International Association of Fire Chiefs representatives told aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks they should preserve the 4.9 GHz band for public safety (see 2105140051). The filing posted Monday in docket 07-100 detailed uses by California cities, Seattle and elsewhere.

Tracfone and Verizon provided data to the FCC on Verizon’s proposed buy of the prepaid service provider, answering Office of Economics and Analytics questions (see 2104140064). Most information was redacted (see here and here). Tracfone said it doesn’t have cellular market area-level data: As a mobile virtual network operator, "TracFone has limited direct interaction with its customers and therefore has little personal information.” The combination “will put TracFone in a far stronger position to compete for value-conscious customers,” Verizon said.

The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics extended by 10 days until May 27 the replies deadline on 2.5 GHz auction procedures (see 2105040077). “Commenters have raised complex issues regarding the list of potential licenses to be auctioned, which may require careful analysis by some,” said Monday's notice in docket 20-429: “In light of the relatively brief 10-day extension requested and noting that an auction start date has not been announced, granting the requested extension" won't "disrupt auction preparations and will provide an opportunity to bolster the record.” Educational broadband service licensees said a list of some 8,300 county/spectrum block combinations shown as available as part of an auction is flawed. “These errors could result in the auctioning of overlay licenses in counties where no unassigned … spectrum exists,” said the Catholic Bishop of Chicago in a Monday posting in docket 20-429. DuPage County's diocese uses a spectrum block on the list, the filing said. Los Angeles' Catholic Archdiocese said Orange County is incorrectly listed, though it’s “fully encumbered by existing EBS licensees, including the archdiocese.” Detroit's Archdiocese said the list is mistaken in areas it serves in Monroe and Wayne counties. The University of Colorado and Stanford University also cited errors. T-Mobile says at least 273 licenses shouldn't be available because they’re encumbered by EBS licensees.

The FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology let Google operate as American Samoa spectrum access system administrator in the citizens broadband radio service band, in a public notice Friday.

The FCC order terminating the 800 rebanding (see 2104220056) is effective June 14, said Friday's Federal Register.

The FCC Wireless Bureau awarded 40 more 2.5 GHz band licenses to tribes, all but four in Alaska, said a Thursday notice. This brings the total awarded to 259.

Aviation interests urged the FCC to take mitigation steps to protect low range radar altimeter operations. They countered arguments by CTIA and major wireless carriers that rules protect those operations. The groups previously raised concerns and asked that the record-setting auction be delayed (see 2012080040). Without mitigation, “the FCC will expose aviation and the traveling public to significant safety risk from interference to radar altimeters,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-122. The letter was signed by the Aerospace Industries Association, Air Line Pilots Association International, Airbus, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Collins Aerospace, Garmin, Honeywell, the International Air Transport Association, the National Air Carrier Association and others.

There's too little support to move forward on a terrain-based propagation model to determine channel availability for TV white spaces operations (see 2104270037), NAB said in calls with aides to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. “Microsoft and other white spaces proponents have simply failed to do the work to demonstrate that this proposal will not increase the potential for harmful interference to licensed television stations,” said Thursday's posting in docket 20-36. Microsoft didn’t comment.

The FCC has the evidence it needs to act quickly on an order allowing wireless broadband in the 12 GHz band, said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering Wednesday on a 5Gfor12GHz Coalition call. Speakers cited a RKF Engineering Solutions study that said 5G and non-geostationary fixed satellite service deployments can coexist (see 2105100028). The RKF and a Brattle economic study “provide the commission with the clear evidence they need to move forward,” Pickering said. With infrastructure legislation moving through Congress, “we’re about to see significant sums of fund for the national commitment of broadband connectivity,” he said: “This can be done, and should be done, this year.” Coalition members tied the opening of the spectrum to the FCC’s focus on broadband deployment. “The ever-increasing demand for network utilization is forcing us to explore new technologies and methods to build networks faster and with more capacity,” said ISP Xiber CEO Stephen Hon. Xiber uses spectrum mainly for wireless backhaul. Access to 12 GHz “would be a remarkable tool,” he said. “The sheer volume of spectrum available, as well as the location of the band, could enable higher capacity links over longer distances.” Congestion in other bands and the cost of deployment means “many times we and other providers have to turn down customers and communities” seeking service, Hon said. Companies like infrastructure provider Tilson need “every possible tool at our disposal to bridge the gap,” said CEO Josh Broder. Using 12 GHz will let the company “reach more communities with much-needed, high quality broadband,” he said. “It is laughably premature to declare” the RKF study “provides ‘clear evidence’ of any kind whatsoever,” said Eric Graham, OneWeb director-government and regulatory engagement, North America. “The study was only made available on Monday to stakeholders offering broadband in the 12 GHz spectrum, like OneWeb, and we are now beginning to identify the flaws in it,” he said. The current rules for the band “guarantee every American, no matter their location, will have access to at least one satellite broadband network in a matter of months,” he said: “That is more than the MVDDS licensees can offer, regardless of how many secret studies they commission.”

Update rules on unlicensed use of the 60 GHz band, said Facebook, Intel and Qualcomm in a Tuesday posting in docket 14-177. “To the extent the FCC proposes to revise this Part 15 unlicensed rule” to allow radar operations in the band “at higher power than presently permitted and with a 10% duty cycle in a 33-millisecond period, the agency should also propose to include a provision to ensure such radar operations do not completely occupy the … band and inhibit communications applications,” they said. Tesla and others sought waivers to use the spectrum (see 2103160059).