A day after unveiling plans for its LCD display fab in Kenosha, Wisconsin (see report in the July 28 issue of this publication), Foxconn announced Friday it's teaming with Rockwell Automation to implement connected enterprise and industrial IoT concepts for smart manufacturing in Foxconn’s U.S. facilities using technology and expertise from both companies. The companies also will collaborate on smart manufacturing at Foxconn’s global electronics assembly operations “within the related industry eco-system,” they said. Foxconn and Rockwell will partner on workforce development and training, working with ManpowerGroup to create a pool of certified talent for manufacturing positions across the U.S., they said.

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance said it filed comments opposing part of T-Mobile’s request for changes (see 1706200081) to rules for the 3.5 GHz shared band. Both T-Mobile and CTIA called for changes favorable to priority access license holders, “providing them with longer license terms and larger auction areas" and EWA doesn't object, said a Friday news release. But T-Mobile also wants the FCC to auction the entire band for use by PAL licensees and that is not appropriate, the group said: “This recommendation includes the 3650-3700 MHz band, which is intensively used by government, business, industrial and critical infrastructure users, many of which are members of EWA.”

Among big developments from Q2 calls are AT&T’s announcement that FirstNet spending will start this year and Verizon’s projections of increased spending on its wireless build (see 1707270037), BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk wrote Friday. AT&T is likely to replace more than half the antennas in its network as part of FirstNet, Piecyk said. “Six states have opted in to FirstNet to date and AT&T can begin its work in those areas as soon as that begins. It is likely that AT&T will increase its wireless investments in 2018 based on this project.” Piecyk expects a 60 percent increase in Verizon’s wireless capital expenditures in the second half of the year compared with the first half. “Verizon indicated that the second half investments will be focused on fiber and small cells,” he said. Other noteworthy developments include T-Mobile’s promise to start deploying in the 600 MHz band in August and Crown Castle’s “doubling down on small cell exposure,” he said.

More consolidation would be helpful to the financial future of the U.S. wireless industry, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services said in a research report to its clients. “Although it is hard to argue that having four nationwide carriers has not been good for consumer pricing, we believe that the current roster of four is not sustainable longer-term and is likely to result in deteriorating credit quality for the industry overall,” S&P said. “Even though operating and financial performance for T-Mobile, and to a lesser extent Sprint, have been improving, we believe the recent launch of unlimited data plans by AT&T and Verizon indicate that the industry will struggle to maintain its current level of profitability without consolidation.” S&P is generally positive on a possible Sprint/T-Mobile deal. “We believe that there could be significant long-term benefits for a merged company, including improved scale, a larger spectrum position, and the ability to better compete with” AT&T and Verizon. Questions include possible regulatory roadblocks and that Deutsche Telekom, parent of T-Mobile, “may be a reluctant seller given that T-Mobile US is its only growth vehicle and a merger with Sprint could hurt near-term prospects.” S&P was less positive on AT&T’s proposed buy of Time Warner. The financials are questionable and “with such acquisitions, there is always a risk of cultural differences between the two companies, which if mismanaged could result in the defection of creative talent from Time Warner,” said the Thursday report.

AT&T, fully engaged on the build of FirstNet, fired back at Verizon and the Competitive Carriers Association Friday in letters to the FCC. Verizon earlier this week told the FCC that FirstNet shouldn't be allowed to impose additional conditions on states that opt out of connecting to the first responder network (see 1707250015). “Verizon is wrong on both the policy and the law, and is woefully late to the debate,” AT&T said in a filing in docket 16-269. “In response to identical requests made previously in this proceeding, the Commission has clearly held that statutory interpretation questions regarding the permissibility of a separate state core are outside the scope of its responsibilities. The Commission should therefore ignore or deny as moot the late and redundant pleas of Verizon.” AT&T also criticized the Competitive Carriers Association, which raised questions in a recent filing about whether AT&T is violating commitments on device interoperability by offering a FirstNet-exclusive device from Motorola. “CCA’s statements about the Motorola LEX F10 are wrong on multiple counts,” AT&T said in a second filing. “Nothing about the Motorola LEX F10 is inconsistent with AT&T’s commitments under the Commission’s 700MHz Interoperability Order. The device is not part of AT&T’s device portfolio. AT&T neither sells the device nor has provided any specific requirements for its development. AT&T has certified the device for use on its network, including by FirstNet subscribers; but this nevertheless remains a ‘non-stock’ device just like numerous other similarly certified non-stock devices sold by other entities.” "Here they go again -- AT&T appears intent on repeating history by manipulating the standards process and equipment market in a way that deprives American consumers, the Public Safety community, and the benefits of competition by reintroducing Band 17 devices despite the requirements of the interoperability order,” said CCA President Steve Berry. “This is particularly egregious given the vision of FirstNet to bring new competition, interoperability and choice to benefit public safety. … AT&T and its partner Motorola should not be allowed to short change Public Safety from these important benefits.” Verizon wouldn't comment.

Lennar unveils a Wi-Fi-certified $1 million home design at Obsidian at Parasol Park in Irvine, California, Saturday, it announced Thursday, the first builder to do so under Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi Certified Home Design program (see 1706220052) that guarantees whole-home coverage. Mapping results determine placement of signal-extending built-in access points.

Wireless and Wisconsin state officials looked to a 5G future, and even one with 8K TV, with Wednesday's announcement Foxconn will invest $10 billion and create 13,000 jobs in the state. CEO Terry Gou's prominent mentions at a White House ceremony of building an 8K and 5G “ecosystem” in Kenosha likely means “there’s more to it for Foxconn than just the TVs,” said Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, in an interview. No “technical barriers” limit LCD panel suppliers “from making 8K even with amorphous silicon,” said Young. With 4K not yet “fully matured,” there’s a “question” of whether “is it really the time to introduce 8K and limit the success of 4K products,” he said. “There’s no content at 8K." Gou said “we are in the middle of the iPhone revolution,” as “high-resolution 8K displays and the powerful 5G communications will greatly increase the growth of big data. With artificial intelligence, a new 8K/5G ecosystem is born.” Displays with 8K resolution are “the key to our future,” said Gou. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said a memorandum of understanding was being signed Thursday with the company, with $3 billion in “incentives” from Wisconsin. The region “we will call Wisconn Valley will become the new global home to cutting-edge technology and innovation,” he said. Walker said that when visiting Foxconn facilities in China, he saw the 8K that Gou “talks about,” and “it is phenomenal.” The company will build a "state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the production of LCD panel products," President Donald Trump said at the ceremony, with "a larger facility [to be] constructed over the coming years. And that facility is currently under negotiation." He noted the company’s initial investment of $10 billion-plus creates 3,000 jobs, with the potential for 13,000, and the plant represents "the return of LCD electronics and electronics manufacturing" to the U.S.

U.S. Cellular supports “the concept of a one-time data collection in place of using FCC Form 477 data” in a draft order on rules for the Mobility Fund II program, the carrier said. CTIA proposed the plan. U.S. Cellular met with aides to Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Mike O’Rielly on the proposal, circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai July 13 for commissioners' Aug. 3 meeting (see 1707130059), said a filing in docket 10-208. “It builds networks consistent with the standards agreed to in the CTIA plan, and urged the Commission to retain these requirements,” the carrier said. “Proposed adjustments will increase the relative cell size, in some cases significantly, reducing the amount of area eligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support.” But the Rural Wireless Association raised objections, including on a call with Pai. “RWA is disappointed that the Commission has failed to include a 1 Mbps upload threshold to determine MFII support-eligible areas,” said a filing. “Upload speeds are crucial to the end user’s experience -- particularly real-time data exchanges like those required for the distance learning and telemedicine applications.”

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers raised objections to proposed language in a draft notice of inquiry on mid-band spectrum, circulated by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai July 13 (see 1707130059). The NOI “seeks comment on how the Commission could mitigate the risk of interference from unlicensed devices to licensed services that operate in the 5.925-6.425 GHz band,” the alliance said, but it doesn't explicitly ask about interference to “vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-everything” systems in the adjacent 5.9 GHz band. The alliance asked the FCC to include specific questions on the risk to intelligent transportation service (ITS) systems: “Unlicensed devices would also need to avoid causing out-of-band interference to ITS services operating in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band. If the Commission allowed unlicensed use in the 5.925-6.425 GHz band, what out-of-band emission limits would be needed to protect licensed ITS services?” Commissioners are to vote at their Aug. 3 meeting. Wednesday's filing is in docket 17-183.

It has been 90 days since the end of the FCC incentive auction and its quiet period, but no deals have been announced, BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk wrote Wednesday. “There continues to be speculation about possible combinations and stories of exclusive negotiations,” he said. “Relative price expectations might be the biggest hurdle and clearly there is little consideration for possible regulatory challenges.”