The FCC’s 2.5 GHz auction is gaining some momentum and closed out the week at$377 million, three weeks after the auction started and 47 rounds in. Based on increased activity in some large counties “it looks like we will be crossing the $400 million threshold sometime on Monday,” predicted Sasha Javid, BitPath chief operating officer. Javid had earlier warned the auction could struggle to hit $300 million (see 2208080061).
The FCC posted Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s responses Thursday to letters from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and 16 other House members urging the commission in its evaluation of future use of the 12 GHz band to more carefully consider the potential impact of terrestrial operations on the frequency’s incumbent users. McCarthy in June urged the FCC to “carefully balance the need to encourage American innovation and ensure all Americans have broadband no matter where they are when evaluating whether terrestrial services can coexist with these important space-based communications services.” Rosenworcel’s responses to McCarthy and others are the same as her letter to Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., which said the agency is engaged in a complex analysis of potential 12 GHz interference risks (see 2208100063).
Nova Labs, which founded Helium Network and promotes decentralized wireless infrastructure, announced Thursday it’s buying FreedomFi, which develops software for crowdsourced 5G networks (see 2206130047). It cited FreedomFi's "deep expertise in the development of open source tools for deployment and management of next-generation distributed mobile networks." The terms weren’t disclosed. FreedomFi is funded by Blueyard Capital, Qualcomm Ventures and Samsung Next.
The FCC reported Thursday that of 153 handset models studied, all but 14 were hearing-aid compatible. The models were offered in the U.S. during a one-year period ending June 30. Ten of the 14 models were offered by Motorola Mobility. The FCC lists 14 manufacturers.
MoffettNathanson downgraded Verizon to “underperform” Thursday, with a revised price target of $41, down from $55. It also lowered its target on AT&T from $19 to $17, warning that tough times are ahead for two of the three major U.S. wireless carriers due to continuing pressure from cable wireless. “It has now been more than two years since AT&T adopted its aggressively promotional stance in wireless,” analyst Craig Moffett told investors: “Things have played out pretty much as one would have expected. AT&T has accelerated its subscriber growth, but at the cost of repeatedly cutting their free cash flow and dividend coverage forecasts. They are left with a larger, but arguably lower quality, customer base whose preservation is more dependent than ever on lucrative giveaways.” But the “biggest loser” has been Verizon, he said. “They have seesawed between periods of promotionality and financial restraint, optimizing neither,” he said. “They have recently pulled back sharply on promotions, a reversal of their approach in Q2, and have introduced a suite of lower priced plans instead. There are no easy answers.”
The number of 5G connections at manufacturing and industrial facilities will exceed 49 million globally by 2030, generating $2.4 billion in revenue for suppliers, reported ABI Research Thursday. But the lack of 5G industrial devices has stalled manufacturers’ interest in 5G private wireless, said ABI. “In turn, the lack of enthusiasm has discouraged hardware suppliers from creating the necessary devices. As a result of the state of flux, equipment vendors, such as Nokia, have launched converged devices supporting Wi-Fi, LTE, and 5G connectivity.” Suppliers need to showcase the attributes of a 5G network “and prove how a 5G network can upgrade operations,” said ABI. “The lack of 5G devices is a genuine drag on adoption.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied rehearing by the full court of its decision to reverse a dismissal of fraud claims by Vermont National Telephone in the 2015 AWS-3 auction, said a Wednesday order (docket 21-7039). Appellees Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless (see 2206160075) didn't comment Thursday.
Southern Co. countered arguments NCTA made in February, questioning a report from the utility company on the threat from low-power indoor (LPI) unlicensed devices to electric utility operations in the 6 GHz band (see 2202240042). “NCTA continues to rely on flawed, undisclosed simulations built on assumptions that defy reasonable engineering standards … and are inconsistent with real-world Wi-Fi and fixed microwave operations,” said a Southern filing, posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. “NCTA and other proponents of unlicensed LPI operations refuse to recognize that field testing of FCC-certified, off-the-shelf, commercially available LPI devices operating under real-world conditions demonstrates that such devices will cause harmful interference to licensed fixed microwave systems in the 6 GHz band, including those -- such as Southern’s licensed microwave systems -- which are critical to ensuring the reliability and resilience of our Nation’s energy infrastructure.”
The FCC Wireless Bureau granted nine more licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment to PDV Spectrum Tuesday, one in Missouri and the rest in Kansas. The FCC approved an order in 2020 reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband (see 2005130057).
NCTA, and CableLabs, encouraged the FCC “to act promptly” to address remaining questions on automated frequency coordination (AFC) operators in the 6 GHz band, in a call with Office of Engineering and Technology staff. “Implementing a measured and reasonable increase in low-power indoor (LPI) power limits and facilitating the introduction of AFC-controlled operations are crucial steps toward a future of next-generation Wi-Fi that meets the growing need for higher speeds and robust coverage,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. “Because Wi-Fi continues to serve as the primary onramp to the Internet for the majority of broadband connections [in] the country, adopting the … proposed LPI power limits would benefit not only American consumers and businesses, but also educational institutions, healthcare facilities, public transportation, among others.”