The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology released an NPRM and order Friday on TV white spaces rules. “The proposals are designed to improve the integrity of the white space database system and, as white space device deployments grow, to increase the confidence of all spectrum users of these frequency bands that the white space geolocation/database spectrum management scheme fully protects licensees and other authorized users,” OET said. OET proposes to eliminate the professional installer option for fixed white space devices and require that each fixed white space device incorporate a geolocation capability to determine its location. The NPRM addresses complaints by NAB last year on the database. “In the accompanying Order, we decline to suspend operation of the white space databases pending completion of this rulemaking or to adopt temporary measures to ensure the integrity of each existing and new entry in the database, as requested by NAB in its petition,” OET said. “While we agree that some measures to improve white space database accuracy warrant consideration at this time, we find that the proactive measures taken thus far by the Commission and the database administrators, the current state of the databases’ accuracy, and our continuing oversight are sufficient to proceed without the need to impose the safeguards proposed by NAB, particularly in light of the disruption these proposals would cause to the white space devices initiative.” NAB filed a petition in March at the FCC citing wide-ranging problems with the database (see 1503190056). Last summer, NAB and white spaces device manufacturers reached agreement on revised rules for the TV white spaces (see 1507170062).
NAB opposed petitions from the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, Cal.net, Carlson Wireless Technologies, Google and Microsoft seeking reconsideration of rules for unlicensed use of the TV white spaces. The petitions call for relaxing FCC rules for the use of white spaces devices in the TV band, NAB said. “NAB continues to support unlicensed operation in the television band as long as such operations must not cause harmful interference to licensed services,” NAB said in its filing in docket 14-165. “NAB opposes certain of the changes petitioners seek to the FCC’s rules because they will unnecessarily and unacceptably increase the likelihood for harmful interference to over-the-air television viewers and other licensed operations.” CTIA opposed a request by wireless microphone advocates that the FCC relax out-of-band emissions limits for wireless mics. “The Commission’s decision was based in part on extensive testing information provided by CTIA and its members, and the Commission concluded that the requirements it adopted were necessary to ensure compliance with the Spectrum Act,” CTIA said. “The Commission should uphold this conclusion.” The FCC also should stick with a provision limiting the spectrum that can be used for wireless mics, said CTIA. The 30-MHz limit in the order “is well-supported by the record and falls squarely within the Commission’s stated policy objectives of promoting spectral efficiency and frequency agility for wireless microphones,” CTIA said.
Zero-rated offerings from wireless carriers are good for consumers, Scott Bergmann, CTIA vice president-regulatory affairs, said Friday in a blog post. “Ever dial a toll-free number?” Bergmann asked. “Or purchase an item online with free shipping? I’m sure you have. And each time, you’re benefiting from a form of what some advocates call ‘zero rating’ -- in other words, free services that provide consumers with more without paying more.” Bergmann cited FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s initial positive comments from November on Binge On, T-Mobile’s zero-rated video streaming service (see 1511190045). “Wheeler was right -- free data services are ‘highly innovative and highly competitive,’” Bergmann wrote. “We want operators competing for customers on price, quality and new offerings like free data. It is competition that compels companies to roll out new ways of improving service and consumers win.” Zero-rated offerings also encourage experimentation and meet demands for more data, he said. “Consumers demand more and more mobile data, particularly for video services,” Bergmann said. “We want to help meet that demand and promote usage on our smartphones and tablets to embrace the connected life and the Internet of Things.”
Broadcasters will have just 32 hours to commit to selling their licenses in the TV incentive auction, said a public notice by the FCC Wireless Bureau. Initial commitments must be submitted during a window that opens at 10 a.m. EDT March 28 and closes at 6 p.m. EDT March 29, the bureau said. The bureau said the initial commitment module of the auction system will be available for preview starting at 10 a.m. EDT March 24, remaining open until the initial commitment window opens. “Late initial commitments will not be accepted,” the bureau said. An online tutorial on initial commitments will be available Feb. 29, as well as a user's guide for the initial commitment module of the auction system, the bureau said. Potential bidders should log in to verify that they are able to access the system, the bureau said. “Similar educational materials for the clock rounds of the reverse auction (Auction 1001), and the clock and assignment phases of the forward auction (Auction 1002) will be available in coming weeks,” the notice said. “These materials will cover information relating to the bidding and immediate post-auction processes of the incentive auction. We will provide these materials sufficiently in advance of the applicable phases of the auction so that participants have adequate time to become familiar with them before the beginning of each phase.”
The Wi-Fi Alliance's draft test procedures for assessing LTE-unlicensed's effects on a Wi-Fi network are "on a good trajectory" but shouldn't be the basis for coexistence testing before the Wi-Fi Alliance resolves a variety of issues, NCTA told Edward Smith, legal adviser to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, according to a filing Friday in docket 15-105. The Wi-Fi Alliance also has said its draft plan isn't done and can't be used for evaluating coexistence (see 1602110041). NCTA's filing said the Wi-Fi Alliance should make clear in external communications "that much more collaboration and technical work is needed before this document can be utilized for its intended purpose." The Wi-Fi Alliance didn't comment. Wi-Fi Alliance member CableLabs has said the LTE-U/Wi-Fi test plan could be close to completion in March (see 1602120051).
CEO Michael Small and others from Gogo met with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and key aides to press for FCC action on the 14 GHz Air-Ground Mobile Broadband Service. “Gogo discussed its critical need for additional spectrum to meet the growing capacity demands of commercial airlines and their passengers as well as federal and state government and military customers,” Gogo said in a filing posted Friday in docket 13-114. “Establishment of another in-flight service allocation would not introduce any new air safety or security risks.” Gogo officials said that to ensure flight safety and security, the company “must already satisfy stringent Federal Aviation Administration testing and approval requirements for all equipment and software and any modifications to such equipment and software,” the filing said. “The recently established Federal Interagency Working Group will be able to meet with relevant stakeholders and ensure continued air safety and security after the Commission establishes allocation, service, and technical rules for the new service.” Last month, the FCC said it and the Department of Transportation agreed to establish a federal interagency working group to focus on issues including "safe and secure use of consumer communications onboard domestic commercial aviation."
Google didn't seek eligibility to buy spectrum in the incentive auction, a company spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday. "Like all those interested in improved connectivity and equitable access, we'll be following the upcoming spectrum auction closely," she emailed. "That said, we have not filed to participate." The FCC deadline to file an auction application was Wednesday last week, according to the auction's website. In a Tuesday blog post titled "The Best Things in Life Are Free (Even When You’re Worth More Than Half a Trillion Dollars)," an NAB spectrum official critiqued Google. Noting the company has "expressed an interest in 'low band' spectrum" such as the up to 100 MHz that will be sold in the incentive auction, this "would be a perfect opportunity for Google to acquire spectrum usage rights," wrote NAB Vice President-Spectrum Policy Patrick McFadden. "Google’s participation would have the added benefits of raising billions in auction revenues for the government and helping to ensure the auction’s success." Now, the company is effectively saying, "Sorry, Congress. Sorry, FCC. No dice," said McFadden. "Rather than bid in the auction, Google believes it has found access to free spectrum it can monetize." The company has backed three usable channels for unlicensed use in the broadband bands and repurposed 600 MHz band, in past filings in docket 12-268 (such as here and here). "For the past year, Google has helped lead the charge behind the scenes to push the FCC to simply reallocate spectrum during the auction process for Googley purposes," wrote NAB's McFadden. "If Google can keep pulling favors from the government to add to its $548 billion bottom line, more power to it. It’s up to all of us -- most of all the FCC -- to not keep giving things to Google for free." The company didn't comment on NAB's critique. The FCC proposal "preserving continued access to unlicensed spectrum in the post-auction TV band is the subject of a substantial record that remains open for public comment," an agency spokesman responded to NAB.
The type of investment in mobile infrastructure enhancements seen during Super Bowl 50 in the communities around Levi's Stadium -- located in Silicon Valley and home to the NFL's San Francisco 49ers -- will be required to bring 5G networks "everywhere," said David Young, Verizon vice president-Internet and technology policy, in a company blog post Monday. The "explosion" of data traffic during Super Bowl weekend was made possible because of additional small cells that were "widely deployed" and connected through fiber networks, said Young. Deploying the large number of new small cells required "working closely" with property owners and local governments, and is the same type of cooperative approach that will be needed to bring infrastructure improvements in "thousands of communities" throughout the country, he said. Young also said much of the discussion about the creation of 5G networks has revolved around the need for additional high-frequency spectrum, but what's less understood is that 5G networks will need new infrastructure -- mainly fiber-connected small cells. "The [IoT] and the flood of network traffic that will come with it will be here soon," said Young, and all levels of government need to "modernize practices and fees in a way that will encourage and facilitate the infrastructure deployments that are needed to support the 5G future that is just around the corner so everyone can reap the benefits." Comcast has said that 10-plus terabytes were uploaded or downloaded at the game (see 1602090063).
FCC field agents helped safeguard massive wireless traffic flows at the Super Bowl, said Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc and Acting Field Director Charles Cooper in a blog post Thursday. "Whether in the vicinity of the stadium or streaming the game online, the wireless network traffic is immense," they said. "During this year’s Super Bowl, according to one media report, more than 10 terabytes of data traversed the WiFi network at Levi's Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday, the equivalent of streaming 6,000+ hours of HD video." Such usage creates huge spectrum demand, making it critical that FCC rules are followed, they said. EB field agents formed "a defensive line" against harmful or malicious interference to the communications at the game, they said, noting the Public Safety Bureau also works on big special events. Team members worked to resolve numerous interference issues "before, during, and after the game," using various resources, including "next generation monitoring and direction-finding technology," they said.
The Wi-Fi Alliance could have its Wi-Fi/LTE-U coexistence test plan nearly done in March, around when the 3rd Generation Partnership Project comes out with licensed assisted access LTE standards, CableLabs said in a blog Friday. The Wi-Fi Alliance released a draft test plan Wednesday (see 1602110041) with the promise it would be the first of several such tests. CableLabs -- a member of Wi-Fi Alliance according to the group's website -- said some test cases remain to be written, including a means of verifying that Wi-Fi users "will be able to choose their preferred network even in the presence of LTE-U." It also said the Wi-Fi Alliance testing "is likely to only be a start" to assuring coexistence. "It is possible that evolution in LTE-U technology will be needed as well," CableLabs said.