The FCC doesn’t “really believe” public safety agencies will ever leave the 470-512 MHz T band, despite the 2012 Spectrum Act's mandate, Enterprise Wireless Alliance Regulatory Counsel Elizabeth Sachs told the EWA’s virtual wireless leadership summit Wednesday. Congress “adopted legislation without really understanding what it meant or who was involved or what the impact would be,” said Sachs, of Lukas LaFuria.

As T-Mobile follows through on regulatory commitments to build out 5G to cover most of the U.S., population density often isn’t as big a challenge as topography, said Chris Wieczorek, senior director-spectrum policy, at the Americas Spectrum Management Conference. In mountainous areas, “you get a lot more coverage holes,” he said. Wednesday's conference focus was on rural and hard-to-serve areas.

FCC Chief of Staff Matthew Berry and a top CTIA official downplayed reports the Trump administration is pushing the Pentagon to move forward on developing a national 5G network. The wireless industry sent a letter to President Donald Trump Tuesday opposing efforts to nationalize 5G network infrastructure. Berry and Scott Bergmann, CTIA senior vice president-regulatory affairs, spoke Monday at the Americas Spectrum Management Conference. DOD isn’t planning to launch a competitive 5G network, Fred Moorefield, deputy chief information officer-command, control and communications, said at an FCBA virtual conference Tuesday. Moorefield said he had seen the reports on the White House push but couldn't confirm them.

A draft order circulated by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday would delay a 5G Fund auction until after the commission collects new data through the still-unfunded digital opportunity data collection. That means an auction is unlikely to start until 2023. Commissioners approved an NPRM in April, with dissents by Democrats, that laid out two options -- starting an auction next year based on data then available or waiting for the new numbers (see 2004230046). The Oct. 27 meeting also includes net neutrality and other items (see 2010060056), a controversial order on compound expansions of wireless facilities and revised TV white space rules.

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance said there's no evidence a successful T-band auction is possible, urging the FCC lift the T-band freeze, in replies in docket 13-42. “Bidding in spectrum auctions typically is driven by commercial wireless providers such as nationwide or regional carriers, by cable operators, and by” wireless ISPs, EWA said: “There is no indication that the latter two categories have any interest in this spectrum. Commercial carriers have described in detail why such an auction should not be expected to produce revenue anywhere near the amount needed to fund even [public safety] relocation costs.” Other replies, which were due Tuesday, agreed an auction won’t work, consistent with initial comments (see 2009010023). Los Angeles “continues to hope that Congress will enact legislation to repeal the T-Band Claw back” and would “welcome any relief that the Commission might offer to preserve the … ability to rely upon the T-Band for our public safety needs,” the city said. The band “supports emergency communications for frontline emergency responders in eleven major metropolitan areas,” said the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Commissioners approved a Further NPRM Wednesday 5-0 on clearing the 3.45-3.55 GHz band, after changes were made at the urging of FCC Democrats asking whether the type of sharing used in the citizens broadband radio service band would work there. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, who said during discussion on the item that he's leaving the FCC by year-end (see 2009300014), had pushed for the agency to take on the band. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the U.S. remains behind on 5G. Chairman Ajit Pai predicted an auction next year.

Fred Moorefield, deputy chief information officer for command, control and communications, defended DOD’s recent request for information on spectrum sharing, which industry and FCC officials say raised questions as the commission moves toward a vote on the 3.45-3.55 GHz band. Moorefield spoke at NTIA’s virtual spectrum policy symposium. At a similar summit a year ago, officials promised the administration would soon release a national spectrum policy; it hasn't been unveiled.

T-Mobile fired back at AT&T and Verizon for suggesting its spectrum holdings should be subject to the FCC spectrum screen relative to the C-band auction (see 2009180029). “Incredibly, last week the two behemoths, who dwarf T-Mobile in revenues and market cap, actually teamed up to petition the government to thwart T-Mobile’s competitive access to wireless spectrum,” blogged CEO Mike Sievert Tuesday. “AT&T and Verizon are facing real competition from a company that is committed to shaking up the status quo and bringing true choice to consumers.” T-Mobile said in a filing that neither has the standing to challenge its 600 MHz leases. “Verizon sat out the 600 MHz spectrum auction and AT&T sold its 600 MHz licenses to Columbia Capital,” T-Mobile said: “Their efforts to raise spectrum screen issues concerning T-Mobile’s acquisition of spectrum going forward are not really about the Columbia Capital leases or protecting the mobile wireless marketplace from excessive spectrum aggregation. Rather, they are efforts to slow down T-Mobile as a competitor and to game the upcoming C-band auction.” AT&T and Verizon didn't comment.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal for the 3.45-3.55 GHz band faces questions at the FCC as the Trump administration refocuses on a national 5G network and DOD seeks comment on spectrum sharing. Together, they raise questions about the FCC order and Further NPRM set for a vote Sept. 30 (see 2009090048), industry and government officials said in interviews. Some think Rivada Networks' campaign for a national wholesale network is playing a role (see 2008280061). Tuesday is an administration spectrum symposium.

T-Mobile is likely to be the dominant bidder in a 2.5 GHz auction expected next year, as it fills out substantial holdings in the band. T-Mobile got the spectrum when it bought Sprint and said in August it’s adding the band to its network at 600-700 sites weekly (see 2008070026). T-Mobile asked last week to move forward on an auction next year. AT&T questioned whether T-Mobile’s holdings exceed the spectrum screen.