Amazon wants waiver of FCC rules limiting power levels of unlicensed devices in 57-71 GHz to let it market “radar sensors” to enable touchless control of “device features and functions” for monitoring sleep hygiene, said an undocketed request posted Wednesday. The agency has granted similar waivers for other gesture-based tech such as Google’s Project Soli, the request said. “Operation at the requested power levels would not increase the potential for harmful interference.”
USTelecom backs Comcast’s petition for a waiver of E-rate’s gift rule for its Lift Zone initiative if the FCC adjusts its rules or provides guidance that “permits all service providers to benefit from the ability to provide free service” (see 2105210055). Comcast’s request is “based on a set of facts that applies to all service providers seeking to aid communities by providing free service,” USTelecom said in comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-6, and is “evidence of the need for reform or clarification of the gift rules that affect all service providers.” There should also be “appropriate safeguards,” such as making the free service "completely separate from the provision of other E-rate services," the group said.
No major changes were made to the FCC order providing guidelines and requirements for Connected Care pilot program participants, we found in our comparison with the draft. Commissioners approved the order during their June 17 meeting (see 2106170063). The final order was in Tuesday's Daily Digest.
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition petition for a waiver of some E-rate rules, said an order in Tuesday's Daily Digest. SHLB asked that the June 30 special construction service delivery deadline for all FY 2019-20 applicants be extended to June 30, 2022. Applicants may seek a waiver regardless of whether they previously got an extension from Universal Service Administrative Co. or from the commission, the order said. This doesn't extend the deadline for applicants from earlier funding years, but they can seek waiver if there's a need.
Two Endeavor Group executives resigned from Live Nation Entertainment's board after DOJ expressed concerns that their positions there “created an illegal interlocking directorate,” the department said Monday. Endeavor and Live Nation “compete closely in many sports and entertainment markets,” DOJ said in announcing the resignations of Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel and President Mark Shapiro. Executives aren’t allowed to hold “board positions on companies that compete with each other,” noted acting Assistant Attorney General-Antitrust Richard Powers. Live Nation didn’t comment.
The FCC declined to adopt proposals by CTA and Garmin on temporary labels for RF devices that may now be imported for sale before they are authorized. Commissioners OK’d revised rules 4-0 Thursday (see 2106170051). “CTA requested clarification on the interaction between temporary labeling and e-labeling requirements and Garmin requested clarification on temporary labeling for bulk devices sealed in shipping containers or wrapping,” said the order. “Temporary label rules we adopt here are a necessary safeguard against the transfer of devices to consumers in advance of completing equipment authorization,” the order said: “Because we believe the rules we adopt today are sufficiently clear and balance flexibility for manufacturers with the important goals of the equipment authorization process, we decline to adopt here the further clarifications.” Our comparison didn’t reveal other significant changes over the draft.
The FCC said it will follow Office of Personnel Management guidance and close Friday to mark the Juneteenth federal holiday signed into law Thursday. OPM tweeted that while the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act establishes June 19 as a federal holiday, the date this year falls on Saturday and "most federal employees" will instead observe it Friday. A commission public notice said that, in accordance with rules about filing deadlines on holidays, all June 18 deadlines are moved to Monday. It said June 18 won't count in computing filing periods of less than seven days. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters her agency's Office of General Counsel was working on the PN, as stakeholders awaited President Joe Biden signing the law.
Commissioners upheld 4-0 a $2.86 million fine against HobbyKing for marketing drone transmitters not approved under FCC equipment authorization rules (see 2007240044). HobbyKing allegedly sold devices that use a video link between transmitters on unmanned aircraft systems and users flying drones. “These devices must have obtained certification through the FCC’s equipment authorization process based on their operating parameters,” the agency said Thursday. FCC investigators found HobbyKing sold 65 models that required but didn’t get agency approval. The company didn’t comment. “The marketing of this equipment was especially egregious because the devices threatened to interfere with critical FAA systems and other federal operations and were never capable of being certified,” said Josh Zeldis, Enforcement Bureau attorney-adviser. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that it's “a notice to all others that we take our policies protecting our airwaves seriously.”
NCTA and cable operators opposed higher power levels in the citizens broadband radio service band, in calls with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staffers. “Raising the power levels for CBRS would fundamentally alter the nature of the service by undermining the innovative spectrum sharing concept that the Commission enabled when it adopted the CBRS framework, endangering new and innovative approaches to service delivery, inhibiting competition, and undermining auction business cases and expectations,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-348. Representatives of Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Enterprises, Midcontinent Communications and CableLabs participated.
The FCC will hold a webinar June 25 on the Emergency Connectivity Fund at 2 p.m. EDT, said a public notice Tuesday. ECF's initial application filing window for prospective purchases opens June 29 for 45 days (see 2106140043).