Comments are due May 15, replies June 15 in docket 19-226 on a December NPRM (see 1912040036) on the range of frequencies for which RF exposure limits should apply, says Monday's Federal Register. The agency subsequently issued a correction, with the dates that are now in this Notebook. The FCC approved the NPRM 5-0, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel's concurrence. "This NPRM focuses on developing a record encompassing RF exposure limits and compliance issues raised by recent developments in technology that have changed the way wireless devices are used, frequency bands of operation, how supporting wireless infrastructure is deployed, and how RF sources are assessed for compliance with the Commission’s existing RF exposure limits,” the notice says.
Comments will be due May 4, replies June 2 on revised TV white spaces rules, says Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners unanimously approved an NPRM at the February FCC meeting seeking comment on proposals to allow devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas (see 2002280055).
BLU Products agreed to pay a $130,000 civil penalty, admit it violated specific absorption rate (SAR) limit rules and implement a compliance plan, the FCC Enforcement Bureau said in a Thursday order. BLU's Grand Max mobile phone exceeded SAR limits and “failed to comply with the labeling, user manual, and permissive change requirements of the equipment authorization rules,” the bureau said. BLU indicated it had addressed the problem through a May 2018 update after the bureau made inquiries, the order said. The company told the FCC it stopped selling the model in August 2018. BLU didn’t comment.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology extended a waiver of the push notification requirement for fixed and mode II personal/portable white space devices through Sept. 30. The waiver was to expire March 31. The original waiver was approved in an August 2015 order on Part 15 rules and white spaces devices got their initial reprieve in 2016 (see 1612230051). “Manufacturers may continue to market previously approved white space devices" and users "may continue to operate them,” said Tuesday's order in docket 14-165.
Tech companies told the FCC listen-before-talk features of Wi-Fi and other unlicensed devices will protect electronic newsgathering operations in the 6 GHz band. “Wi-Fi does not transmit if it detects energy above a specified ‘energy detection’ threshold,” said a filing posted Monday in 18-295. “If it detects the presence of such a signal, or after transmitting itself, it will then wait a random period of time before attempting to transmit again, minimizing the odds that multiple transmitters will begin transmitting” simultaneously. Traffic is also “regulated to ensure that no single device transmits continuously for more than a few milliseconds,” the companies said. The filing was by Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google and other companies advocating the FCC allow sharing in the spectrum, and responded to NAB. SiriusXM Radio reported on a call with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai on its 6 GHz concerns (see 2003180044).
Federated Wireless extended its spectrum controller platform for use in the 6 GHz band, which the FCC is expected to open for sharing with unlicensed users (see 2003050058). Federated provides similar service for the citizens broadband radio service band. The platform is “in trials … and is expected to be available for commercial use by the end of 2020,” the company said Wednesday.
Broadcom and Intel demoed unlicensed very low-power technology in the 6 GHz band for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr and an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. The FCC is expected to consider an order on the spectrum in April (see 2003050058). Broadcom said it showed “how 6 GHz devices can help consumers experience the full power of their home internet connections as wireline providers invest to bring them gigabit broadband” and “the importance of the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi 6 and rapidly enabling 5G services.”
Tech companies told the FCC they are unable to replicate data in a December NAB filing on unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band (see 1912060007). The companies said in January the study, by Alion, was riddled with errors (see 2001150042). “We appreciate NAB’s and Alion’s willingness to discuss these issues with us, but, unfortunately, we still have not been able to obtain the information necessary to replicate NAB’s study,” Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Microsoft, NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm said in docket 18-295, posted Monday. “Given what we have learned, we reiterate our previous objections to that study -- its assumptions were so wildly inaccurate that the Commission cannot rationally rely on it in evaluating the risk of harmful interference.” NAB didn't comment.
CEO Borje Ekholm and other Ericsson executives told FCC members of both parties that "more mid-band spectrum is necessary," and backed some of the FCC's C-band moves. The draft C-band order "acknowledges the importance of large bandwidths to support 5G," the company said, posted Thursday in docket 18-122, on meetings a week earlier with Chairman Ajit Pai (here) and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (here) and their aides: "100 MHz channels are essential to deliver a high-performance experience." Licensed mid-band spectrum in the upper 6 GHz band "is a priority for Ericsson," which doesn't "see a shift to unlicensed spectrum as 5G is rolled out given the performance demands seen for industrial use cases." The company would like 100 MHz-wide channels, including in the C band, emailed the filing's author, Vice President-Government Affairs and Public Policy Jared Carlson. On why the disclosure was late, he said that "the filing just took a little longer than expected." Commissioners vote Feb. 28 on the C-band order (see 2002110041). Regulatory action on 6 GHz is expected later this year (see 2002120055).
Comments on the FCC proposal for the 5.9 GHz band are due March 9, replies April 6, in docket 19-138, said Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved an NPRM in December 5-0 proposing to reallocate the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi and cellular vehicle to everything, while preserving 10 MHz for dedicated short-range communications (see 1912120058).