The Ultra Wide Band Alliance asked for a 30-day extension of the June 29 deadline for initial comments on the FCC Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules approved by commissioners 5-0 in April (see 2004230059). Granting the request “will permit the development of a more complete record in this proceeding, which will allow the Commission to have a better basis on which to consider how to proceed with proposing rules that will make critical mid-band spectrum available for terrestrial wireless use,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295.

Grant SNR Wireless and Northstar Wireless the bidding credits they sought in the AWS-3 auction, said the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council in a Friday FCC filing. “It has been more than five years since the conclusion of Auction 97 and more than two years since the Applicants, two minority-controlled businesses, submitted revised applications, removing all concerns about their independence from their strategic investor” Dish Network, MMTC said.

The FCC won’t allow a wireless emergency alert test Sept. 3 as proposed for Sonoma County, California. Staff denied a waiver to permit commercial mobile service providers to participate because the county failed to explain why it didn’t plan to use the usual state/local WEA test category requiring public opt-in. “Sonoma has sufficient lead time to inform the public how to opt in,” said the Public Safety Bureau Thursday.

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance asked the FCC to seek comment on possible new uses for the 4.9 GHz public safety band, including transferring intelligent transportation from 5.9 GHz. DSA also suggested tiered sharing, with first tier public safety incumbents, which would be protected from harmful interference. “Since allocating the 4.9 GHz band for public safety use in 2002, the Commission has tried a number of approaches to encourage greater use and investment in the band,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 07-100: “Despite these efforts, a dearth of equipment and lack of widespread use by public safety agencies continues to render the band largely underutilized.” Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and others say the FCC is poised to act (see 2005040061).

The citizens broadband radio service auction, scheduled to start July 23, will likely be active, with bids from some that don’t normally play in FCC auctions, Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche told investors. “Cables' interest here will be significant,” she predicted Tuesday: “The more spectrum cable [companies] actually own, the more traffic they can shift AWAY from the MVNO [mobile virtual network operator] network partner they used to carry … non-Wi-Fi traffic.” She noted Comcast and Charter were among potential bidders on the list released by the FCC (see 2006080048).

The FCC reopened the window to comment on proposed RF rules (see 2004030059). Comments are now due June 17, replies July 20, in docket 19-226, said Wednesday's Federal Register.

Continental Automotive Systems opposes Wi-Fi in the 5.9 GHz band but said that if the FCC acts on proposed changes vehicle-to-everything technology should still be allowed to use the band's 45 MHz. Continental spoke with Chief Technology Officer Monisha Ghosh and other staff, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-138. Commissioners agreed 5-0 in December to examine revised rules, reallocating 45 MHz for Wi-Fi, with 20 MHz reserved for cellular V-2X and possibly 10 MHz for dedicated short-range communications. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly expects the agency to address the band this summer (see 2006090060).

ABB agreed to pay a $250,000 fine and implement a compliance plan to end an investigation of whether it violated FCC rules on transfer of control and assignment and unauthorized operation of a wireless license, the Enforcement Bureau said Tuesday. “ABB admits that it failed to obtain the Commission’s approval prior to the transfer of licenses associated with its acquisition of four business entities, operated a wireless station after its license expired, and submitted inaccurate licensee qualification information.” The Switzerland-based company didn't comment.

The 800 MHz Transition Administrator said rebanding is all but complete. All 127 frequency relocation agreements anticipated for Mexican border licensees have been negotiated and submitted, the administrator reported, posted Tuesday in FCC docket 02-55. “One U.S. licensee, which is located in Texas, was blocked from reconfiguring its infrastructure and moving to its post-reconfiguration frequencies due to unexpected operations in Mexico.”

Alliance for Automotive Innovation President John Bozzella spoke with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on preserving the 5.9 GHz band for safety. Bozzella also updated the chairman on the merger of the Auto Alliance and the Association of Global Automakers to form the new group, said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. Continental Automotive Systems told the FCC auto safety applications require at least 40-60 MHz to curb deaths and serious accidents.