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.”
Juniper Research forecast Tuesday that the total number of 5G connections will hit 3.2 billion by 2026, up from 310 million this year. Juniper predicted increasing investments in stand-alone 5G networks, which “leverage next-generation technologies, such as network orchestration tools, to enable operators to monetize data‑intensive use cases, like remote healthcare and mobile gaming.” By 2026, the average revenue per 5G smartphone connection will decline to $17 worldwide, from $29 this year, “significantly impacting operator revenue,” Juniper said. The Asia Pacific region will have 60% of the 5G connections, it said: “Operators in China, Japan and South Korea have all implemented lower subscription costs, which have accelerated 5G adoption, thus enabling these subscribers to explore novel services that require 5G connectivity.”
Microsoft urged the FCC to reject a petition for reconsideration by Shure of amended white spaces rules. Shure sought recon of the 16-watt effective isotropic radiated power level for mobile white spaces devices and the nationwide scope of the authorization for narrowband devices. Shure “impermissibly raises arguments and introduces studies for the first time,” Microsoft said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 20-36. The petition is “substantively flawed because it fails to raise any credible grounds for reconsideration,” the company said: “The Commission’s rules were cautious, well-reasoned, evidence-based, clearly articulated, in line with precedent, and within the scope of the proceeding.”
The FirstNet board meets Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. at the W Hotel, 515 15th St. NW, Washington. Public attendance is limited, says Monday Federal Register.
NTIA, reflecting a letter from the Coast Guard, told the FCC the use of radio devices for the automatic identification system should be limited to their intended use “which does not currently include marking fishing equipment.” A June NPRM asked to what extent the 1900-2000 KHz band is used “to support fishing operations, and what obstacles prevent heavier spectrum usage.” The FCC sought comment at the direction of Congress. “Based on the existing international standards, when these devices are used they appear as ships rather than fishing equipment, which can cause dangerous confusion,” NTIA said in a filing posted Friday in docket 21-230.