T-Mobile Accessibility representatives urged a “sustainable” methodology for setting telecommunications relay service compensation rates, in a meeting with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The discussion was based on an earlier meeting with FCC staff (see 2205130043), said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 03-123.
AT&T asked the FCC for permission to test a range of high mid-band frequencies, from 7 GHz -15 GHz, including potentially 12 GHz, for two years in the Austin area. AT&T said it plans tests “to demonstrate the functionality and capabilities” of 5G-advanced and “potential 6G wireless communication systems.” The company plans to use pre-commercial or experimental hardware, the application said. A spokesperson declined comment.
Former FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said there “absolutely” needs to be more use of unlicensed spectrum going forward Tuesday during a WiFiForward event. “I think we’re going to have more unlicensed opportunities,” O’Rielly said, but “we have to continue the momentum and it’s not an either-or decision on using licensed spectrum. It’s a matter of finding the “right band, the right circumstances, and then finding … the right partners to make that dance happen,” he said. O’Rielly noted NTIA needs to be given a “backbone” so it’s "respected by all the other agencies and stop the end runs to all the random subcommittees." NTIA is “committed to working toward a coordinated national approach” on spectrum policies and initiatives, said Senior Adviser Phil Murphy. “That includes ongoing and close coordination” on the 5.9 GHz band, Murphy said. NTIA and the FCC are holding monthly “high-level meetings” and updating their memorandum of understanding, he said, and NTIA is also updating the national spectrum strategy. High-speed internet access has “never been more critical for our economy” and Wi-Fi has been “critical in keeping individuals and communities connected” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy said. Achieving an “equitable future” means “ensuring homes and businesses have high quality connections at affordable prices,” he said, and Wi-Fi will be “an essential part” of NTIA’s efforts to close the digital divide with its broadband programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Dish Network and T-Mobile agreed to an amendment to their 2020 master network services agreement, offering Dish’s retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, continued access to T-Mobile's 5G network. DOJ must clear the amendment. It “incorporates financial and operational changes, including improved pricing and enhanced roaming solutions for DISH 5G customers in consideration of an annual minimum revenue commitment through the remaining term,” the companies said Tuesday. "We are pleased to have reached new terms with T-Mobile that provide DISH with the ability to be more competitive and to meet our customers' evolving needs," said John Swieringa, Dish Wireless president. "While DISH customers will benefit from our network, this deal also locks in a multi-billion dollar revenue commitment for our business,” said Mike Katz, T-Mobile chief marketing officer. New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin said details are still sketchy. “What we know: 1) the mobile virtual network operator "rate is lowered, with the new rate applied retroactively to January 2022. 2) Dish has a minimum purchase commitment of $3.3BN over the remaining 5 years of the deal. 3) Dish gets in-market roaming, and the elimination of some restrictions on roaming. 4) Dish gets help on subs migrated off the CDMA network, including the provision of handsets. 5) Dish gets another 100k subs that were previously Boost branded, but remained with T-Mobile post deal.”
The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment aimed at gaining a better understanding of “the reliability of the delivery of safety-related information carried on the two shared, narrowband maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS) frequencies,” channels AIS 1 and AIS 2. Comments are due July 18, replies Aug. 2, in docket 22-232, said a notice in Friday’s Daily Digest. AIS “uses shared channels to exchange navigation safety-related information to properly-equipped vessels and shore stations, including vessel identification, position, navigation status (to reduce the risk of collisions), and Application-Specific Messages (ASMs), which convey weather and other maritime safety announcements,” the notice said: “Concerns have been raised that AIS may experience reduced reliability in areas with high vessel traffic, as more vessels become equipped with authorized AIS equipment and as usage of ASMs and other AIS applications and services increase.”
The Wireless ISP Association is encouraging members to write to governors and members of Congress objecting to NTIA’s definition of reliable broadband service unveiled last month for its broadband, equity, access and deployment program (see 2205130054), a spokesperson said Friday. “Many small ISPs like mine have for decades provided reliable, predictable and evolutionary broadband service to hard-to-reach communities,” says a prototype letter from the group: “Our customers were left behind by larger companies who long ago abandoned efforts to serve rural and disadvantaged communities because the economics just did not make sense for them. … Simply put, we have always used the right tool for the job to connect our neighbors who previously had no other options.”
The FCC appointed Donald Stern of Affiliated Monitors as the independent compliance officer overseeing Verizon’s buy of Tracfone “to address the potential harms posed and to confirm certain benefits offered.” The FCC’s order (see 2111230038) required the appointment of the officer “who will have the power and authority to review and evaluate Verizon’s compliance with the Order,” said a Friday order from the Wireless Bureau.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association tapped Patrick Halley, USTelecom general counsel, as its new president and CEO, replacing Jonathan Adelstein. Halley takes over Aug. 1. He's a veteran of the National Emergency Number Association, the FCC and Wilkinson Barker and is the former executive director of the Next Generation 911 Institute. “Patrick’s broad regulatory, legal and trade association experience in telecommunications makes him the ideal person to lead WIA into the future,” said WIA Chairman Jeffrey Stoops, CEO of SBA Communications, Thursday: “He has deep knowledge of, and experience in, advocacy, which is the primary mission of WIA, and is a proven manager and motivator of his team members.” WIA said Halley was picked following a national search by search firm Odgers Berndtson. Adelstein, a former FCC commissioner, left WIA in June after 10 years at the helm.
Gogo Business Aviation told the FCC that representatives of the company met to discuss APCO's concerns on Gogo’s requested waiver of effective radiated power limits for air-to-ground operations in the 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz bands (see 2206070067). “The APCO Letter suggested that Gogo BA’s proposed waiver conditions did not align with ‘the requirements for interference notification and remediation in the Commission’s rules,’” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-282: Gogo “has and would continue to abide by those rules (including on-site visits to complete timely interference analysis), even after Commission grant of the instant waiver request.”
SNR Wireless and Northstar Wireless asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for a rehearing or rehearing en banc of a panel's decision last month to reverse a dismissal of fraud claims by Vermont National Telephone in the 2015 AWS-3 auction (see 2205170026). The appellate court's reversal of a lower court's dismissal of VTEL's suit goes against Supreme Court precedent, they said Thursday in a docket 21-7039 rehearing petition. They said it also could "undermine critical limitations" Congress set for qui tam litigation, when a private party brings action on the government's behalf. Dish Network designated entities SNR and Northstar separately challenged the FCC's 2020 rejection of the AWS-3 bidding credits -- the second time the agency did so (see 2011230062).