The FCC Wireless Bureau agreed to “long-term de facto transfer leasing arrangements” in which AT&T and FTC Management will lease spectrum to each other, mainly in the 3.45 GHz band, in markets in South Carolina. The bureau also approved a waiver for the companies to exceed the 40 MHz aggregation limit on 3.45 GHz spectrum in some of the markets. “We find that the proposed transaction has a low likelihood of competitive harm and would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity,” said an order in docket 25-138 in Friday’s Daily Digest.
T-Mobile representatives met with FCC staff to discuss the “drive test data” that the company submitted with its annual progress report, required as part of its purchase of Sprint. “T‑Mobile also identified the software used to calculate low-, medium-, and high-intensity developed areas in large rural census blocks as part of the selection of additional testing locations in these areas,” said a filing Friday in docket 22-211. The slides from T-Mobile’s presentation to staff were redacted in the filing.
A coalition opposed to T-Mobile’s purchase of wireless assets from UScellular spoke with aides to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez about its challenge to a Wireless Bureau order approving the deal. Gomez has said commissioners should have been asked to vote on it (see 2507310041). Representatives from the Rural Wireless Association, Open Technology Institute at New America and Communications Workers of America were present, according to a filing posted Friday in docket 24-286.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association urged the FCC to move forward on a proposal in a January NPRM seeking comment on a voluntary, negotiation-based process to transition 10 MHz in the 900 MHz band to broadband (see 2505190025). The proposal is consistent with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s "Build America Agenda,” and the record “shows overwhelming support for the proposal,” said a filing Thursday in docket 24-99. “This proposal is particularly timely as the nation looks at ways to improve the reliability and capacity of utility networks to power revolutions in AI technologies.”
Network provider Boldyn Networks said this week it will build and manage the city-owned private wireless network in Chesapeake, Virginia, to be used for its smart-city strategy. The network's wireless services will support the operational needs of municipal departments, schools, libraries and first responders, Boldyn said. It also noted that the private network will have a citizens broadband radio service overlay and a low-power wide-area network for IoT endpoints.
The C-band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse has shut down, the FCC Wireless Bureau said Thursday. The clearinghouse submitted a final written certification of completion on Wednesday, indicating that it had finished its administrative duties, the notice said. The bureau approved the clearinghouse ending operations in June (see 2506040046).
A recent decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court upholding the FCC's 2024 data breach notification rules (see 2508140052) likely has broader implications for the agency, lawyers at Cooley wrote Wednesday. “The decision’s expansive reading of Section 201(b) [of the Communications Act] suggests that the FCC’s power extends beyond the actual provision of service to cover all ‘practices’ in support of providing the service, which could lead to more aggressive regulation in the future,” they wrote.
Members of the North American Spectrum Alliance spoke with FCC staff about the need for the agency to look more closely at upper C-band issues, according to a filing Wednesday in docket 25-59. The FCC is examining an auction of the spectrum, which carriers see as well-suited for full-power licensed use.
Verizon on Wednesday announced international calling plans for two of its “Verizon Value” brands, Simple Mobile and Total Wireless, starting Aug. 28. “The plans address ongoing demand for international connectivity as travel patterns evolve,” with more Americans visiting the Asia Pacific region, Verizon said. The $60 Unlimited World+ plan now offers unlimited calling to more than 200 countries from the U.S. and international roaming access in more than 140 countries. Total Wireless is doubling roaming coverage to more than 30 countries and adding 95 countries for international calling.
GCI counsel spoke with an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to explain the provider’s request for clarification on the agency’s Alaska Connect Fund order (see 2501310053) during what the company described as a follow-up meeting. GCI urged the commission “to adopt these requested adjustments to ensure continued improvement and expanded mobile coverage in Alaska’s rural communities,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-328.