Qualcomm and TDK are in a $3 billion deal for a joint venture for delivery of RF front-end (RFFE) modules and RF filters into integrated systems for mobile and IoT devices, drones, robotics and automotive applications. Called RF360 Holdings Singapore, the venture will draw on TDK’s capabilities in micro-acoustic RF filtering, packaging and module integration and Qualcomm’s wireless technologies expertise, the companies said. Growing demands in mobile communications require current and future smartphones to support dozens of bands for 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G, along with connectivity for wireless LAN, satellite navigation and Bluetooth. RF360 Holdings will initially be owned 51 percent by Qualcomm Global Trading and 49 percent by TDK subsidiary Epcos, the companies said. Filter and module design and manufacturing assets, plus related patents, will be carved out from TDK and its subsidiaries and be largely acquired by RF360, with certain assets being acquired directly by Qualcomm affiliates, they said of the deal seen closing by early next year.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau reminded wireless carriers of the Jan. 18 location accuracy deadline for providers that deploy network-based E-911 location accuracy technologies. The FCC approved the rules last January (see 1501290066). Covered carriers must meet a new location accuracy standard, including being able to locate a caller within 100 meters for 67 percent of calls in 100 percent of counties or 911 center service areas covered, and within 300 meters for 90 percent of calls, in 70 percent of counties or service areas, the bureau said in a Wednesday public notice.

A “broad cross-section of commenters” supports a protection framework that establishes maximum aggregate received power levels for grandfathered 3650 MHz-3700 MHz base stations to protect them from harmful interference from Citizens Broadband Radio Service users in the 3.5 GHz shared spectrum band, Google said in reply comments in docket 12-354. Google proposed the FCC establish an aggregate received signal strength limit of -95 dBm/MHz (or -85dBm/10 MHz) at locations where equipment is located “rather than creating inefficient protection zones” (see 1512290038). Google said groups including the Wireless ISP Association and the Wireless Innovation Forum favor a similar plan. The Utilities Telecom Council said it supports the FCC’s general approach on grandfathered wireless protection zone (GWPZ), but believes they should be larger than the agency proposed. “As the comments of UTC and several utilities on the record explain, the GWPZ should be expanded because utilities have made significant investments in the 3.5 GHz band (3550-3700 MHz band), and the reliability of these systems must be maintained in order to ensure the safe, effective and secure delivery of essential electric, gas and water services to the public at large,” UTC said in reply comments. “Utilities represent the significant majority of incumbent systems in the 3.5 GHz band, and the GWPZ uniquely impacts utilities.”

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) expects to add mainstream record labels as it eyes various devices plus the car, and Atlantic Records expects to release tracks in the High-Res Audio format, Atlantic CEO Craig Kallman told us. The smartphone holds a lot of appeal for MQA because it’s the listening device of choice for an entire generation of music lovers, said Spencer Chrislu, MQA director-content services. MQA’s flexibility suits it well to the smaller device, he said Friday at CES in Las Vegas. “The idea that with MQA embedded into it you can now get 1,000 songs on your portable player but not have to deal with lossy compression … is a great opportunity to get at this generation that’s never been able to experience that.” Benefits are audible via a file downloaded to a network-attached storage drive or via a streaming service, he said. Chrislu said MQA is working with “many” on the hardware side on integration.

The smartwatch is a “category waiting for a market,” said Juniper Research analyst James Moar in a report Tuesday. Apple Watch had 52 percent of global smartwatch shipments last year, despite launching in early Q2, said Juniper. Android Wear shipments were under 10 percent for the year, said the research firm. Some other smartwatch sales are from “cheaper, simpler” devices from smaller players, it said. Apple Watch aside, the market has been driven by lower-priced devices, said Juniper. But it said the smartwatch ecosystem is “growing rapidly,” with dedicated software companies emerging to develop games and productivity apps.

AT&T told the FCC it should ignore National Public Safety Telecommunications Council arguments asking the agency not to approve AT&T’s request for waivers to use power spectral density (PSD) measurements to comply with effective radiated power limits for 800 MHz cellular operations in eight cellular market areas in Kentucky and Tennessee. NPSTC said the FCC should address changes to cellular service power limit rules through a pending rulemaking and not through waivers (see 1512310029). “Notwithstanding the complexity of the issues involved, the public interest would be best served by grant of the waiver,” AT&T said. “NPSTC’s concerns about an increase in the potential for interference are generalized and not specific to AT&T’s proposal to use the PSD measure to set base station power limits in Kentucky and Tennessee.” AT&T said a study it submitted to the FCC shows there's no risk to public safety operations posed by the rule change. AT&T’s reply comments were filed in docket 15-300.

Any comments the FCC seeks on LightSquared's hopes of gaining some spectrum used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration need to be "sufficiently broad in scope" to include compatibility of its planned terrestrial broadband network with aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT), the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 12-340. LightSquared is seeking shared use of the NOAA spectrum as part of its plan to give up terrestrial use of 1545-1555 MHz to assuage interference fears voiced by the GPS industry (see 1512310016). LightSquared's proposal before the FCC "is focused substantially on GPS issues [and] there is no mention of potential LightSquared interference [to AMT] in the band immediately to the south of LightSquared at 1435-1525 MHz," AFTRCC said. The FCC needs to be sure to invite comment on AMT below 1525 MHz, it said. AFTRCC said it and LightSquared were once "in substantial negotiations" about a coordination agreement and are talking about resuming them, but said "such discussions are not a substitute for the relief requested here." In a statement Tuesday, LightSquared said it has "worked constructively with AFTRCC over the years," and is "happy to resume our work together. Our approach is consistent with finding solutions with all key stakeholders, and we very much look forward to the Commission moving forward with its process."

The Competitive Carriers Association, T-Mobile and US Cellular asked the FCC not to back down from a firm deadline for broadcasters to leave their spectrum after the TV incentive auction. Carrier representatives met with Wireless Bureau Chief Roger Sherman, Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake and Gary Epstein, chairman of the Incentive Auction Task Force, among others at the FCC. “CCA and its members expressed concern about calls for a delay of the current 39-month transition period for incumbent relocation,” CCA said in a filing in docket 12-268. “As CCA and the Commission have previously acknowledged, there are reasonable activities that broadcasters and tower construction companies can commence now to prepare for the relocation process including ‘construction planning, installation of new power line[s], equipment purchases, and onsite storage of equipment.’” NAB attacked CCA's objections to loosening a 39-month deadline (see 1601110067).

Google's push for a two-year experimental license to allow nationwide testing in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands is facing pushback over interference concerns, and from a variety of parties concerned about biological effects from wireless communications. The heavily redacted experimental license application submitted in December doesn't give specifics but is believed to be related to high-altitude airborne testing (see 1512020025). The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) in an FCC Office of Engineering and Technology filing Monday said Google needs to provide more information about its interference mitigation strategy for site-based incumbent licensees operating in the same bandwidth. Since Google's application was heavily redacted, FWCC said, "the extent to which [it] would impact incumbent licensees in these bands is unknown." Maryland Smart Meter Awareness (MSMA), an advocacy group against smart meters for health and privacy reasons, said in its filing Monday the agency should deny the Google application because it "would involve blanketing the entire U.S. and its atmosphere in radiofrequency/microwave radiation." "Connectivity that is protective of health and the environment and that delivers necessary tools to all can be achieved safely through cable if we care enough to insist on it," MSMA said. Global Union Against Radiation Deployment From Space, an advocacy group opposed to satellite-based broadband, filed a similar objection last month: "Global wireless access, with all its serious safety problems, is an unacceptable hazard. Widely available fast Internet access is a goal that can be safely attained using various forms of cabled connectivity." Google didn't comment Tuesday.

T-Mobile remains a strong proponent of net neutrality and its zero-rated Binge On video streaming service is “VERY” pro open Internet, CEO John Legere said an open letter to consumers, posted on the carrier’s website. Last week, net neutrality advocates led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation raised questions about the service, provoking a expletive-laced response from Legere (see 1601080030). Many are missing a key component of Binge On, Legere said. “You can turn it on and off in your MyTMobile account -- whenever you want,” he said. “Turn it on and off at will. Customers are in control. Not T-Mobile. Not content providers. Customers. At all times.” T-Mobile wanted to make Binge On easy for subscribers to use and that’s why it was made an automatic feature on all devices, he said. “We don’t like to make customers dig around to find great new benefits.” Binge On uses proprietary technology to detect video, “determine its source, identify whether it should be FREE and finally adjust all streams for a smaller/handheld device,” he said. “Most video streams come in at incredibly high resolution rates that are barely detectable by the human eye on small device screens and this is where the data in plans is wasted.” Legere said despite the complaints about the service, “T-Mobile is a company that absolutely supports Net Neutrality and we believe in an open and free Internet.” Legere apologized for "offending EFF and its supporters" and said "just because we don’t completely agree on all aspects of Binge On doesn’t mean I don’t see how they fight for consumers. ... We look forward to sitting down and talking with the EFF and that is a step we will definitely take. Unfortunately, my color commentary from last week is now drowning out the real value of Binge On."