Prepaid Wireless Group supported the T-Mobile/Sprint/Dish Network settlement, in Tunney Act review of DOJ's settlement before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly. PWG said (in Pacer) Friday the government accord "would be in the public interest by fostering a competitive wireless market for the 5G era. By extending existing T-Mobile and Sprint agreements with MVNOs [mobile virtual network operators] under their current terms and conditions for a minimum of seven years, the Settlement would preserve competition in the wireless market and put downward pressure on prices." The court denied a request by NTCH to file an amicus brief. The Rural Wireless Association, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Consumer Reports filed that the deal should be denied. “The proposed merger between T-Mobile and Sprint would result in a four-to-three reduction in the number of nationwide wireless service providers, and the Division has already demonstrated that the merger as it was proposed would diminish competition substantially.” Former FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth said the question before the court is straight forward. “There is no requirement that DISH replace Sprint as a competitor or that the market be restored to ‘ex ante competitive conditions,’” he said (in Pacer). “The goal of the Proposed Final Judgment is to address the likely anticompetitive effects of an acquisition.”

CTIA representatives met FCC Wireless and Wireline bureau staff about a petition last year for more changes to wireless infrastructure rules (see 1909090051). Previous clarifications “are having real-world impacts today by providing clarity for industry and government stakeholders alike regarding key siting provisions,” CTIA said in docket 19-250, posted Thursday. “The record in the present proceedings demonstrates that confusion remains regarding separate statutory language and Commission rules relating to the deployment of facilities on existing infrastructure -- specifically, those pertaining to Section 224 of the Communications Act and Section 6409(a) of the 2012 Spectrum Act,” CTIA said.

Verizon reported mixed Q4 results, like AT&T the previous day (see 2001290025). Verizon had 852,000 wireless retail postpaid additions, including 588,000 phones, the highest net adds in six years. Postpaid churn was 0.86 percent. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told analysts Thursday Verizon is interested in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. The carrier has done extensive tests, and it works, he said: “It’s going to be definitely something we’re using as it comes out.” On 5G more generally, Verizon committed to launch in 30 cities and is up to 31, Vestberg said. The company expects more than 20 5G devices to come to market in 2020, with a 5G Apple device driving uptake. “We're building a unique 5G experience with our millimeter wave that nobody else is building,” the chief said. Profit was $5.22 billion, up from $2.07 billion in the year-ago quarter and slightly some analyst estimates. Wireline revenue of $3.2 billion fell 1.7 percent. Verizon, unlike AT&T, is increasing capital expenditures, which means lower free cash flow, said MoffettNathanson's Craig Moffett. In other ways, the results are similar, he wrote investors. “The wireless business is getting more competitive,” said the analyst. “Churn is rising and margins are falling, and the highly anticipated (feared?) 5G upgrade cycle hasn’t even started yet. And everything other than wireless is even worse. AT&T’s non-Mobility segments were a disaster. Verizon’s non-wireless segment … was, well, a catastrophe.” Wireless phone adds “were strong, though this won’t be much of a surprise following comments from AT&T and T-Mobile about how aggressive Verizon was in the quarter,” said New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin. “Churn didn’t spike as much as others, though this isn’t surprising given that they were the ones promoting most aggressively (inflicting higher churn on others).”

California Public Utilities Commissioners won’t vote on T-Mobile buying Sprint until at least March because it missed Tuesday’s deadline to issue a proposed decision 30 days before its Feb. 27 meeting. The next meeting is March 12. “There’s no particular reason, though, to expect a draft decision to be published in time to make that meeting,” Tellus Venture Associates President Steve Blum blogged Wednesday. “Or any in March. April could be in doubt, too.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau reminded 700 MHz guard band licensees and 220 MHz band managers they must file annual reports on or before March 2 or face an enforcement action. “In the annual reports, Licensees must provide information about the manner in which the spectrum in each of their markets is being utilized,” the bureau said Tuesday: “The information provided should accurately convey the current level of service being offered in each licensed area, including information regarding coverage provided by Licensees’ operations and any spectrum lease agreements.”

At the end of 2019, positive train control was in operation across 98.5 percent of required Class I route miles, the Association of American Railroads said Tuesday. “The nation’s largest railroads remain on track to meet the final deadline for full implementation of the critical safety technology, … with several railroads already operating the technology across their entire required PTC footprint,” AAR said. The deadline is Dec. 31. “For the remainder of this year, the Class I railroads will continue to focus on testing to ensure that PTC systems are fully interoperable and work seamlessly across operations as railroads regularly run across each other’s tracks,” the group said. Class I railroads have invested $11.47 billion in PTC, now covering 53,001 miles of track, AAR said.

Commenters again stressed the importance of commercial spectrum to safe operation of unmanned aerial systems, in replies this week in docket 19-356. The replies, due Monday, follow initial comments in December (see 1912270039). The FCC sought comment on the use of the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands by drones. “New use cases and deployment scenarios for UAS are developing every day, and safe and secure UAS activities will require ample spectrum” and the two bands won’t be available for years, CTIA said. “The record demonstrates that licensed commercial wireless spectrum is an ideal alternative that is readily available today,” CTIA said: “Stakeholders deploying this reliable and secure communications platform are now exploring ways to minimize interference to other users and developing technological solutions that will enable even more advanced drone operations, including for safety-of-life services and higher-altitude flights.” Verizon said the record shows overwhelming support for “continued application of the Commission’s flexible use policies to encourage using commercial mobile spectrum for UAS.” Commenters agree “on the importance of ensuring the safe operation of UAS, and mobile network operators have proven that they are best positioned to ensure that commercial mobile spectrum can be leveraged safely and without interference,” the carrier said. Spectrum Financial Partners said 5G and other cellular networks “with modern dynamic tilt control, low latency,” support for massive IoT and machine-to-machine communications and shared spectrum approaches are well suited to providing spectrum for drones. “The UAS industry is still very much in its infancy and its needs and applications are rapidly evolving and commercial cellular networks are best equipped, deployed and competitively managed to ensure that UAS communications needs are immediately and responsively addressed in a spectrally efficient and cost-effective way,” the company said. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council said it joins initial commenters “in noting the need for the Commission to move forward to define spectrum allocations and related regulations for UAS.” NPSTC supports “commenters’ recommendations for the Commission, the FAA and NTIA to work cooperatively and expeditiously together to provide regulatory certainty for UAS operations,” the group said: “The needs of public safety, in addition to those of other critical functions, as well as those of commercial wireless providers, should be part of this discussion.”

Raycap said use of light poles is critical to densifying 5G networks. High-band deployment “will depend largely on small cell street poles to meet coverage requirements in urban areas,” a Monday Raycap report said: “Next-generation integrated poles combine and conceal all the 5G/4G electronics, power and connectivity electronics needed to create a small cell site. Through scalable manufacturing, testing and fast turnaround times, these poles can reduce time-to-deployment, simplify installation and make it easier to upgrade.” The installations will become common in urban areas, the report predicts, and they “need to fit in seamlessly with the rest of the architecture, public spaces and pedestrian right of ways.”

AT&T told aides to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly the FCC should dismiss a petition by Colorado's Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority seeking FCC interoperability rules for FirstNet (see 1910150038). AT&T and FirstNet have made “tremendous progress” working together "towards accomplishing the statutory mission of deploying the nationwide, public safety broadband network,” AT&T said in docket 19-254, posted Monday.

FCC restrictions on commission payments to Lifeline enrollment representatives "may have unintended consequences that warrant reconsideration or clarification," Sprint said in Wednesday meetings with commissioner aides and Wireline Bureau officials and in a filing posted Monday in docket 17-287. The agency wants to implement new policies to help curb waste, fraud and abuse in the USF program (see 1908190028).