The FCC Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics approved parameters and a testing methodology for Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund and the Connect USVI Fund mobile support recipients to submit network data verifying they met their deployment obligations. Recipients may use alternative testing procedures, subject to FCC staff approval. Submissions of drive and drone tests, which include "two tests in each sampling unit in a statistically significant sample of the network coverage areas," should be made through the broadband data collection mobile verification module, said a public notice Tuesday. Final network coverage data must be submitted between Dec. 1 and Jan. 30. All recipients will also have 60 calendar days, beginning "the day immediately following the day OEA provides the test sample to a recipient," to complete and submit network performance testing regardless of the methodology.

Grandfathered fixed satellite service licensees in the 3.6-3.7 GHz band must submit their 2024 annual registration updates by Dec. 1, the FCC Wireless and Space bureaus and the Office of Engineering and Technology said in a public notice Monday in docket 15-80. After Jan. 1, registrations not complete can be deactivated or deleted, meaning a loss of protection by Spectrum Access System administrators, the FCC said.

The FCC International Bureau Friday asked a series of questions on T-Mobile’s proposed buy of Mint Mobile (see 2303150032), a low-cost prepaid wireless brand, and other Ka’ena assets, in a letter to T-Mobile. The bureau asked for responses by Nov. 29 as it examines international authorizations under Section 214 of the Communications Act. “Discuss in detail all of T-Mobile’s current and anticipated future plans regarding the Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile distribution networks, including, but not limited to, the extent to which Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile plans and devices would be available at third-party locations, such as Walmart,” the bureau asked: “Explain in detail whether Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile plans and devices will be offered in T-Mobile’s stores post-transaction.” The bureau also asked T-Mobile for more detail on data security breaches and cyberattacks it has reported, and steps taken in response.

Representatives of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) completed a series of meetings at the FCC on the group’s push to use the 6 GHz band (see 2305260032), said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. SIG members met last week with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington and staff from the Office of Engineering and Technology. They earlier met with Commissioner Anna Gomez (see 2310260030). SIG members “elaborated on the wide range of applications for Bluetooth technology, from wireless audio to connected consumer electronics, glucose monitors, and hearing aids,” the filing said: “They highlighted the importance of accessing the 6 GHz spectrum as a means to support and expand the technology and explained that their members are part of a cross-license patent agreement, which allows them to focus and spend their resources on growth and development.”

Representatives of the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition held a series of meetings at the FCC last week to push for action allowing use of the lower 12 GHz band for fixed-wireless by the end of the year (see 2309110061). “The Coalition urged the FCC to update the 12 GHz band’s rules to allow [multichannel video and data distribution service band] licensees to deploy high-powered, two-way fixed broadband services by the end of the year,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-443. “Taking immediate action to expand the 12 GHz band for fixed broadband is a critical step towards getting providers the mid-band spectrum they need to offer next generation broadband services.” Technical studies “conclusively demonstrate the band’s suitability for high speed deployments and that satellite incumbents operating in the band will be protected from harmful interference,” the coalition said. They met with aides to all the commissioners, and staff from the Wireless Bureau, Office of Engineering and Technology and Office of International Affairs.

T-Mobile withdrew a petition asking the FCC to deny MatrixSpace's petition for waiver of the U.S. table of frequency allocations and the commission’s Part 87 rules for radars mounted on drones that could provide radionavigation or radiolocation in the 24.45-24.65 GHz band (see 2307270026). T-Mobile said it’s dropping its complaint after MatrixSpace agreed to abide by the same restrictions as Echodyne (see 1906130051). “Predictive modeling cannot rule out the possibility that MatrixSpace’s proposed DopplerSpace MS01100 radar operations will cause harmful interference to primary users in the future, particularly to licensees like T-Mobile in the immediately adjacent band at 24.45 GHz,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 23-216. “Based on T-Mobile’s calculations, MatrixSpace’s operations are capable of causing harmful interference to T-Mobile customers in certain deployment scenarios,” T-Mobile said: “Notwithstanding these concerns, T-Mobile believes it can manage the interference risk that MatrixSpace’s operations will create based on the company’s commitments submitted on the record in this proceeding.”

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority sought a waiver allowing early cellular vehicle-to-everything deployments in the 5.9 GHz band. The authority said it’s willing to abide by restrictions approved as part of a joint waiver order released in April (see 2304240066), per a Wednesday filing in docket 19-138.

Representatives of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) met with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez on the group’s push to use the 6 GHz band (see 2305260032). They “explained that they need access to the 6 GHz spectrum because the 2.4 GHz band -- which they currently use -- will not support this growth in their technologies,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. In response to questions from Gomez, SIG members “explained that the proposed framework does not currently provide for a narrow band service,” the filing said: The representatives “said they plan to move into the 5.8 GHz band, but it is insufficient to meet their needs for narrow band service and is not recognized on a global basis. They are working with the Wi-Fi industry to ensure that what they do works for them, as well as with U.S. and European regulators.”

A declaratory ruling clarifying that the use of Wi-Fi on school buses is an educational purpose and eligible for E-rate funding, posted in Thursday’s Daily Digest, addresses objections by Commissioner Nathan Simington that the ruling was an “unlawful course of action.” Simington and Commissioner Brendan Carr dissented on the ruling, approved 3-2 last week (see 2310190056|). The commission added additional text clarifying its authority to make the change. “Accordingly, section 254(h)(1)(B) of the Communications Act authorizes the Commission to support the provision of communications services, including broadband, to schools and libraries for educational purposes, and this Declaratory Ruling fits squarely within that authority,” the final order says. The final version further clarifies commission authority in a new footnote. “Section 254(h)(1)(B) does not contain any reference to ‘classrooms,’ and thus the dissenters’ concerns that section 254(h)(2)(A) is limited to ‘access to advanced . . . services for . . . classrooms,’ are inapposite,” the footnote says: “Nevertheless, we also note that Congress declined to define ‘classrooms’ for this purpose, and recent history has shown that in today’s world, teaching and learning often occur outside of brick and mortar school buildings and thus ‘classroom’ may be interpreted more broadly.” The commission found that “the use of Wi-Fi on school buses to aid the many students who lack robust internet access at home similarly enhances eligible schools’ and libraries’ access to advanced telecommunications and information services.” The ruling includes written statements by the five commissioners.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Wednesday extended by 15 days the deadlines for challenges to Comsearch and Federated Wireless public trial testing of their automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to the 6 GHz band. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) had asked for a 30-day extension (see 2310180053). “According to EPRI, it submitted a large number of test vectors to the common test portal prior to the beginning of the public trial period and did not receive the revised test results until a month after the public trial period had commenced for the two AFC applicants,” OET said: “EPRI is not requesting a time extension to establish an iterative process to make multiple challenges to the test responses as the Wi-Fi Alliance claims. Instead, EPRI is requesting additional time to perform an analysis of the revised test results which it received after a delay.”