Google, as expected, filed at the FCC a report on new testing data on the FCC’s proposed vacant channel rule (see 1603250019). “The record demonstrates widespread support for the Commission’s vacant channel proposal as an important measure to advance broadband deployment, support innovation, and spur economic growth,” Google said in the filing posted Monday in docket 15-146.

NTIA is seeking applicants for a two-year term on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. “In particular, NTIA seeks applicants with strong technical and engineering knowledge and experience, familiarity with commercial or private wireless technologies and associated businesses, or expertise with specific applications of wireless technologies,” said a notice, to be published in the Federal Register Tuesday. Applications are due at NTIA May 13. The term starts in August.

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved AT&T’s buy of a single lower 700 MHz C-block license covering one local market area in Alabama from Farmers Telecommunications. The transaction received enhanced scrutiny because it gives AT&T more than one-third of low-band spectrum available in the market, the bureau said Monday. “After carefully evaluating the likely competitive effects of AT&T’s increased aggregation of below-1-GHz spectrum, we find that the ability of rival service providers to offer a competitive response to any anticompetitive behavior on the part of AT&T is unlikely to be materially lessened in Alabama 2 -- Jackson,” the order said. “Further, we find that the record provides general support for the Applicants’ claims of potential public interest benefits.”

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai unveiled the agenda and panelists for the April 6 field hearing in Columbia, South Carolina, on inmates’ use of contraband cellphones. The event is to be hosted by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R). It will be live streamed starting at 2 p.m. EDT. The “testimony will shed additional light on the public safety threats posed by inmates’ use of contraband cellphones, as well as the steps we can take to help law enforcement combat this problem,” Pai said in a Monday news release. Among the witnesses is Robert Johnson, a retired captain with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, who was shot six times in a hit ordered by an inmate using a contraband cellphone. Representatives of CTIA and vendors CellAntenna and CellBlox are also scheduled to testify.

The FCC Wireless Bureau scheduled its annual educational workshop on the environmental compliance and historic preservation review process for May 4, the bureau said Friday in a public notice. “This year’s workshop will include information relevant to the construction of all new communications towers and to the collocation of communications equipment on towers and other structures.” The session starts at 9 a.m. at FCC HQ.

The FCC Wireless Bureau and NATOA said Friday they plan a workshop May 3 on the deployment of distributed antenna systems and small cells. More details are to come. The workshop will offer a technical/engineering and business overview, city case studies and information on current deployment and uses, the bureau and NATOA said in a notice. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. at FCC HQ.

CTIA President Meredith Baker urged a collaborative approach to develop rules for the Lifeline program, in meetings at the FCC, said a filing in docket 11-42. Baker met with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. “CTIA expressed support for the Commission’s goal to evolve the Lifeline program to support broadband services, including mobile wireless broadband, and agreed that the proposed reforms to program administration will help to further improve the effectiveness of Lifeline,” the group said. “However, CTIA expressed significant concern that the minimum standards for mobile wireless services described in the Commission’s recent Lifeline Fact Sheet will have a negative impact on millions of participating low-income consumers later this year when the new rules force a flash cut to unlimited mobile wireless voice minute plans.” Wireless carriers have emerged as leading critics of the Lifeline proposal before commissioners (see 1603170044) and scheduled for a Thursday vote.

Google wants Globalstar to make public the protocols its network operating system uses to authorize spectrum uses by terrestrial low-power service broadband devices in Wi-Fi channel 14 and demonstrate the NOS can exchange information needed for spectrum use in channel 14 with non-TLPS devices without relying on nonpublic protocols or standards, it said in an FCC ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 13-213. It recapped a conversation between Google Communications Law Director Austin Schlick and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's aide, Edward Smith, about Globalstar's TLPS plans. Google said any FCC approval of Globalstar's testing of TLPS in currently unlicensed spectrum should require such testing look at options for general public use of channel 14. In a separate ex parte filing Friday, Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge said again said they could support TLPS use of channel 14, but only if the FCC can guarantee a net benefit to the public, in a meeting with Wireless Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins. The agency should allow reciprocal public use of channel 14 in locations where TLPS isn't deployed and where Globalstar says there's slim risk channel 14 transmissions will interfere with its mobile satellite device customers, said Michael Calabrese, director-Wireless Future Project, OTI, according to the filing. "Globalstar is highly unlikely to deploy immediately on a nationwide basis," OTI and PK said. "In return for the auction-free windfall that Globalstar seeks, unlicensed operations should be able to use Channel 14 on an opportunistic basis, as the Commission has adopted for the 600 MHz band post-incentive auction." Globalstar didn't comment.

The FCC established a pleading cycle on Data-Max Wireless’ proposed sale of a single lower 700 MHz B-block license in Arizona to AT&T. The license covers Mohave County as a single-county market. “The Applicants assert that, as a result of this proposed transaction, AT&T would hold 24 MHz of contiguous, paired Lower 700 MHz spectrum in this CMA [cellular market area], allowing for a 10x10 megahertz LTE deployment,” the FCC said in a notice released Thursday. The deal would give AT&T 55 MHz of below-1-GHz spectrum in CMA Arizona 1-Mohave, the FCC said. Petitions to deny are due April 14, oppositions April 21 and replies April 28. The FCC also sent letters to both companies seeking more information on the transaction, which is standard operating procedure.

ARRL, formally known as the American Radio Relay League, told the FCC there's general support for its January petition proposing to modify the agency’s Part 97 rules to facilitate amateur radio communications using high frequency (HF) data transmission modes and protocols. ARRL said it reviewed the more than 190 comments filed in docket RM-11759. “The Petition enjoys support from a substantial number of licensees, including Extra Class licensees who operate telegraphy, RTTY [radio teletype] and data modes in the RTTY/data sub-band at 80 meters,” ARRL said in the filing. “Those commenters urge, in support of ARRL’s proposal, that additional spectrum is needed for those emissions, now and for the future, especially to encourage expanded use of digital emissions.” “Reasonable minds may differ” about any sub-band reallocation proposal, ARRL said. “Those whose favorite operating modes within the very limited HF allocations might be affected by any such proposal will be influenced by their own self-interest,” the group said. "However, ARRL’s proposal is not fairly viewed as a proposal to take anything away from anyone. It is more properly viewed as the effectuation of a fair, equitable and efficient 'band plan' looking forward for the foreseeable future that balances everyone’s needs.”