more coverage and capacity to America’s mobile broadband consumers,” Sprint said in docket 17-79. “Reducing the burden of review fees can be accomplished in several ways, including exempting sites in public rights of way and by limiting fees to actual consultation on identified historic properties rather than upfront across-the-board fees. Equally important, Sprint urged the FCC to address the delays caused by the failure of certain tribes to complete the review process."

The Wi-Fi Alliance told the FCC the U.S. at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference should oppose further restrictions to protect radar systems in the 5 GHz band. The band is the only globally harmonized mid-band spectrum available for Wi-Fi, the group commented in docket 16-185. “Wi-Fi has evolved from a nascent technology” to a “vital component of telecommunications infrastructure -- leveraging a limited amount of unlicensed spectrum into connectivity for billions of users,” the alliance said. “The Wi-Fi industry has developed innovative solutions to overcome bandwidth limitations and spectrum congestion while increasing quality.”

Representatives of the Broadband Access Coalition said they met with Commissioners Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel, and an aide to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, on the group’s June proposal (see 1706210044) for the 3.7 GHz band. “Shared access to the 3700-4200 MHz band would enable the rapid deployment of gigabit and near-gigabit broadband service to rural and other underserved areas,” said a filing in docket 17-183. It cited "favorable economics of fixed wireless networks, which can be deployed at 25 percent or less of the capital expense of an all-fiber network, while offering comparable reliability and speeds.” Officials with Mimosa Networks, the Wireless ISP Association and New America’s Open Technology Institute attended.

CTIA wants a 2018 auction of high-frequency bands, it said in meetings with aides to all FCC commissioners except Chairman Ajit Pai. Carrier officials said last week an auction is likely next year (see 1711030045). The FCC should make “significant blocks of spectrum available for licensed terrestrial mobile use to facilitate 5G mobile broadband networks and services,” said a filing in docket 14-177. “Given the urgency for action, CTIA urged the Commission to set a deadline of 2018 for moving forward with an auction of the bands made available in the 2016 Spectrum Frontiers Order and the Draft Second Order.”

Leman Micro Devices is pitching a sensor product to measure temperature via smartphone, plus blood pressure and other vital signs, with "medical accuracy.”

T-Mobile is the latest wireless carrier to jump into home security, announcing Wednesday a Nest-based security pack. Nest Aware provides alerts and 10 days of continuous video recording, said T-Mobile, the exclusive cellular backup connectivity provider for the product. A T-Mobile spokesperson said professional monitoring isn't now available; the service doesn’t include emergency response.

Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure made clear Wednesday that a potential transaction with T-Mobile fell apart (see 1711060068) because Masayoshi Son, CEO of Sprint parent SoftBank, didn’t want to give up control of the combined company. Son saw the deal as essentially “a merger of equals,” Claure said at Wells Fargo conference. “It came down to Masa wasn’t prepared to relinquish control of Sprint.” SoftBank wanted to maintain control of a player in the “largest market,” he said. Executives with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom pushed for the deal but were unable to convince Son, Claure said. Claure said he was able to convince the SoftBank board, on which he serves, that Sprint has a “bright future” and would continue to grow its customer base. “We’ve proven that we have the ability to add customers,” he said. “We’ve proven that we can take costs out.” The talks weren't a waste, he said: “It was a fascinating experience, for the first time getting to know and meet the T-Mobile management team.” Claure views the Altice mobile virtual network operator deal as a test case for further wireless/cable integration. “It’s very different than a traditional MVNO,” he said. “We have full access to Altice’s backhaul, we have full access to cable infrastructure.” The deal will help Sprint expand in markets like New York, he said. “We’ve said it very publicly, we believe eventually there is going to need to be a tie-up between a telco and cable,” he said. Claure said Sprint will “dramatically increase” its capital expenditures next year to the $5 billion-$6 billion range. “We’re going to spend more if possible,” he said. Sprint wants to “accelerate” its network buildout and recognizes it needs to install more macro cell towers, he said. the carrier plans to put its 800 MHz, 1.9 and 2.5 GHz spectrum on all of its towers, many of which today only carry 2.5 GHz spectrum, he said. “I want to make sure that we fix the foundation.” T-Mobile didn't comment.

Fitbit is supplying 10,000 Charge 2 and Alta HR devices as part of a funding award from the National Institutes of Health to Scripps Research Institute, it said Tuesday. The All of Us program is looking to enroll more than a million participants in research designed to help prevent and treat disease based on individual characteristics, Fitbit said. Data gathered from the program will help researchers understand how differences in lifestyle, environment and biological makeup influence health and disease, it said. The Fitbit devices, provided to a representative sample of study volunteers for a year, will provide data on activity, heart rate and sleep, it said.

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance said it launched Cevo Go, a mobile app that allows wireless system suppliers and licensees to quickly secure certified frequencies from EWA. It's to “change the private land mobile industry’s culture surrounding the identification and recognition of certified frequencies,” said a news release. “The process need not be as complex and as arduous as many have grown to accept as the norm. The sooner certified frequencies can be put into play, the sooner spectrum monitoring may commence, and the sooner system design, equipment procurements, system installation and implementation may be finalized.”