Tech companies sought action on a pending Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band, in meetings with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington and with an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The order adopted carefully considered rules that will protect incumbents while permitting innovation in fixed unlicensed equipment and operations,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CommScope, Facebook, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Microsoft and Qualcomm were on the calls. A Hogan spokesperson said the suit "highlights how not only are there real policy problems with the digital ad tax, but also serious legal questions surrounding it as well." The Maryland attorney general's office declined comment on pending litigation.
Southern Co. representatives raised concerns about the lack of interference testing in the 6 GHz band as the band is opened for Wi-Fi (see 2102090067). “Southern described the ongoing problems that it and other incumbents have had in obtaining the cooperation of unlicensed proponents with any form of testing or test program,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295: “Manufacturers and proponents of unlicensed use have consistently ignored or rejected repeated requests to participate in any field testing.”
NCTA and its members urged adopting 3.45-3.55 GHz rules consistent with those in the citizens broadband radio service band, in a call with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff. “NCTA noted the successful outcome of the 3.5 GHz CBRS auction, and the role that the service rules for that band played in attracting a diversity of auction participants … and encouraging the widespread deployment of the spectrum,” said Tuesday's posting in docket 19-348. Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox and CableLabs participated.
President Claude Aiken and others from the Wireless ISP Association laid out its positions on spectrum bands in a call with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. In 2.5 GHz, WISPA seeks a “single-round, sealed bid auction.” Move forward with the opening of 5.9 GHz for unlicensed use, WISPA said: “We noted the benefits that consumers are receiving from more than 100 Special Temporary Authority grants to deploy” there. WISPA members are “very interested” in the 4.9 GHz band, said a filing posted Monday in 19-348 and other dockets.
Reject calls for a pause in equipment certifications for 6 GHz unlicensed low-power indoor (LPI) devices until more testing is done (see 2101270037), CTA wrote Thursday in FCC docket 18-295. “This misguided proposal threatens the important role the Commission’s equipment-certification process plays in advancing U.S. technological innovation, far beyond the context of this 6 GHz proceeding,” CTA said. “CTA members and other equipment manufacturers of all kinds, using bands across the radiofrequency spectrum, depend on a predictable, reliable and timely FCC equipment certification process."
Consultant Michael Marcus urged FCC Chief Technology Officer Monisha Ghosh to approve a waiver request by GuRu Wireless for its wireless power transfer technology, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-83. GuRu said its lensing technology, “coupled with operations in the [millimeter-wave] bands can fulfill a wide-range of use cases for WPT.”
The CBRS Alliance is expanding its focus beyond the citizens broadband radio service band and is now the OnGo Alliance. The group will look at 3rd Generation Partnership Project “technologies operating in shared spectrum bands around the globe.” The FCC, NTIA and DOD “are actively considering other bands for sharing,” said Executive Director Alan Ewing: “Additionally, the Alliance is being contacted by international organizations that would like to engage and become affiliated.”
Comments are due Feb. 11, replies Feb. 26 on an NPRM approved 5-0 in December proposing limited marketing and sale of wireless devices to consumers before equipment authorization, as long as those devices aren't provided to consumers until authorized by the FCC (see 2012100069), says Tuesday's Federal Register. CTA sought the revised rules. The docket is 20-382.
Dish Network and SpaceX disagreed about the 12 GHz NPRM on circulation, in RM-11768 ex parte postings Wednesday. Dish representatives told aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington that terrestrial flexible use in the band, coordinated with DBS providers and terrestrial broadband operators, "is readily manageable." It said an NPRM would let the FCC determine means of coexistence between satellite and terrestrial services in the band. It said approval of SpaceX's request for lower orbits for 2,824 planned satellites operating in the 12 GHz band can't come until SpaceX shows how it will satisfy the equivalent power flux density limits that protect DBS from interference. SpaceX told a Simington aide multichannel video and data distribution service licensees' own technical studies show the mobile rights they want in the band can't coexist with incumbent operators. SpaceX allies also opposed the NPRM. Connected Nation said it could hurt investment in low earth orbit satellite broadband, "artificially limiting what could otherwise be a true game changer for rural America." North Carolina State University's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation said it "would hate to see a last minute change in spectrum policy that hinders the nascent LEO technology."
The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued citations Tuesday against Grainger, Pryme Radio and Speco Technologies for allegedly marketing unauthorized RF devices. Each was warned that they face “significant fines up to $20,489 per day for each unauthorized model marketed, as well as other sanctions” if they don’t comply. The companies didn't comment.