Comments are due July 27, replies Aug. 26, on a notice of inquiry FCC commissioners approved 4-0 this month on how to facilitate access to spectrum for offshore uses and operations (see 2206080055) said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. “We take the first steps toward facilitating offshore operations through innovative spectrum management policy,” the notice says: “Specifically, we seek input on whether changes in our rules and policies are needed to facilitate the development of offshore commercial and private networks.”

Representatives of GCI asked for clarity from the FCC on drive test rules under the Alaska Plan (see 2205050038). “We discussed GCI’s concerns with the set of areas selected for GCI to drive test and the importance of disclosing all values necessary for GCI to calculate its compliance,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 16-271.

The FCC published in the Federal Register Friday its May order (see 2205120031) denying petitions for reconsideration filed by wireless-mic makers Sennheiser and Shure of a December 2020 order (see 2012080064) closing the agency’s 2015 NPRM on whether to allocate a vacant channel for use by white space devices and wireless microphones. The order took effect May 11, the notice said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau Friday granted 11 900 MHz broadband segment license applications, in keeping with 2020 order reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband (see 2005130057). “The Bureau finds the 900 MHz broadband segment applications listed ... to be complete and in conformance with the Commission’s rules,” said an order in docket 17-200: “No petitions to deny these applications were filed, and the applications sufficiently demonstrate conformance with the eligibility conditions … and requirements for transitioning the 900 MHz band in the particular county requested.” All the grants are to PDV Spectrum in Kansas.

The DOJ approved an amended master network services agreement between Dish Network and T-Mobile, T-Mobile said in an SEC filing Thursday. The agreement gives Dish’s retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, continued access to T-Mobile's 5G network (see 2206210049). “While we are surprised at the DOJ’s newfound timeliness on the issue -- given that it never got around to approving the earlier version of the new [mobile virtual network operator] terms that Dish and T-Mobile signed in late February -- the approval now is nonetheless a positive for Dish,” New Street’s Philip Burnett told investors.

The Wi-Fi Alliance briefed FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff on upcoming documents needed for the use of standard power devices in the 6 GHz band, controlled by an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system. The documents are: AFC System to AFC Device/Interface Specification, v1.2.3; AFC System Under Test Compliance Test Plan, v1.1.5; and AFC Device Under Test Compliance Test Plan, v1.2, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. “In each case, the specifications remain in development,” the alliance said: The group “continues to work with 6 GHz stakeholders and industry experts to finalize these specifications following resolution of the remaining outstanding issues while taking into account comments received.” The alliance expressed hope that “even in their current preliminary form, these specifications will allow OET to initiate the AFC systems testing process, and thereby expedite introduction of robust and ubiquitous 6 GHz connectivity.”

The National Wireless Communications Council supported a December petition by APCO, the Utilities Technology Council and others asking the FCC to stop certifying low-power indoor devices in the 6 GHz band because of the alleged interference risk (see 2112080058). “Given that hundreds of millions of 6 GHz LPI devices are expected to be in use this year, and there will be no way to quickly shut down these devices if they do in fact cause harmful interference to these vital fixed communications links, it is necessary for the Commission to revisit the 6 GHz rules to ensure unlicensed 6 GHz devices will not cause harmful interference to licensed microwave systems,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295.

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance recommended to the FCC that APCO be designated as the nationwide frequency coordinator/band manager for the 4.9 GHz band, the group said Wednesday. “There already is broad consensus among representatives of the Public Safety community about how this spectrum might be optimized, including the designation of sub-channels for different purposes,” EWA said: “APCO and the other Public Safety [frequency advisory committees] have twenty years’ experience working with their constituents and undoubtedly have a detailed understanding of the current and future requirements of these users at 4.9 GHz.” The band appears to be a focus of likely coming action by the FCC (see 2206160037).

Mobile service in the 12 GHz band would make it "effectively unusable" for satellite service, with SpaceX broadband terminals suffering harmful interference more than 77% of the time and outages 74% of the time, it said in docket 20-443 Tuesday. Per its analysis, that interference would extend at least 21 km from every macro base station. SpaceX said its analysis used the same methodology as those submitted by RS Access but uses "assumptions that reflect reality." SpaceX urged the FCC to investigate if Dish and RS Access "filed intentionally misleading reports," saying they "simply cannot be squared " with Dish's previous stance that sharing between terrestrial and satellite isn't viable. "These 'studies' seem designed only to deceive the Commission into improperly granting them and other Multichannel Video and Data Distribution Service (“MVDDS”) licensees new spectrum rights" despite the harm to satellite services, it said. Dish Network and the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition said they were reviewing the filing. The Coalition tweeted Tuesday it "remain[s] committed to working in good faith with the @FCC and stakeholdrs to ensure that the American public is able to reap the immense benefits of #5G services in this band."

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved a waiver for Kongsberg Seatex, allowing the company to seek certification for a system used for broadband communications among maritime vessels, and between maritime vessels and shore. The system operates at 5.725-5.850 GHz band, emitting “steerable directional beams at power levels that exceed” FCC limits, said a Tuesday order. The higher antenna gain limits Kongsberg requests “will increase the maximum achievable communication distance over water from approximately 1.2 kilometers (under the current rules) to at least 9 kilometers,” OET said: “This increased range will be useful for a variety of maritime applications, including operation of autonomous surface vessels; hydrographic surveying prior to and during dredging of ports and waterways; remote inspection of underwater pipelines and other underwater installations; monitoring marine life; oil and gas exploration; scientific research; communications during search and rescue operations; fishery research; tracking of unmanned underwater vehicles; dock and harbor inspections; and monitoring sediment in river outlets for safe navigational passages.”