The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions weighed in strongly against requiring wireless carriers to transmit wireless emergency alerts as part of an early warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis. The wireless industry in general argued that WEAs couldn’t be used for warnings when the FCC sought comment (see 1605100054). ATIS reported on a call between members of its Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee and Public Safety and International bureau staff. “It is unaware of any earthquake or tsunami alerts over WEA and ... there are no standards defined to support this approach,” ATIS said in a filing in docket 16-32. “WEA should not be used to transmit earthquake or tsunami alerts.”

The Competitive Carriers Association warned the FCC its nationwide carrier members may not meet a Dec. 31, 2017, deadline for deployment of real-time text (RTT) technology as a substitute for legacy text telephone (TTY) service. Members are “actively working to ensure functionality, accessibility, and interoperability between networks and with legacy TTY devices,” CCA said. But RTT deployment “is largely dependent on other participants in the wireless ecosystem, including but not limited to original equipment manufacturers,” CCA said in a report to the agency. “CCA, on behalf of its participating members, especially rural and regional carriers, reiterates the challenges its members might face with respect to implementation and deployment of new network features, as well as the availability of RTT-capable devices, on the same time frame as the largest carriers like AT&T and, particularly, the largest carriers with wireline infrastructure, capabilities, and resources.” CCA filed the report of a requirement imposed by the agency after the group got an unusual association-wide waiver of the commission’s current TTY rules, the filing in docket 15-178 noted. The deadline also was part of the waiver order. In April, the FCC approved an NPRM on the TTY-to-RTT transition (see 1604080053).

Broadcom explained its opposition to an Association of Global Automakers/Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers petition for tighter out-of-band emissions from U-NII-3 (5.725-5.85 GHz) band-enabled devices (see 1606240073), in a meeting with Daudeline Meme, an aide to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Christopher Szymanski, director-product marketing and government affairs, explained Broadcom’s earlier comments on the “potential for unlicensed operations in the U-NII-4 band,” said a filing in docket 13-49. Szymanski “emphasized that details pertaining to Wi-Fi emissions were not based on assumptions, but rather on real world measurements from the hundreds of millions of devices in operation in the United States that have been certified to operate in U-NII-3,” the filing said.

Top officials from the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and pdvWireless met with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on the entities' proposed rules for a private enterprise broadband allocation in the 900 MHz band (see 1505130022). The proposal faced limited opposition when the FCC took comment earlier this year (see 1606230017). EWA President Mark Crosby and PDV Vice Chairman Morgan O’Brien “described the history and current utilization of the Part 90 900 MHz band, as well as the substantial additional utility and efficiency that would be produced by adopting the joint EWA/PDV Petition for Rulemaking,” said a filing in RM-11738. “They noted the importance of investigating the optimal use of all spectrum, and urged the FCC to move forward as promptly as possible.”

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved a waiver allowing The Alfred Mann Foundation (AMF) for Scientific Research to market the first generation of new medical devices for amputees. The system uses medically implanted sensors to allow amputees to have “more intuitive control of their prosthetic devices,” OET said. But the first generation of the system uses the 94.6-157.4 kHz band “during start-up modes lasting less than one second in order to configure the implanted sensors,” which under FCC rules wasn't permissible without a waiver, OET said in a letter to AMF. “You argue that requiring a redesign of these first-generation systems would delay the FDA approval process for both first- and future- generation IMES systems, because FDA approval of new, next-generation … devices relies heavily upon approval of the first-generation devices,” OET said. “You also confirm that future-generation … systems will be redesigned to operate on a different, non-restricted frequency to comply with the rules.” OET said it found “good cause” to approve the waiver. “This is a compelling situation, in which technology will improve the quality of life for amputees based on speedy approval by the FDA for this first-generation design,” OET said.

Common Sense wants the creator of the popular Pokemon Go mobile game to improve the privacy of kids' data and their physical safety. In a letter to Niantic CEO John Hanke, the group said developers paid "scant attention" to privacy and security when the company asked iOS users who registered through Google for full permission to that account. The company last week acknowledged the mistake, saying that was not the intention and it fixed the issue (see 1607150014). "These issues are so significant that it appears that, during the game's development, the desire to score a big and lucrative hit outweighed considerations of the privacy, security, and physical safety of users, in particular the many users who are children," said the letter, signed by Common Sense CEO James Steyer. He asked Niantic to take several steps, including getting "informed and meaningful consent from parents" that clearly delineates in-app purchases from items that can be purchased with game currency. Steyer also said the company should put in place a "data sunset on storing location data collected from children and teens" and not use location data to target ads or build children's profiles, among other steps. The letter was copied to members of the Senate and House Commerce committees and individual senators including Al Franken, D-Minn., who also had raised privacy concerns (see 1607120072). An email to Niantic seeking a comment was not immediately answered.

Wireless charging could “radically change the market landscape,” but it likely will be years “before these technologies become a mainstream solution,” ABI Research said in a Monday report. “Mobile leaders” like Apple and Samsung “are moving wireless charging forward by integrating inductive charging into smartphones and wearables,” said the firm. “But most wire-free charging technologies still need to meet regulatory approval, which could significantly delay product launches or even derail any momentum.”

The FCC should proceed with care on proposed rules for wireless emergency alerts (WEAs), especially in any requirement to embed URLs, the Competitive Carriers Association said in a meeting with Public Safety Bureau Chief David Simpson and other FCC officials. CCA reported on the meeting in docket 15-91. “Though technology has evolved since the adoption of the WEA rules, it is unclear at this time whether and how embedded URLs in every WEA alert could affect network capacity,” CCA said. “CCA therefore cautioned the Commission against requiring the use of embedded URLs for every WEA message at this time.” Instead, the FCC should first study the effect on networks, CCA said. The association in general supports proposals to increase the maximum WEA length from 90 to 360 characters, CCA said. But here, too, “CCA cautioned the Commission to ensure that any requirements to expand character lengths are conditioned upon a carrier network’s technical capability to support additional content.” The agency proposed at commissioners' November meeting to allow longer WEA messages, inclusion of hyperlinks and narrower distribution of alerts (see 1511190053).

The FCC posted its online tutorial on bidding in the forward part of the TV incentive auction. The tutorial covers the structure of the forward auction's clock phase and provides demonstrations on how to use the system in the clock rounds, the tutorial said. Another tutorial on the auction's assignment phase will be posted later, the FCC said. The agency said the tutorial isn't a substitute for reviewing all of the orders, rules, public notices and policies released by the commission on the auction.

When NTIA considers grants for alternative public safety network plans by states opting out of FirstNet, the federal agency may consider costs incurred by FirstNet from lost efficiencies as compared to a network with no opt-outs, NTIA said in a notice expected to be published in Tuesday's Federal Register. NTIA sought comment on preliminary guidance about how an opt-out state may apply to NTIA for authority to enter into a spectrum capacity lease with FirstNet and receive a grant to construct its radio access network (RAN). Comments are due 30 days after publication. NTIA will provide more details on the application process in a forthcoming federal funding opportunity and other further notices, it said. "NTIA may take into consideration cost increases FirstNet will incur should a state assume the responsibility to conduct its own RAN, and may reduce a final grant award accordingly,” the agency said. “For example, FirstNet may incur increased costs to mitigate additional operational risks to the [nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN)], and losses of cost efficiencies, if a state assumes responsibility for the construction and operation of the RAN within its boundaries. Additionally, should a state conduct its own RAN, FirstNet may bear increased expenses related to interconnection of the state RAN to the NPSBN and mitigation of potential interference by the state RAN to the NPSBN operations in a bordering state.” Other financial factors also may affect the grant award, it said. NTIA plans to consider state applications on a rolling basis, it said. "We recognize that making timely decisions on a state’s application is critical to ensuring the NPSBN is deployed and operational in every state -- regardless of the party ultimately responsible for conducting a RAN in a given state,” the agency said. "NTIA’s role is limited to determining whether a state has demonstrated compliance with the required technical, financial, interoperability, programmatic, and qualitative criteria so that it can authorize the state to enter into a spectrum lease with FirstNet.” Once a state receives a proposal from FirstNet, it will have 90 days to opt out, then 180 days to submit an alternative plan for FCC approval. Once the commission approves the plan, the state can apply to NTIA for a grant.