Google filed to expand where it acts as spectrum access system operator in the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band as part of its initial commercial deployment (ICD). Google filed to add Brooklyn, New York; Nashville; Spokane County, Washington; and Harris County, Texas, among other areas, in FCC docket 15-319, posted Wednesday. CommScope wants to expand its ICD as a SAS to also cover Wake County, North Carolina. CommScope will operate there “consistent with our original ICD Proposal submission,” the company said, noting it’s awaiting approval for full commercial deployment.

Communications Workers of America opposed AT&T's proposed $1.95 billion cash sale of its wireless and wireline operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Liberty Latin America (see 1910090005). “The transfer threatens considerable harm to the public interest by endangering potentially hundreds of jobs, harming workers and reducing customer service,” CWA said in FCC docket 19-384, posted Wednesday. Liberty’s “strained financial position” raises questions about deployment of FirstNet and 5G, CWA said. CWA represents about 37 workers employed by AT&T Mobility in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 840 in Puerto Rico. AT&T didn't comment.

Attorney General William Barr urged the new President’s Commission on Law Enforcement Wednesday to explore the threat of technology. Barr noted the last such commission was in 1965. “The incredible pace of technological change has meant the rapid evolution of new ways to commit and conceal crimes,” he said. Barr cited warrant-proof encryption of devices and use of “the dark web to sexually exploit the most vulnerable members of society.” President Donald Trump’s tweeted (see 2001150019) last week that Apple should “unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements.” Apple and Google must voluntarily provide better device access, or Congress will force them to alter encryption standards, Senate Judiciary Committee members said during a December hearing (see 1912100039). “Barr and other government officials have called for tech companies to create intentional vulnerabilities,” Engine blogged now: Justice officials “upped their anti-encryption rhetoric in the last few weeks after locating two locked and encrypted iPhones belonging to the shooter in the Naval Air Station Pensacola shooting last month that killed three U.S. Navy sailors.”

The iPhone 11 series was 69 percent of Apple's December-quarter smartphone sales, with the leader 11 model comprising 39 percent, reported Consumer Intelligence Research Partners Tuesday. IPhone 11 is the leading model in the Apple smartphone line, said analyst Josh Lowitz, while the 2018 model XR remains popular at its reduced price. The research firm estimates the weighted average retail price (WARP) for iPhones in the U.S. at $809, up from $783 in Q3 and off the peak of $839 in Q4 2018. WARP reversed a downward trend during 2019, said analyst Mike Levin. CIRP surveyed 500 U.S. who bought an iPhone, iPad, Mac computer or Apple Watch October-December.

The Wi-Fi Alliance met an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai and Office of Engineering and Technology staff on the importance of the 6 GHz band. "The Wi-Fi ecosystem is ready to support the growing demand for wireless connectivity and new applications, but lacks the necessary spectrum capacity,” the alliance said in docket 18-295, posted Tuesday. Also that day, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said such an FCC item may be forthcoming soon (see 2001210028).

Comments are due Feb. 21, replies March 23 on an FCC NPRM proposing to remove existing nonfederal secondary radiolocation and amateur allocations in the 3.3-3.55 GHz band and to relocate incumbent nonfederal operations out of the band (see 1912300029), says Wednesday's Federal Register: Such proposals "are an initial step toward potential future shared use between federal operations and flexible use commercial services.”

Tech companies urged the FCC to let Wi-Fi share the 6 GHz band. Cisco, Google, HP Enterprise, Microsoft and Qualcomm representatives met aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. "Quickly resolve any outstanding issues in a manner consistent with our previous advocacy and" issue an order "for unlicensed use throughout the band,” they asked. Meanwhile, in meetings with aides to Carr and Starks, iRobot said a proposal to “introduce Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band at the power levels being discussed in this proceeding would render ultra-wide band devices inoperable due to the interference that would be caused,” the company said: The 2 billion UWB devices in use are "estimated to increase to 3.1 billion by 2025.”

Educational broadband service advocates disagreed with the Wireless ISP Association and Wireless Communications Association that the FCC should reject a Nov. 25 petition by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and others seeking changes to rules for the 2.5 GHz band (see 2001030048). “Opponents fail to grapple with the fundamental problems in the EBS Order,” replied SHLB and others. “Like the EBS Order itself, they offer no response to Educational Petitioners’ argument that commercial carriers lack sufficient incentive to deploy 2.5 GHz spectrum to close the digital divide and homework gap. Instead, they parrot the Order’s flawed logic and unsupported findings to conclude that there is no longer any need -- or demand -- for EBS.” The Consortium for School Networking, State Educational Technology Directors Association, American Library Association, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Nebraska Department of Education, Utah Education and Telehealth Network and Council of Chief State School Officers also signed the filing, posted Thursday in docket 18-120.

Wireless Infrastructure Association officials discussed its petition asking the FCC to make further changes to wireless infrastructure rules (see 1910300027), in meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC sought comment on the petition last year (see 1911210054). “Discussions pertained to the applicability of the Spectrum Act to state and local authorities and relief for compound expansions under Section 6409(a),” WIA said, posted Wednesday in docket 19-250.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology seeks comment on two waiver requests. OET asked for comment on a waiver request by Zebra of Part 15 of the commission’s rules to allow the company to certify a version of its Dart positioning system for operation in the 7125-8500 MHz range. “Zebra states that its system, which presently operates as an ultra-wideband device in the … band, is used to track small battery-operated tags attached to persons, assets, or safety equipment over a range of 100 meters to an accuracy of less than 30 centimeters,” OET said. Comments are due Feb. 3, replies Feb. 18. OET sought comment with the same dates on a Vayyar Imaging request for limited waiver of Sections 15.255(b)(2) and 15.255(c)(3) of FCC rules allowing Vayyar to obtain a grant of equipment authorization for its V60G interactive motion sensing device in the 57-64 GHz band. “Vayyar states that the V60G is designed for a variety of 3D interactive motion-sensing applications such as touchless control, medical/safety alerts, vital sign monitoring, and environmental management,” OET said. Both notices were in Wednesday’s Daily Digest.