Preserve the 4.9 GHz band for public safety, AT&T representatives said in a call with aides to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “In particular, we recommended that the Commission act favorably on petitions for reconsideration, and seek additional comment on how to promote 5G use of the band for public safety,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 07-100.
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington welcomed a memorandum of agreement among the National Science Foundation, NTIA and the FCC supporting the foundation’s spectrum innovation initiative. The agreement “could not come at a better time,” said the former NTIA staffer Wednesday: “It sets the tone for a new era of close coordination among the agencies responsible for freeing up additional spectrum for 5G and other next-generation wireless technologies.”
Sell 10 MHz license blocks, using smaller licenses, in part of the 3.45-3.55 GHz band, the Wireless ISP Association said in a call with an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “We noted the broad and diverse support in the record for 10-megahertz licenses auctioned by county and opportunistic use, and the very small number of commenters seeking 20-megahertz licenses auctioned by Partial Economic Areas,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-348. WISPA also commented on the January notification by NTIA that it will cost an estimated $13.4 billion to clear the band for 5G (see 2101150071). “The letter does not provide detailed information and analysis about how NTIA arrived at the initial estimate of $13 billion in relocation and sharing costs and does not allocate costs between relocation and sharing,” WISPA said.
AT&T is raising $14.7 billion for “general corporate purposes,” which includes “financing acquisitions of additional spectrum,” said a Friday filing at the SEC. “We assume this is specifically for the C-Band,” New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors Wednesday. AT&T likely could spend up to $27.3 billion in the auction, he said. AT&T is thought to be one of the top bidders in the midband auction.
GuRu Wireless CEO Florian Bohn spoke with an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a waiver request for its wireless power transfer (WPT) technology (see 2101220018). The waiver “would benefit both" WPT "and other American industries, as it would provide real life use information to help form Commission policy, and would not preclude other applications or users,” said Tuesday's posting in docket 19-83.
Adopt aspects of sharing rules in the citizens broadband radio service band in 3.45-3.55 GHz rules, cable interests asked an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Ensure the rules “provide adequate protection to adjacent CBRS operations,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-348.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety supported a request by IEE Sensing for a waiver of FCC rules for a radar that detects infants and children left in an automobile and operates in the 60-64 GHz band. The waiver “will enable the introduction of technology into passenger vehicles to address the issue of hyperthermia deaths and in particular those of children who have unknowingly been left in or entered vehicles without adult supervision,” said the group in a Tuesday posting. Comments were due Monday in docket 20-435.
T-Mobile’s proposed buy of Shentel Wireless is a step closer to completion after three independent valuation providers arrived at a $1.95 billion price, Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. said Tuesday. Shentel and T-Mobile expect a definitive agreement in Q1 and closing in Q2, Shentel said. T-Mobile filed the agreement Tuesday at the SEC. The deal gives T-Mobile subscribers in parts of Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. T-Mobile said in August it would exercise an option to buy Shentel (see 2008270048). “The transaction comes as little surprise given the options facing T-Mobile for resolving Sprint’s affiliate agreement with the company … and should result in the addition of 1.1 million subscribers to T-Mobile,” New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment Monday by March 3, replies March 18 in docket 21-32 on a waiver request by the Illinois American Water to share 800 MHz public safety frequencies on the state’s StarCom21 network.
Work by ATIS' multistakeholder Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force, chartered by the FCC to recommend by Dec. 31 whether 100% hearing aid compatibility is achievable for wireless handsets, is progressing, said a filing posted Monday in docket 15-285.