A recent FCC update on the spectrum screen after the C-band auction could have implications for T-Mobile and Dish Network in the 3.45 GHz auction, New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors Wednesday. “After the 3.45 GHz auction, the amount of spectrum in circulation would increase from 1023 MHz to 1123 MHz and the screen would increase from 350 MHz to 380 MHz,” the analyst said: “T-Mobile, with 354 MHz today, would be allowed to acquire just 26 MHz (on a national average basis), compared to the 40 MHz we think they would want.” One wrinkle is Dish Network has a right to buy 14 MHz of specialized mobile radio spectrum from T-Mobile, he said: If Dish exercises this right, it would clear T-Mobile to buy 40 MHz in the 3.45 GHz band.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs supports a petition by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation for partial reconsideration of reallocating the 5.9 GHz band (see 2106030075), said a filing posted Wednesday in FCC docket 19-138. Intelligent transportation system apps “have significant potential to reduce the frequency and severity of unimpaired motor vehicle crashes,” IAFC said: “By reallocating a majority of the spectrum reserved for ITS use, the Report and Order threatens to undermine the deployment of these life-saving technologies.” IAFC noted questions raised by Congress and the Department of Transportation.

NAB representatives urged aides to all FCC commissioners to reject petitions for reconsideration by wireless mic makers on an order terminating docket 15-146 on use of vacant channels in the TV band to provide spectrum for TV white space devices and wireless mics (see 2101080050). The FCC’s “central objective” in seeking comment was “expressly to preserve one television channel for white spaces devices and wireless microphones nationwide, not to create a patchwork quilt of channel availability as Shure and Sennheiser now request,” said a filing posted Wednesday. The companies didn't comment.

Comments are due Aug. 27, replies Sept. 13, in docket 19-195 on the FCC rulemaking on technical requirements for mobile challenge, verification and crowdsourced processes required under the Broadband Data Act (see 2107160067), says Wednesday's Federal Register.

T-Mobile’s “Extended Range 5G,” which uses 600 MHz, covers 305 million U.S. people, President-Technology Neville Ray blogged Tuesday. “Ultra Capacity 5G” covers 165 million, Ray said. “We are moving at pace and with confidence towards our 200 million people covered and NATIONWIDE Ultra Capacity for the end of this year.” T-Mobile’s average 2.5 GHz deployment is 60-80 MHz, expected to grow to 100 MHz this year, he said.

Dell’Oro Group dialed down a near-term forecast for citizens broadband radio service investments in 5G deployments Tuesday, projecting $500 million to $1 billion in 2020-25. The adjustments “reflect slower than expected year-to-date LTE CBRS base station adoption,” said Vice President Stefan Pongratz: But “activity is on the rise with interesting use cases forming around multiple verticals, adding confidence enterprise and private deployments will comprise a greater share of the overall CBRS market over time.”

The 5G Automotive Association urged officials from the FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology to act on a public notice on a streamlined waiver process for cellular vehicle-to-everything roadside units. A “thoughtfully designed” process “would provide road and infrastructure operators an opportunity to accelerate the deployment of C-V2X safety services to travelers,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-138. The notice should “reflect the realities of C-V2X technology,” they said. Qualcomm and Ford were represented.

Replies largely tracked initial comments in docket 21-186 urging caution as the FCC considers adopting out-of-band emissions in the 24 GHz band aligned with limits adopted at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (see 2106290036). The American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association urged more aggressive limits. “At a minimum, the Commission should align its rules with the WRC-19 limits on emissions from active operations in the 24.25-25.25 GHz band into passive sensing in the 23.6-24.0 GHz band,” the groups said: “Implement more stringent rules that expedite limits on emissions to 2024, consistent with European regulators, given continued concerns from the Earth science community about major interference to weather modeling that will ensue before 2027 under WRC-19 rules.” Industry said the WRC agreement is adequate to protect earth exploration satellite services operations. The FCC “took a reasoned approached in initially determining the -13 dBm/MHz (-20 dBW/200 MHz) out of band emission limit in the 24 GHz Report & Order,” said AT&T. The limit “is consistent with other operations surrounding the 23 GHz passive band and should protect EESS operations,” AT&T said. “There is no basis for the Commission to deviate from the carefully crafted agreements reached at WRC-19 with respect to protection levels, timeframe, or types of devices to which the … emission parameters should apply,” said T-Mobile. “Reject any calls to expand limitations on 24 GHz equipment beyond the consensus agreement of the WRC, which would unnecessarily hinder the deployment of 5G service in the United States,” urged CTIA.

The 10-year Dish Network/AT&T network service agreement (see 2107190003) "is a game changer for Dish and a disastrous result for the wireless incumbents," practically assuring viability for Dish's wireless plans and upping the odds of a strategic partnership and future financing, MoffettNathanson's Craig Moffett wrote investors Monday. The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement now extending well past expiration of the 2026 no-sale prohibition opens the door to a possible sale of Dish's spectrum or its entire business, he said. The AT&T agreement buys Dish breathing room to expand its network beyond the 70% of the U.S. population it has to cover by 2025 by eliminating the danger it faced with its T-Mobile MVNO expiring in 2027, and it raises the chances of Dish to be competitive to the Big Three wireless carriers, Moffett said.

President Claude Aiken and others from the Wireless ISP Association spoke with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to oppose any FCC symmetrical speed mandates. “Consumers typically use at least eight times more download bandwidth than upload bandwidth,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-34.