Lobbying continues on the 6 GHz item expected to get a commissioner vote in April (see 2003190051). The 5G Automotive Association said rules must protect cellular vehicle to everything in the upper 5.9 GHz band. “The modest safeguards 5GAA requests are necessary -- particularly at this point in time, when the full uses of portable unlicensed [very low power] operations in the 6 GHz band remain largely unknown,” the group said. Filings were posted Thursday in docket 18-295. CableLabs, Charter and Comcast told Office of Engineering and Technology staff low-power indoor operations across the entire band “at an 8 dBm/MHz radiated power spectral density (PSD) will unleash unparalleled innovation with the deployment of Wi-Fi 6 and future generations such as Wi-Fi 7, which will bring multi-gigabit, high compute connectivity, and support the continued expansion of broadband performance for Americans in communities of all sizes.” CTIA and member companies argued (see 2003050058) for exploring licensed use of the upper part of the spectrum, in a call with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr, plus Wireless Bureau and OET staff. The U.S. “needs to double its licensed mid-band spectrum to keep up with leading nations,” CTIA said. Qualcomm said the rules must be technology neutral. Without a rule ensuring equal access “asynchronous nodes can starve synchronous nodes, particularly in dense environments where this new unlicensed band is needed most, and thus curtail the demonstrated performance benefits of synchronous access, including greatly improved throughput and latency,” the company said.

SiriusXM representatives opposed a wireless industry push for the FCC to license and sell the upper 6 GHz band, in meetings with aides to all commissioners expect Chairman Ajit Pai. The company uses 7.025-7.075 GHz frequencies as the only feeder link it has to transmit programming to satellite digital audio radio service satellites and control them. “The Commission licensed this spectrum to SiriusXM in 1997 as an essential element of its SDARS systems that are relied on by tens of millions of Americans, including for critical emergency information,” the company said in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. The Wi-Fi Alliance also took a shot at the CTIA proposal. “It is remarkably ironic that, at a time when so many Americans are relying on low-cost Wi-Fi for bandwidth intensive telework, tele-school, tele-medicine and other accommodations necessary to meet the national COVID-19 crisis, CTIA argues that the Commission overestimated the need for unlicensed spectrum,” the alliance said: The current crisis “highlights how Americans have come to rely on Wi-Fi connectivity to conduct their lives.” CTIA has "consistently recognized the need for both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, and supports making the lower portion of the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use,” responded Scott Bergmann, senior vice president-regulatory affairs: “The record in the FCC’s proceeding simply does not support moving forward with all 1,200 MHz of spectrum in the band at this time, and we’ve therefore asked for the FCC to preserve its options regarding the upper portion of the band.” Bergmann said contrary to some comments, CTIA is not asking that DOD has to move out of the upper 6 GHz band.

Hughes Network and OneWeb agreed to commingle their networks. Hughes would act as a distribution partner for OneWeb and Hughes customers able to access low-latency connectivity via OneWeb's non-geostationary orbit constellation, Hughes said Monday. Hughes parent EchoStar is an OneWeb investor.

Microsoft officials met FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly on the company’s Rural Airband Initiative and how “White Spaces technologies can provide broadband access to underserved and rural Americans,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 14-165. Microsoft said the agency should act on its May request for a Further NPRM (see 1905030050). Attendees included ex-Commissioner Robert McDowell, now at Cooley.

Fiber Broadband Association CEO Lisa Youngers' name was misspelled (see here and 2001160050).

The Wi-Fi Alliance assured members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band won’t pose a threat to power companies. Last month, all three FERC commissioners wrote the FCC to express concerns (see 1912190082). “Wi-Fi Alliance recognizes the need for and supports rigorous protection of electric utilities and other critical incumbent operations in the 6 GHz band,” said a filing, posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. “To the contrary, there is no question that unlicensed devices operating in the 6 GHz band must protect existing operations. That is why Wi-Fi Alliance supports mandatory testing and certification of all [automated frequency coordination] systems prior to implementation in the 6 GHz frequency band.” The alliance proposed “a comprehensive set of regulatory parameters for AFC systems and recommended that AFC systems must demonstrate their ability to fully protect licensed incumbent fixed service links such as those used by electric utilities,” the group said: “One of the components of AFC certification will certainly be testing and evaluation -- processes the FCC has recently undertaken with respect to similar geo-location database-driven spectrum access solutions in the 3.5 GHz band.” Wi-Fi advocates see the 6 GHz band as critical to meeting growing demand for unlicensed spectrum (see 1906250015).

Fifteen percent of U.S. households don’t get internet service at home, reported Leichtman Research Group Monday. The 85 percent of households with internet service is up a point from 2014. Broadband serves 96 percent of households with Internet service at home, it said. In addition, 81 percent of adults access the internet on a smartphone, and another 1 percent have access on another type of mobile phone, up from 63 percent in 2014. Three quarters of U.S. households get internet service at home plus on a mobile phone, up from 59 percent in 2014, it said. Half of U.S. households with an internet service at home watch video online daily vs. 29 percent five years ago, it said. Among adults with an internet service at home, the mean time spent online at home is 3.7 hours per day -- up from 2.8 hours per day in 2014. The segment of households opting to solely access the internet on a mobile phone “has plateaued,” said principal Bruce Leichtman.

Amazon representatives pressed eighth-floor offices about waiving FCC rules on processing round procedures for non-geostationary orbit systems. The reps argued that applying spectrum sharing rules to the proposed Kuiper constellation will provide regulatory certainty, encourage investment and accelerate broadband deployment, per an International Bureau posting Wednesday. Amazon said good-faith coordination will ensure system compatibility and encourage new entry into the satellite broadband market. Amazon reps met with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and the four regular commissioners. The company announced plans Thursday for a 219,000-square-foot primary headquarters for Kuiper R&D and prototype manufacturing in Redmond, Washington. It said renovations on the leased space are underway, with the company taking over the space in 2020.

CTA said another competitor in broadband delivery can speed up innovation and cut consumer costs, in an FCC International Bureau letter posted Wednesday. It urged the agency expeditiously approve Amazon's proposed Kuiper Ka-band constellation (see 1907050015).

WiMax Forum representatives pressed for FCC action on rules for the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS), in meetings with Wireless Bureau staff and an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai. AeroMACS would provide broadband communications capability for airport surface operations (see 1906060056), though parts remain controversial (see 1909040057). “Forum representatives discussed the growing momentum and demand for AeroMACS,” the group said in docket 19-140, posted Monday. “The Forum representatives stressed the need for final rules to facilitate further progress and discussed the public interest benefits of a flexible, light-touch regulatory approach for this service.”