Limited Tweaks Expected in Wireless Items at FCC Open Meeting

Only CTIA has been before the FCC on a third wireless item set for a vote Thursday, a draft order and Further NPRM on changes to wireless emergency alerts. All three items are expected to pass unanimously, officials said.

“The NOI has a long way to go, so not burning any powder on it now,” said Carri Bennet, counsel to the Rural Wireless Association. “There is still no auction authority other than the limited authority for the AWS-3 reauction.” Two lawyers with wireless clients agreed it made little sense this early in the process to dedicate much time to the NOI.

CTIA, T-Mobile, UScellular and Verizon were active on the upper C-band draft, stressing its importance for 5G carrier deployments (see 2502210034). “As wireless data demands continue to increase, wireless operators are expected to face a 400-megahertz spectrum deficit by 2027, which will skyrocket to nearly 1,500 megahertz by 2032,” CTIA and the carriers said.

While CTIA focused on full-power, licensed use of the lower 3 and 7/8 GHz bands, the group also urged the FCC to consider the upper C band, industry officials said.

Satellite companies, led by SpaceX, are seeking more spectrum for direct-to-device service and may view the upper C band as meeting part of their needs (see 2502200049). But only SpaceX was active in the proceeding, based on filings at the FCC, seeking an expedited process (see 2502210062) for making changes to rules for the band.

The other trend among filings on the NPRM and NOI was the pursuit of tribal windows to make spectrum available to some of the most underserved markets in the U.S. The Navajo Nation (see 2502210031), the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Public Knowledge (see 2502190043) stressed the importance of giving tribes a chance to obtain spectrum.

The original tribal window, which opened before the 2.5 GHz auction, was approved by the FCC during President Donald Trump's first administration, under former Chairman Ajit Pai.

CTIA filed a letter in docket 15-91 last week on the wireless emergency alerts (WEA) item but didn’t meet with commissioner aides or other FCC staff. The draft order would require that carriers in the WEA program “support WEA messages that do not trigger the audio attention signal, vibration cadence, or both.” The order would let consumers “override suppression of the vibration cadence (and thus continue to receive the vibration cadence as a means of alerting them).”

CTIA said the FCC should look more closely at some of the proposed changes before moving forward. “Silent Imminent Threat Alerts at night may be missed by consumers,” it said: “Allowing consumers to override an Alert Originator’s suppression of the vibration cadence may inadvertently disclose a person’s location during an active shooter situation.” CTIA stressed the importance of outreach and education. “By enhancing Alert Originators’ expertise through training in effective alert messaging and a thorough understanding of WEA capabilities, the risk of unintended consequences and consumer opt-outs can be significantly minimized.”

The WEA draft would adopt a definition for “WEA-capable mobile device” that takes effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register, while establishing a timeline of 36 months for compliance with new silent alert requirements, CTIA said. “Effectively, this would mean that no mobile device would be considered ‘WEA-capable’ until at least 2028.” The group suggests “clarifying the definition of a ‘WEA-capable mobile device’ to reflect that support for recent WEA enhancements, including silent alerts, will apply consistent with the Commission’s deadlines for implementation.”

CTIA also supported a change to the rules that would enable alert originators to issue stand-alone public safety messages. Such alerts “would better reflect current practice and increase consistency in how Public Safety Messages are issued.”