CTIA urged the FCC to narrow its focus as it takes up final rules based on a June NPRM seeking comments on rules that would allow law enforcement and community institutions to get fast access from carriers to the information they need to identify and thwart threatening callers (see 1706220023). The FCC proposes in the NPRM to create an affirmative obligation on carriers to act, CTIA said in a filing in docket 91-281. “Such an obligation is inconsistent with the structure of both the ECPA [Electronic Communications Privacy Act] and the FCC’s regulations,” the wireless group said. “The current regulatory scheme enables CTIA’s members to assist law enforcement in investigations and emergencies by allowing carriers to disclose information on a voluntary basis when certain exceptions are met. The NPRM’s proposed disclosure mandate creates tension with this regime.”

IoT is advancing so rapidly it will generate "a whole new spectrum of data analytics" and other services that will transform how companies operate, but few have a strategy to take advantage of it, ABI Research said in a Tuesday news release. “From the creation of application enablement platforms and innovative management services, to artificial intelligence and machine vision applications, we will experience transformative data governance and exchange services between all intertwined verticals," industry analyst Dimitrios Pavlakis said. Only a few companies like Bosch, Ericsson and Gemalto are taking advantage of the transformation, he said.

Sprint said Tuesday it plans to add more than 300 new jobs and 44 retail outlets in parts of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and West Texas by year-end. “The new jobs will include a combination of retail, operations and technical experts,” Sprint said in a news release.

Members of the Broadband Access Coalition (BAC) told the FCC the group's proposal for the 3.7 GHz band (see 1708100037) has wide support. “The vast majority of the hundreds of Comments filed enthusiastically support the Petition, recognizing that the availability of a significant amount of mid-band spectrum can help satisfy the urgent need to make better broadband available to more American consumers,” BAC said. “Initiating a rulemaking proceeding that proposes to adopt the proposals set forth in the Petition will begin the process of making much-needed spectrum available to facilitate the rapid deployment of gigabit and near-gigabit fixed broadband service to rural and other underserved areas.” The reply comments were filed in RM-11791 by Mimosa Networks, the Wireless ISP Association and New America’s Open Technology Institute.

AT&T announced Monday the Primetime 10-inch tablet will be available Friday in stores or online for $30 with a two-year contract. Under an AT&T installment plan, the tablet is $10 a month for 20 months, the carrier said. The tablet’s TV mode provides access to video apps, including DirecTV (with a subscription), by a tap or swipe, it said. AT&T Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Choice customers can add the tablet to their unlimited wireless plan for an additional $20 per month. After 22 GB of data usage, AT&T said it “may slow speeds.” Maximum data speed under AT&T Unlimited Choice is 3 Mbps, and video streaming maxes out at 1.5 Mbps at 480p quality, the company said. Features include dual Bluetooth streaming, Dolby Audio.

The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) expressed general support for a WiMAX Forum petition for the launch of an NPRM on service rules for the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS). Initial comments were due Friday (see 1707190033). “AeroMACS is an airport surface communications system that will allow for increased volumes of data exchanges at airports around the country,” AAAE said in a filing in docket RM-11793. “As the demand for high-bandwidth, data intensive services and applications continues to grow, the global aviation community has adopted AeroMACS to help meet these needs for airport surface communications.”

Aircharge said Friday it will launch at IFA a Qi-based wireless charging case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Aircharge is the largest deployer of wireless charging points in public venues.

FedEx Supply Chain recalled about 10,200 batteries from refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphones that were distributed as replacement phones through AT&T’s insurance program between December and April, said a Consumer Product Safety Commission notice. FedEx and Samsung determined some of the recalled batteries are counterfeit and show anomalies that can cause batteries to overheat. The batteries weren't supplied as original equipment by Samsung, said CPSC. Consumers who own the recalled battery will receive by mail from FedEx a free, new replacement battery and a postage-paid box to return the recalled one, it said. There was one report of a counterfeit battery overheating but no reports of damage, said CPSC. “FedEx Supply Chain is conducting this recall of non-genuine Samsung batteries as some of them are counterfeit," said a Samsung spokesman Friday. "The refurbishment program was managed by FedEx Supply Chain and operated independently of Samsung."

The Wireless Bureau rejected a request by CTIA that the FCC harmonize the reply comment deadline on the Broadband Access Coalition proposal for the 3.7 GHz band (see 1708100037) with the deadline for comments on the mid-band spectrum notice of inquiry. “CTIA’s justification for a 72-day extension is that the two separate proceedings should be consolidated,” the bureau said in an order. “But the Commission has already declined this approach. The Commission recognized in the Mid Band NOI that there are ongoing proceedings, including RM-11791, that relate to spectrum within the 3.7-24 GHz frequency range.” Meanwhile, the FCC Wireless Bureau Friday changed the regulatory status of the proceeding on the BAC proposal, making it a permit but disclose proceeding requiring the filing of ex parte presentations “We find that modifying the ex parte designation of this proceeding from ‘exempt’ to ‘permit-but-disclose’ will provide greater transparency into the Commission’s deliberations regarding a band shared by the Fixed Service and the Fixed-Satellite Service,” said a bureau notice.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council slammed AT&T purported comments questioning whether there's a consensus definition for public safety-grade communications. NPSTC cited a “detailed 115-page definition of public safety grade for broadband” released by 16 public safety groups in 2014 and APCO’s work to create an American National Standards Institute standard. “NPSTC is disappointed that FirstNet's commercial partner, AT&T, has on numerous occasions stated that it is not aware of a single agreed upon definition for public safety grade,” NPSTC said in a statement Friday. “It is clearly apparent that numerous NPSTC-generated public safety broadband requirements submitted to the PSAC [FirstNet's Public Safety Advisory Committee] have significantly influenced FirstNet's [request for proposal] for which AT&T's contract was awarded. Public safety stakeholders have spent thousands of hours developing broadband requirements and expect a public safety grade system.” AT&T didn't comment.