Apple’s takeover could bring PowerbyProxi's technology to market more quickly, wireless power industry consultant LeRoy Johnson said Monday. The New Zealand company reportedly has 300-plus wireless charging patents (see 1710250043 or 1710250053). Johnson, who has worked with PowerbyProxi, called the company “innovative” in its plans to stretch the Qi wireless charging standard’s limits for distance and power. Qi is the “clear winner” in the standards battle on "everything except charging electric vehicles,” Johnson said.

CenturyTel Broadband Services got an experimental license from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to test various prototype radio systems in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band. The CBRS tests are to take place in Oregon and Washington state. CenturyTel sought confidential treatment of its application.

CTIA asked the FCC to approve the National Emergency Address Database (NEAD) Privacy and Security Plan, which CTIA and FCC officials say is on circulation. Matthew Gerst, CTIA director-regulatory affairs, met last week with Louis Peraertz, aide to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. CTIA officials also met last week with an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (see 1710260036). “Wireless carriers’ ability to utilize the NEAD to produce dispatchable location information for wireless calls to 9-1-1 is contingent on prompt Commission approval of the Plan,” said a CTIA filing in docket 07-114.

The FCC released Friday device manufacturer handset totals across two categories for the July 1, 2016-June 30 reporting period. The fact sheets offer the numbers by air interface and manufacturer.

The FCC Wireless Bureau denied a request by several parties for a further extension of the Nov. 1 deadline for reply comments on a realignment of the 896-901/935-940 MHz band. The Enterprise Wireless Alliance, pdvWireless, Southern Company Services, the Utilities Technology Council and Sensus USA asked for additional time, arguing discussions are underway on a consensus proposal. “While we encourage interested parties to engage in constructive discussions regarding the issues raised in this proceeding, we note that the parties may inform the Commission of any agreement or consensus reached after the reply comment deadline in ex parte filings, as the docket in this proceeding does not close when the comment cycle has ended,” the bureau said in a Friday order in docket 17-200. “Moreover, we note that the reply comment period in this proceeding already was extended once.” The bureau earlier extended comment and reply deadlines by two weeks to accommodate utilities caught up in Harvey and Irma service restoration.

The buildout of 5G will require lots of fiber, and work by wireline providers is essential, said Patrick Brogan, USTelecom vice president-industry analysis, in a Friday blog post, noting he addressed the topic at a 5G conference earlier in the week (see 1710250041). “Deployment of 5G networks will be an extraordinarily complex and costly endeavor,” Brogan wrote. “It involves many moving parts requiring significant coordination among network, equipment, and application providers." Fifth generation "will be more heterogeneous than previous generations. The constraints of spectrum availability and different geographies, 5G will offer network providers a diverse set of tools, from both fixed and mobile networks, to meet growing demand efficiently where it arises.” Policymakers face a complex task, he said. “They must monitor many moving parts while ensuring network, equipment, and application providers can roll out 5G as effectively and expeditiously as possible.” The U.S. led the world in 4G and “must remain a leader to reap the social and economic benefits of 5G,” he said.

CTIA is pressing the FCC to approve the National Emergency Address Database (NEAD) Privacy and Security Plan that CTIA and FCC officials said is on circulation. The association reported on a meeting with Travis Litman, aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “Carriers’ ability to utilize the NEAD to produce dispatchable location information for wireless calls to 9-1-1 is contingent on prompt Commission approval of the Plan,” said a filing in docket 07-114, asking: “Approve the Plan expeditiously and provide the certainty needed to help ensure that the NEAD can remain on-track to support the carriers’ ability to use the NEAD to produce dispatchable location information for wireless calls to 9-1-1.”

The FCC released Tuesday's order addressing hearing aid compatibility and volume control on wireline and wireless phones (see 1710240062 or 1710240058). The main complaint came from Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr, who said the FCC shouldn’t impose standards for wireless volume control. Both dissented to that part of the order. The text released Thursday said the record supported the action. “Given the significantly expanded reliance on wireless telephone communications -- and concomitant decline in wireline phone usage -- we affirm our belief that a volume control requirement that specifies certain levels of amplification as an element of hearing aid compatibility is just as necessary for wireless handsets as it is for wireline phones, to ensure the provision of effective telecommunications for people with hearing loss,” the FCC said.

Former Govs. Jeb Bush, R-Fla, and Martin O’Malley, D-Md., told Competitive Carriers Association members Thursday states need a choice on public safety and some may opt out of FirstNet. Bush and O’Malley are on the Rivada board and the company has made an all-out push to get some states to use its offering instead of that of FirstNet and lead partner AT&T. “Assume a state opts out. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will stay opted out, but it gives a state a chance to ask the questions that I’m sure many people in this audience are asking,” Bush said. There has been no accountability on FirstNet, he said. “This has been hidden from congressional oversight and it has been hidden from the people who really matter, the first responders in all our communities,” he said. “That’s where you get a really dynamic discussion.” Bush prefers state initiatives to a big federal one: “I would trust governors of either party.” CCA President Steve Berry said whether to join FirstNet is a huge question for states. “It’s a 25-year decision,” he said. Berry noted that 25 years ago, George H.W. Bush was president and the FCC licensed two wireless carriers per area. The “smarter” governors sought alternative proposals, O’Malley said. “It’s unfortunate that some feel the need to resort to name-calling instead of having a substantive conversation on the communications needs of our nation's first responders,” a FirstNet spokesman said. “FirstNet, however," he said, "remains focused on public safety.” AT&T didn’t comment.

As reports continue on limited supplies of the iPhone X when it ships next week (see 1710230037), carriers this week made preorder pitches that begin Friday for Apple’s $1,000-and-up flagship smartphone due in stores Nov. 3. The Nikkei Asian Review Tuesday reported initial shipments of the iPhone X are expected to total 20 million units, half the planned amounts. The lower shipment count is due to Apple’s “struggles to solve technical issues with components supporting the model's new face authentication feature,” said the report. Apple didn’t respond. Sprint (here and here), AT&T (here), Verizon and U.S. Cellular (here) were among those with offers. Not all AT&T representatives appeared to be in the loop. A chat representative appeared immediately and when we asked about the iPhone X, she told us: “At the moment there are just rumors about it, I can understand your excitement. I'm always excited when new devices and promos are launched. At this time there has been no formal announcement provided.” When we mentioned the news release, she directed us to the iPhone page cited there.