A spokesman for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory said Tuesday nothing is unusual about NRAO’s decision to give wrist-worn activity monitors to its staff, even though the monitors are an interference threat to the observatory’s sensitive telescope (see 1512140030). “These devices were provided to employees as part of a program to promote health and wellness among our staff,” the spokesman said. “Our employees have received guidance on their use when near our antenna sites from our interference engineers. Our employees are aware of the importance of avoiding interference to our sensitive telescopes and are accustomed to avoiding the use of numerous electronic devices, not just Fitbits, at our observing sites. This is a well-established practice that dates back to our observatory's founding.”

BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk downgraded Verizon from buy to neutral, despite continuing growth and industry-leading low churn. “Despite all these positive dynamics in wireless, which represents over 80 percent of Verizon’s EBITDA, its stock has done little over the past 2-3 years and it is increasingly difficult to see how our outlook for the company could improve further to deliver upside to existing investor expectations,” Piecyk wrote investors Tuesday. He also expressed concern about Verizon’s overall wireless network strategy: “Verizon management appears to be digging in their heels on a wireless network strategy reliant on small cell densification and the future use of higher-band spectrum, even though Verizon does not own that spectrum and it has largely been considered to be unusable for mobile communications. This adds risk to estimates.” Verizon shares closed up 10 cents Tuesday at $45.55.

The AFL-CIO, Communications Workers of America and National Women's Law Center delivered 15,000 petition signatures to the German Embassy Tuesday, asking the country's government to press T-Mobile to abandon a company policy that silences workers who speak out against sexual harassment, a CWA news release said. The German state owns about 32 percent of Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile's German parent. In August, the National Labor Relations Board found T-Mobile guilty of violating the rights of a T-Mobile employee who no longer works there. Since T-Mobile had to withdraw employee gag order policies only at its call centers in Maine and South Carolina, the release said, the rest of T-Mobile's 46,000 employees don't know these nondisclosure agreements violate U.S. labor law. "No one should have to decide between keeping their job and staying safe," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said. "But that unfortunate choice is put to working women under T-Mobile's current practice of silencing workers who come forward with sexual harassment claims. Today we are calling on the German government as a major stakeholder to hold T-Mobile accountable and demand they protect workers' rights and women's equality." T-Mobile didn't comment.

Representatives of Mercedes-Benz USA and parent Daimler expressed “enthusiastic support” in a series of meetings at the FCC for an agency proposal to expand vehicular radar use throughout the 76-81 GHz band. “By adopting that proposal, the Commission will advance international efforts to harmonize the spectrum allocation for vehicular radar, promote the development of innovative new automotive safety technologies, including next generation driver assistance, and provide an essential foundation for the development of autonomous vehicles,” the auto executives said, according to a filing in docket 11-90. The FCC sought comment in a February NPRM. The docket has been quiet since the FCC took comments earlier this year, with only one other filing since April. The companies said the commission was right to propose that the use of the spectrum fall under Part 95 rules. “Vehicular radar technologies enable critical safety of life applications, including collision prevention, lane keeping assistance, and blind spot detection, among other safety features,” they said. “Part 95 licensing will provide vehicular radar with primary status and protect it from harmful interference."

The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau is seeking comment on a petition for retroactive waiver of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act filed by Rita's Water Ice, said a public notice released in docket 02-278 Monday. Rita's wants a waiver of the prior-express-written-consent requirement for making automated telemarketing calls. Comments are due Jan. 13, replies Jan. 28.

The FTC said it's hosting a one-day workshop Jan. 19 on competition and other auto-related issues, including emerging trends such as car-sharing, connected cars (see 1511180051) and autonomous vehicles (see 1512080046). The workshop participants will discuss both federal and state regulations, including the relationship between automakers and dealers, the agency said Monday. Speakers weren't listed, but the workshop will be webcast on the agency's site.

The FCC and the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Employment and Training Administration plan a second workshop on tower climber safety Feb. 11, the agencies said Monday. Their first workshop was in October, at which FCC Wireless Bureau Chief Roger Sherman said tower deaths must not be viewed as inevitable (see 1410140172). Topics include best practices for improving tower climber safety and the comments received in response to OSHA’s request for information on communication tower safety (OSHA-2014-0018). FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is to speak, a notice from the agencies said. The meeting will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the FCC Commission Meeting Room.

The FCC published in the Federal Register Monday proposed revisions to its Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) rules, approved by the commission at its November meeting (see 1511190053). The FCC is seeking comment on allowing longer WEA messages, inclusion of hyperlinks and narrower distribution of alerts. Comments are due Jan. 13, replies Feb. 12, the notice said. Comments on the proposed information collection requirements are due at the Office of Management and Budget, also on Feb. 12.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, West Virginia, handed out wrist-worn activity trackers to its staff, even though the devices could interfere with the massive radio telescope operated by the observatory, wireless lawyer Mitchell Lazarus of Fletcher Heald said in a Monday blog post. “Fitbits are good for radio astronomers,” he wrote. “But not so good for radio astronomy.” NRAO maintains an interference-free zone around the telescope. NRAO tested the devices, Lazarus wrote, finding their transmissions create a signal 10 billion times stronger than international recommendations permit. “The scientists who ran the tests note that a Fitbit can be carried safely if stuffed into a modified metal pill fob," he said. "But we’re guessing that most NRAO personnel, accustomed to measuring the Universe and its expansion with the most sophisticated equipment known to science, will go back to measuring their own expansion with a tape measure and bathroom scale.” NRAO didn't comment.

NTIA released an NPRM seeking comment on its review and approval of fees imposed by FirstNet, the proposed broadband network for first responders. The notice is to be published in the Federal Register Tuesday and comments will be due 30 days later, NTIA said Monday. “When it enters the market, FirstNet will start with no market share and will have to compete for customers by distinguishing its product in terms of features, price, and reliability from products offered by commercial providers,” NTIA said in the notice. To succeed, “FirstNet will need to employ business strategies with flexibility and agility commonplace in the private sector.” NTIA said it proposed to focus on one area, consistent with the legislation that created FirstNet -- “whether the fees are, in aggregate and combined with other non-fee-based income, sufficient, but not in excess, of the projected funds FirstNet needs to carry out its statutory obligations in a given fiscal year.” NTIA said it plans to focus exclusively on “FirstNet’s projected income and expenses.” Otherwise, NTIA said it doesn't plan to look at whether the fees FirstNet charges are reasonable. “A reasonableness review of FirstNet fees is unnecessary as a matter of policy,” NTIA said. “The Act does not mandate or require any public safety entity to purchase services from FirstNet. FirstNet must compete for subscribers by offering a compelling value proposition to prospective public safety customers.” NTIA proposes to complete its review each year before FirstNet imposes fees. NTIA said it plans to make one of three determinations every year, that the proposed fees -- exceed, meet but do not exceed or do not meet FirstNet’s revenue requirements. If FirstNet’s proposed fees are too high or too low, they can't be assessed, the agency said. NTIA also proposed to allow FirstNet to determine the level of working capital funds it should keep on hand. “By doing so, NTIA will not, in its fee review and approval process, assess whether or what level of funds FirstNet should maintain in reserves, capital accounts, or other funding categories,” NTIA said. “FirstNet’s routine budget, auditing, and accounting processes will presumably determine the need for such capital reserve funds.” NTIA said it expects FirstNet to charge three categories of fees -- user fees, fees for leasing access to FirstNet spectrum and fees for access to FirstNet infrastructure and equipment, including antennas and towers.