The FCC is seeking comment on ways to increase access to spectrum and improve flexibility and efficiency of the 900 MHz band. The Friday notice of inquiry in docket 17-200 asks for comment on the 896-901/935-940 MHz band, designated in 1986 for narrowband private land mobile radio communications by business, industrial and land transportation licensees and specialized mobile radio providers. “Consistent with our recent efforts to promote flexibility, efficiency, and access in the use of other spectrum bands, we seek comment on the potential for modification to the operational rules and band configuration for the 900 MHz band, which has undergone few changes since 1986, in light of continuing evolutions in technology and the marketplace,” the FCC said. “We invite commenters to provide economic and technical data in order to better understand current and future uses and needs in the band.” Comments are due Sept. 18, replies Oct. 18.

T-Mobile executives told FCC officials the company is ready to start deploying service using the licenses it bought in the TV incentive auction this year. T-Mobile met with Matthew Berry, FCC chief of staff, and Jean Kiddoo, chair of the Incentive Auction Task Force, said a filing in docket 12-268. “Representatives from T-Mobile discussed the company’s plans to rapidly deploy 600 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband and to begin providing service to consumers this year, including bringing new competition and choice to rural areas previously unserved by T-Mobile,” the carrier said. “Representatives also discussed broadcaster and vendor progress on the post-auction transition and T-Mobile’s efforts to help broadcasters identify and resolve transition issues.”

The FCC reinstated six PCS licenses American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) won at auction, but didn’t build out to satisfy the rules. The Wireless Bureau gave the authority until March 7 to meet the original five-year buildout requirements. Doing so is in the public interest and would be beneficial to people in America Samoa, the bureau said. The FCC originally granted the licenses to ATSCA on Jan. 24, 2011, with a construction deadline of Jan. 24, 2016. The letter to the carrier said the company faced difficulties. “There are no direct flights to the U.S. mainland, and only two weekly flights to Hawaii, with cargo ships departing for American Samoa approximately once every two weeks,” the letter said. “The bulk of resources, from telecommunications components to heavy equipment used to construct the communications facilities, must be ordered months in advance and shipped.” The terrain is challenging, the bureau said. “These volcanic islands are extremely rugged and steep with two-thirds of the land covered by forest.”

Xiaomi leapfrogged Fitbit and Apple in Q2 to become the world’s largest wearables vendor, with 17 percent share, Strategy Analytics reported. Combined shipments rose 8 percent from Q2 2016. Fitbit’s 3.4 million shipped wearables placed it second, with 15.7 percent share worldwide, down from 29 percent. Apple’s 2.8 million iPhone shipments were up 56 percent for 13 percent share, but Apple lost its leadership spot, lacking larger-market fitness band products, said analyst Cliff Raskind. “The rumored upcoming Watch Series 3 launch with enhanced health tracking could prove to be a popular smartwatch model and enable Apple to reclaim the top wearables spot later this year.”

Verizon officials said they met with FCC Public Safety Bureau staff on a filing the carrier made last month on FirstNet (see 1707250015). The Verizon representatives “affirmed the company’s intention to provide reliable and innovative public safety communications services to state and local governments irrespective of whether states choose to opt out of the FirstNet network,” said a filing in docket 16-269.

The FCC’s Final NPRM on the Form 477 data collection process is important to competitive carriers (see 1708030026), said Steve Berry, president of the Competitive Carriers Association. “Acknowledging that current Form 477 data is insufficient, the FCC is taking a significant step toward reforming the coverage data upon which it will base important policy decisions moving forward, including those affecting federal funding, telehealth initiatives, the Internet of Things, and other noteworthy next-generation services.” Berry also said the FCC was right to press forward on the mid-band spectrum notice of inquiry (see 1708030052). The FNPRM was issued Friday.

Public Knowledge said the FCC should finalize rules for sharing the 37-37.6 GHz band approved last year as part of the spectrum frontiers order, saying it could OK Starry's proposal with some tweaks. “Spectrum sharing is critical to maximizing the usefulness of available spectrum,” said a filing in docket 14-177. “Diverse spectrum access schemes are important for promoting new and innovative technologies and uses. The Commission’s sharing framework for the Lower 37 GHz band will advance the public interest goals of promoting innovation, market entry, competition, intensive spectrum reuse, and accommodate a myriad of users and uses.”

APCO's executive committee and executive director met with the officers and CEO of the National Emergency Number Association July 29 to discuss joint positions on 911 issues. An APCO official said the group had nothing to say beyond a statement. “The collegial and productive meeting resulted in consensus by both associations for the need for all Next Generation 9-1-1 technologies to be both interoperable and interconnected including equipment currently described as NENA 13 ‘compliant,’” said a Friday joint statement. “The two associations also discussed and agreed on the need for federal funding to enable state and local governments to transition to Next Generation technologies as well as the need for consistent and transparent messaging concerning the current state of Next Generation 9-1-1 equipment offerings.” Look for joint communications on these topics in the next 30 to 60 days, the groups said.

U.S. standards on green electronics "pushed manufacturers toward more recycled plastics, fewer hazardous materials, smarter end-of-life management, and better energy efficiency,” but “environmental progress of electronics manufacturing is stalling,” said a report Thursday by Repair.org, which backs right-to-repair laws in states (see 1704090001). “For it to improve again, standards would need to include inspiring, challenging criteria that research has demonstrated to reduce electronics' environmental footprint -- such as design for repair, reuse, and disassembly.” Green standards “have become increasingly ineffectual, as electronics manufacturers now constitute a large voting bloc” on most U.S. standards groups, it said. Tech companies “consistently opposed stronger reuse and repair criteria,” it said. “Green standards have systemically failed to incorporate strong policies that would enable repair, reuse, and product life extension for electronics.” CTA declined comment.

The U.S. installed base of iPhones is “virtually entirely of phones sold in the past 33 months,” reported Consumer Intelligence Research Partners Thursday. It reached 141 million units in the fiscal quarter ended July 1 vs. 124 million in the year-ago quarter, CIRP said. Larger phones are making up a bigger share of the mix as “Plus” versions in the 6, 6S and 7 series total 53 million units, for 38 percent, up from 29 percent. “After over three years, and after initial skepticism, larger-format Plus model phone market acceptance is firmly established,” said analyst Josh Lowitz. Analyst Mike Levin noted the 141 million iPhones owned by U.S. consumers represent half the adult and teen population. Operating system switches are at an all-time low, Levin said. CIRP based findings on a survey of 500 U.S. Apple customers July 1-13.