FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented on a Further NPRM proposing vertical accuracy standards for wireless calls indoors to 911. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks voted yes in part and concurred in part. The questions were expected (see 1903140043). The FNPRM proposes a vertical location accuracy metric, or z-axis, of plus or minus 3 meters for 80 percent of indoor wireless calls to 911.

The FCC terminated "dormant" proceedings, such as AT&T's failed buy of T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom, the Sirius/XM satellite radio combination and a few begun under bureaus that no longer exist in name after restructuring. "We received no responsive comments" to a seventh dormant proceedings termination public notice Sept. 12, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau order in Thursday's Daily Digest and docket 18-272 (there were two short "express" comments). "CGB finds no justification for keeping open any of the dockets" listed in an attachment, totaling over 380, by our count. Several Common Carrier Bureau (now the Wireline Bureau) proceedings date to 1991 and 1992, including on competitive service and facility rates under a "3rd Computer Inquiry," local multipoint distribution service rules at 27.5-29.5 GHz, and applying open network architecture and nondiscrimination safeguards to GTE companies. A Cable Bureau (now part of the Media Bureau) proceeding on carriage of broadcast DTV signals began in 1998. A proceeding on changes to Comsat's corporate structure and operations hadn't had a "standard filing" since Nov. 28, 2000, the longest-dormant one. The proceedings with the most standard filings were AT&T/T-Mobile with 4,557; Sirius/XM, 3,147; DTV carriage,1,989; and the Broadband Data Improvement Act's international comparison and consumer survey requirements,1,919. The order terminates an Office of Engineering and Technology probe from 2010 of the 1675-1710 MHz band (see 1006070094) and a request for plans to create a spectrum test city launched in 2014 (see 1407140052). The FCC ultimately sold off unpaired 1695-1710 MHZ spectrum in the AWS-3 auction. Also terminated is the Wireless Bureau’s docket on a 2005 petition for declaratory ruling filed by CTIA on whether early termination fees are rates charged for commercial mobile services under the Communications Act and FCC precedent (see 0503240118). Dead proceedings included numerous applications for transfers of control, other licensing matters and telecom service discontinuances; notifications of telecom network changes; and petitions of all sorts, including for waivers.

The draft report and order opening spectrum above 95 GHzfor new commercial technologies is expected to be approved 5-0 by commissioners Friday, with few if any tweaks, FCC and industry officials said. Many questions remain about the treatment of passive bands in the “spectrum horizons” order, and those concerns are likely to surface during the discussion Friday, the officials said. Other questions could be on spectrum policy and spectrum enforcement. House Science Committee leaders raised similar concerns about the 24 GHz auction that starts Thursday.

Reintroduction of the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (Airwaves) Act “appears to be delayed,” possibly “indefinitely,” New Street Research's Vivek Stalam emailed investors Tuesday. The bill, previously filed during the last Congress, aims to identify spectrum for unlicensed use and free up mid-band spectrum for wireless industry purchase via an FCC auction (see 1802070054). Some lobbyists had pegged a possible reintroduction of the measure this week. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., said earlier this year they were interested in refiling the legislation (see 1902120057). A delay in reintroduction would be a “mild positive” for the C-Band Alliance and member companies Intelsat and SES, Stalam said. One of the bill's “key provisions would reportedly call for an FCC auction, not a CBA-run auction or sale” of C-band spectrum. The act was likely to face difficult prospects for “passage, but whether it passed or not would provide a signal of Congress’s preference to the FCC,” Stalam said. “Absent a signal from Congress to the contrary, it is easier for the FCC to justify a CBA-run process. We will be on the lookout for any signs that Congress will be seeking to influence the FCC C-Band process via other means (like via a letter or hearing on the matter).” Spokespersons for Doyle and Gardner didn't comment.

A growing number of cable operators are lined up against the C-Band Alliance 3.7-4.2 GHz band clearing plan, but opinions differ on whether the opposition is hurting CBA. With CBA seen having Verizon support (see here) and potentially close to also getting AT&T backing, "that's usually been quite convincing to the FCC to move forward," said telecom and satellite consultant Tim Farrar. AT&T said it continues to support the idea of CBA crafting and running an FCC-approved auction (see 1812120010).

The Wireless Bureau sought comment on Verizon's asking the FCC for clarity, or waiver, of handset unlocking rules imposed as a result of the rules for the 700 MHz C-block it bought in a 2008 auction. Verizon's petition last month seeks “temporary, 60-day lock on the 4G LTE handsets it provides, to ensure that the handsets are purchased by bona fide customers,” the bureau said Tuesday. “With respect to whether its temporary locking proposal is consistent with the handset locking rule, Verizon asserts that the rule is ambiguous and that clarification is needed.” Comments are due April 4, replies April 19, in docket 06-150. “Every other large U.S. wireless carrier has continued to lock 4G LTE handsets at the time of purchase, at least in part to help prevent this type of fraud and identity theft,” Verizon said. “Neither Sprint, T-Mobile, nor AT&T provides 4G LTE handsets unlocked at the time of purchase as Verizon does.” The C block offered large spectrum blocks but came with special rules.

A C-Band Alliance proposal for how CBA would protect earth stations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band from interference from flexible use operations in the lower part of the band isn't winning over all critics. American Cable Association Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Ross Lieberman emailed that CBA's docket 18-122 posting Tuesday "fails to address the most pressing concerns ... like higher prices, lost programming, and foregone investments. CBA’s failure to acknowledge and offer solutions to these problems highlights why they are not suited -- whereas the FCC is -- to manage any reimbursement program for C-band users.”

If the FCC can protect incumbent C-band video delivery services, it should quickly move on an auction process for freeing up the band and reassigning some spectrum for terrestrial wireless use, Comcast told staffers from the Wireless and International bureaus and Offices of Engineering and Technology and of Economics and Analytics (OEA), according to a docket 18-122 posting Monday. It said the C-Band Alliance (CBA) approach by contrast "runs counter to the public interest" and lacks sufficient detail to show any incumbent protections. Attendees included Wireless Chief Donald Stockdale, OET Chief Julius Knapp and OEA acting Chief Giulia McHenry. Charter Communications also opposes the CBA approach (see 1902250064). T-Mobile continued its criticisms of the CBA plan. It said it's clear there would be widespread participation in an incentive auction for C-band spectrum, creating the mutual exclusivity that triggers the need to conduct an auction under the Communications Act. The carrier said nothing in the act lets the FCC issue licenses based on negotiations among private parties to avoid mutual exclusivity. Adoption of the Auction Reform Act shows Congress "specifically rejected" what the CBA is trying to do, it said. CBA didn't comment.

Despite concerns on lack of U.S. preparedness for the recent prep meeting for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (see 1903010042), FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said Monday the U.S. will be ready and should win on the most important points. “Stay tuned” and concerns will be addressed soon, he said during a lunch speech at Wiley Rein: “Government being as it can be, it does take a little bit longer than you would like.” O’Rielly said emphatically the Trump administration will never launch a government 5G network.

A major Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference ended Thursday (see 1902280070). Reports out of Geneva are the U.S. is struggling to find its way, industry and government officials said. The U.S. had planned to accredit its delegation, but the partial federal government shutdown made that impossible, industry officials said.