New Street cut growth estimates for Verizon Monday, saying “guidance for medium-term growth of 3-4% looks increasingly out of reach” after last week’s Q2 report (see 2207220061). “Verizon is in a difficult position, in large part due to their past success,” wrote analyst Jonathan Chaplin: “Market share of close to 40% will be tough to defend in a market with four well-resourced competitors. The Company’s position is made more untenable by the fact that they are priced at a substantial premium and the network differentiation that justified that premium in the past is waning. Verizon’s pricing will be still more difficult to sustain if we enter recession.” Chaplin said Verizon invested in promotions during Q2, which failed to “stem the loss of subscribers”, then raised prices for some customers “which will only widen the gap in value with T-Mobile and Cable, the two most prominent challengers.”

The Global mobile Suppliers Association said 5G fixed wireless customer premises equipment shipments more than doubled to 3.6 million in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 162%, and are likely to double again this year. Most shipments (84%) in 2021 remained LTE-only, said vendors surveyed. Among the 5G shipments, 160,000 were millimeter-wave-based devices, “an increase from 130,000 from the previous year; however, 88% of respondents indicated that they have, or plan to introduce, 5G mmWave products in the next few years,” said a Monday release. “The majority of respondents are expecting no or minor component shortages in 2023, at the same time most are expecting inflationary pressures to remain.”

The Coalition of Rural Wireless Carriers urged the FCC to stay focused on the need to fund 5G, in a series of calls with commission staff. Since NTIA was assigned to administer the broadband equity, access and deployment program, the FCC can focus “substantial attention on improving mobile broadband in rural America,” the group said: “The Commission can and should complement BEAD investments with a 5G Fund auction that enables mobile broadband providers to fill in unserved areas and improve underserved areas to a level of 5G service that is reasonably comparable to service available in urban areas.” The group spoke with aides to all commissioners but Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, and staff from the Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireline Bureau, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-476.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday the FCC still has much to work through as it examines 5G in 12 GHz (see 2207130031). “It’s a really complex proceeding,” she said: “We have a very substantial technical review that’s underway.” Rosenworcel noted recent filings offering additional data “and at the same time we’ve gotten lots of consumers filing in our comment system,” she said: “We are still doing the technical review, our docket continues to grow, and it’s taking a lot of time and resources, but that’s OK because we want to reach the right answer.” Commissioner Brendan Carr said his view hasn’t changed in recent months and the FCC’s decision will be based on “a very technical analysis.” Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen, meanwhile, and others from the company met this week with all four commissioners on 12 GHz and other issues. Dish disputed SpaceX’s claims 5G in the band would harm its Starlink broadband offering (see 2207060012). “Starlink’s latest filing, part of an ongoing misinformation campaign initiated by the company, is both scientifically and logically flawed,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-443: “It is therefore not surprising that the study does not appear to be authored by any third-party expert engineers.”

AT&T and Verizon are raising monthly fees for some subscribers, but both will be hard-pressed to keep up with the effects of inflation, MoffettNathanson’s Craig Moffett told investors Friday. “By Verizon’s own estimate, about a quarter of their total costs are inflation-sensitive,” Moffett said. “Assuming that those ~$21B of annual costs are rising by something like 5%, their total cost base will rise by ~$1B a year, offsetting all of the [average revenue per user] increase.” AT&T’s situation is similar, he said: “Yes, they will see higher revenue, but their costs, too, are rising more than fast enough to offset the benefit.” Promotions are also costing both, Moffett said. “To stem share losses in their Consumer Wireless segment, Verizon has increased promotional discounts for phones to as much as $800 for some trade-in devices for both new and existing premium unlimited customers,” he said.

The House passed the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-7900) Thursday with a package of telecom and tech-focused amendments (see 2207140070) on a bipartisan 329-101 vote. Approved amendments to the measure included ones to require more DOD transparency on its implementation of its 2020 spectrum sharing strategy and modifications to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s remit. The House also voted 405-20 to pass the Promoting U.S. International Leadership in 5G Act (HR-1934), which would direct the secretary of state to assist in enhancing U.S. leadership at international standards-setting bodies that handle 5G and other telecom issues (see 2206210048). Lawmakers originally debated the measure on the floor in June (see 2206210048).

Dish Network met its AWS H block, AWS-4 and lower 700 MHz E-block deployment obligations by the June 14 deadline, the company said Friday in an FCC docket 22-212 status report. It said that as of Thursday, it offered 5G service to 72.77 million Americans, or nearly 22% of the U.S. population, with its AWS-4 and AWS H-block licenses and covered more than 26% of the population in the markets where it holds an E-block license. It was obligated by June 14 to offer 5G broadband to at least 20% of the U.S. population and to have deployed a core network for its licenses. Chairman Charlie Ergen indicated earlier this year no deadline extension would be needed (see 2205060036). Dish said meeting the deadline meant overcoming such hurdles as supply chain shortages of radios and other equipment and delays in power availability at 5G sites due to utility companies' supply chain and workforce issues. It said it so far has opened 39 offices in 28 states in support of its network deployment. It said its commercial broadband is now available in more than 120 cities.

OneWeb's study showing 5G incompatibility with non-geostationary orbit satellite operations in the 12 GHz band (see 2207120058) "is another in-house, non-independent effort to discredit the scientifically proven feasibility of coexistence in the 12 GHz band," the 12GHzfor5G Coalition emailed Tuesday. It said the FCC made it clear that any NGSO fixed satellite service using the band is doing so at its own risk and there shouldn't be an expectation of exclusivity there. The coalition said it "remains committed to working with the FCC and stakeholders to reach a win-win solution [and] will continue to pursue the facts that prove coexistence is possible in the band and advance the public interest."

Verizon announced Tuesday it’s cutting rates for new subscribers, from $35 per line for four lines, to $30. "Welcome Unlimited opens the door for more people to switch to the network more Americans rely on, at a highly-competitive price," said Manon Brouillette, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. Customers must enroll in auto pay, and pay taxes and fees. “Verizon is using the new pricing for better subscriber growth, an area where it is clearly struggling despite its 5G ad campaign and investment in C-Band spectrum,” Lightshed’s Walter Piecyk told investors: “Verizon hopes these lower prices will help attract and retain price conscious consumers, at a time when the inflationary pressures on consumers might be magnified by an economic recession. Last week we argued that Verizon and its peers should also be looking at cost cutting opportunities given the macro environment.” Piecyk pegged the likely cost at $60 million per year, which he said means Verizon would have to add 65,000 subscribers to break even.

Verizon asked for reconsideration of an FCC order saying it failed to adequately respond to a complaint about the company’s premium voicemail service. The Enforcement Bureau proposed a $100,000 fine last week (see 2207080042). “The Order is an adverse ruling against Verizon stemming from a complaint by an individual Verizon customer who had trouble using a Verizon service,” said a Tuesday petition: “Verizon never wants that to occur with any of its customers, and the issue regrettably took longer to address than Verizon would have liked. But that does not mean that Verizon violated any statute or Commission rule.”