Representatives of Broadcom, Cisco and Facebook spoke with Office of Engineering and Technology acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from OET about launching the Open Automated Frequency Coordination Software Group for the 6 GHz band (see 2108100022), said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295.

GCI raised concerns in comments on proposed drive test parameters and a model for the tests for some carriers participating in the Alaska Plan. Comments were due Thursday in docket 16-271. “Many of the areas where GCI and other providers committed to improve mobile wireless services are extremely remote,” said a filing posted Friday: “The Proposal would likely require GCI to test a substantial number of grid cells that are very sparsely populated (if actually populated at all), roadless, miles from the nearest road, or all three. The efforts required for these tests will validate a very small percentage of [those] reflected in the commitments but require substantial effort.”

An FCC framework for addressing contraband wireless devices in correctional facilities, approved 4-0 in July (see 2107120057), is effective Sept. 13, says the Friday Federal Register. Comments on an accompanying Further NPRM are due that day, replies Oct. 12, says a second notice. The order “adopts a framework requiring the disabling of contraband wireless devices detected in correctional facilities upon satisfaction of certain criteria, and we address issues involving oversight, wireless provider liability, and treatment of 911 calls,” the notice says.

T-Mobile’s fiber pilot in New York City (see 2108110056) likely won’t be a major growth driver for the already quick growing provider, but it shows the company “looking for different strategies to target broadband markets in different geographies,” New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors Thursday. T-Mobile is working with Pilot Fiber, a small provider serving about 600 buildings, he said. “The economics of wholesaling someone else’s infrastructure won’t be great, but it will help T-Mobile compete against cable and the incumbents where they are integrated, potentially helping retention and lowering churn,” he said: “We don't think this will be a major driver of value for T-Mobile,” but it “may help feed share gains in wireless.”

The American Traffic Safety Services Association notified the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit it plans to file a brief in support of ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in their challenge of the FCC’s reallocation of the 5.9 GHz band (see 2106020076). The FCC moved away from dedicated short-range communications, the former allocation for the entire 75 MHz, dividing the band with 45 MHz set aside for Wi-Fi and 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology. As association members “collectively work toward [a] goal of improving roadway safety, an increasingly important part of this work is the use of technologies that communicate between a vehicle and roadway infrastructure apparatuses,” said a pleading posted Thursday in docket 21-1130 (in Pacer).

Demand for 5G fixed wireless access will be the fastest growing of all residential broadband segments over the next six years, increasing at a 71% compound annual growth rate, to 58 million subscribers globally in 2026, reported ABI Research on Wednesday. It estimates the residential broadband market exceeded 1.1 billion subscribers in 2020, increasing 4% from 2019, it said. Though COVID-19 accelerated demand for broadband connectivity, “the need for high-capacity residential broadband will remain strong, even after the pandemic recovery,” said ABI.

Anterix and Federated Wireless are offering electric utilities a new option for their private networks, combining Anterix’s licensed 900 MHz spectrum with Federated’s shared spectrum service in the citizens broadband radio service band. The offering can provide “the benefits of the wide coverage and dedicated control of licensed 900 MHz combined with the capacity and flexibility of unlicensed or licensed CBRS spectrum,” the companies said Wednesday.

T-Mobile quietly launched a “very limited” fiber internet pilot in New York City to supplement fixed wireless coverage, a spokesperson confirmed. The program serves Manhattan residential buildings "to deliver home internet over fiber-optic lines, using a local fiber provider’s fiber-optic network,” the spokesperson said: “Our fixed wireless service will continue to be our flagship home internet offering. It’s available to millions of Americans today and is rapidly expanding.”

Two wireless ISPs agreed to pay fines for allegedly prohibited communications during the FCC’s citizens broadband radio service auction of priority access licenses. Router12 agreed to implement a compliance plan and pay a $50,000 penalty. Router12 CEO Ryan Malek violated the rules by posting a statement on the WISP Talk Facebook Group page indicating his company didn’t intend to bid, said a Wednesday notice by the Enforcement Bureau: “Another member of the group replied to the post, stating, ‘At this point, you either filed the short-form for CBRS PAL auction and can’t talk about it, or you missed the deadline.’” Nikola Broadband agreed to pay a $30,000 fine and institute a compliance plan. President Robert Zeff sent an email with the subject line “CBRS fiasco” to the WISP Association’s members email group, saying, “[w]e are backing out of the auction,” the bureau said. Stephen Coran, counsel to WISPA replied, “PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY FURTHER MESSAGES TO THIS LIST.”

Broadcom, Cisco and Facebook announced the launch of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination Software Group, as part of the Telecom Infra Project, to spur the commercialization of 6 GHz Wi-Fi devices. The group hopes to “develop a common reference open source software for an AFC system,” said a Tuesday news release: “The AFC will be used by unlicensed devices in the newly available 6 GHz band to operate outdoor and increased range indoor while ensuring incumbent services are protected.” Many applications and use cases “we’re just beginning to dream up with the introduction of Wi-Fi 6 and the 6 GHz spectrum will rely on standard power, greater range and reliability,” said Rakesh Thaker, Cisco vice president-wireless engineering: “This software group will play an important role in ensuring those applications can become reality, while also protecting important incumbent services.”