Parts of the 2.5 GHz educational broadband service band rules rewrite that were put on hold for OMB approval (see 1910240026) are now effective because the FCC got OMB OK, said Friday's Federal Register.
Smartphones get their own subcategory and note in the 2022 edition of the harmonized system of tariffs for internationally traded goods, the World Customs Organization said Wednesday. The change for smartphones will “clarify and confirm the current heading classification of these multifunctional devices,” it said. The WCO also said “flat panel display modules will be classified as a product in their own right," simplifying "by removing the need to identify final use.”
North Dakota may go ahead with its 700 MHz regional plan, the FCC Public Safety Bureau said on docket 02-378 and in Wednesday's Daily Digest. Region 32’s 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee submitted the public safety plan last May for general use spectrum in the 769-775/799-805 MHz band. After receiving no comments, the bureau concluded the plan “complies with FCC rules and policies.”
Wireless charging is in the news at CES in various form factors and applications. A six-in-one, MFi-certified, Qi-based nightstand charger and device organizer from Pita incorporates a convertible lightning USB-C tablet charger, standard USB type-A and USB-C side ports and a storage drawer. The Air Omni supports charging for up to six iOS and Android devices including smartphones, a smartwatch, wireless earbuds, tablet and other devices, it said. Price wasn’t given. Energous’ WattUp technology is being shown in personal sound amplification devices from SK Telesys, NewSound and Serene Innovations. Energous and ZPower are showcasing their micro-battery wireless reference design aimed at small electronic devices such as hearing aids. All five sensors in The Gokhale Method’s SpineTracker are charged by WattUp from a single charging service, Energous said. New York-based startup Yank Technologies is showing a center console wireless charger for the automotive market based on three-dimensional antenna arrays and new amplifier designs, it said. Yank is demonstrating the technology in Eureka Park with output power of approximately 20 watts, capable of charging multiple devices simultaneously, it said. The company is also showcasing its MotherBox, calling it the “first true wireless charger with no contact required.”
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Monday Apple’s unopposed request to seal confidential information in a case about 5G-related intellectual property, FTC v. Qualcomm (see 2001030045).
Idaho tower company Teton Communications agreed to a $20,000 settlement with the FCC Enforcement Bureau for failing to complete environmental and historic preservation reviews before beginning construction on a new tower in 2018, said an order and consent decree Monday. The FCC learned of the violation from a tribal historic preservation office, and Teton admitted the violations after receiving an agency letter of inquiry. Teton “failed to obtain a concurrence of no adverse effect from the State Historic Preservation Office, and failed to resolve concerns raised by the Tribal Historic Preservation Office prior to breaking ground on the wireless facility,” the order and consent decree said. Teton must implement a compliance process and submit compliance reports for three years.
Rebanding 800 MHz licensees that completed physical reconfiguration must notify the FCC about any disputes or provide completion certifications by Jan. 15, reminded the Public Safety Bureu Monday in docket 02-55. Commissioners unanimously OK’d streamlined rules and procedures for the final stage of rebanding in October (see 1910280016).
NTIA’s Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee meets Jan. 28, says Monday's Federal Register. The meeting is the first under acting Administrator Doug Kinkoph and is at Morgan Lewis, Suite 201, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, at 1 p.m. NTIA said it will publish a detailed agenda before the meeting.
The Public Safety Bureau said Friday the FCC will process assignment of 42 microwave licenses from Eagle-Net to Zayo, referring the matter to the Enforcement Bureau. In 2011, Eagle-Net received NTIA funding to build a broadband network to serve rural Colorado communities, the bureau said. “Eagle-Net could not sustain its broadband network financially ... NTIA therefore requested Zayo -- one of Eagle-Net’s partners in the broadband network -- to assume management.” Zayo has been operating on the licenses since May 2018 but hasn't been able to locate an Eagle-Net official to execute the assignment applications, the order said. “It has not been the Commission’s practice, generally, to deny or dismiss otherwise conforming untimely assignment applications,” the bureau said. “The Commission typically has granted such applications but reserved its right to initiate enforcement action. We believe that to be the appropriate approach here.” Zayo didn't comment.
Just in time for CES, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi 6E Friday, to identify Wi-Fi 6 products able to operate in the 6 GHz band. “Unlicensed spectrum stands out as one of the FCC’s most successful policy experiments,” the alliance said: “By allowing permissionless innovation in a band of spectrum, we’ve seen billions of dollars of economic value created, millions of people and devices connected and terabytes of critical data sent via technology like Wi-Fi.” Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said the agency should move forward on the 6 GHz proceeding. “Must conclude @FCC proceeding ASAP, including parameters to protect incumbents, getting multiple unlicensed layers … into innovators' hands," he tweeted. "Unlicensed in 6 GHz will be transformative!”