The top smartwatch vendors will see their collective 58 percent market share in 2018 shrink to 47 percent by 2023, Juniper Research reported Tuesday, with Garmin, Huami and Huawei poised to gain ground. Apple is expected to continue to lead the segment in shipments over the next four years, but Huawei will grow faster, at a 20 percent compound annual growth rate. Increased focus on healthcare integration will lead to overall shipment growth over the forecast period, with Apple and Withings among the leaders in the category, followed by Fitbit and Garmin. Smaller players will grow via niche market targeting, use cases or price points, while others deliver premium devices combining fitness, outdoor activity and health features, it said. China shipped 24 million smartwatches last year vs. 19.5 million by North America companies, and it’s expected to continue to widen the gap with lower priced devices. Adoption of hybrid smartwatches, which comprised 22 percent of last year's smartwatch shipments, will be slower than expected as smaller players focus on digital offering apps, connectivity and sensors.

The Rural Wireless Association said Monday new evidence filed at the FCC by the Vermont Department of Public Service backs up RWA’s arguments (see 1812270052) that the FCC should investigate the 4G LTE coverage claims of T-Mobile. “RWA’s members previously submitted evidence to the FCC illustrating how T-Mobile vastly overstated its coverage in parts of rural America,” RWA said. The study by Vermont regulators “confirms these findings, noting that: ‘many of the areas purportedly served [in Vermont] in fact very likely lacked service.’” T-Mobile didn't comment.

VTDigger asked to reinstate its appeal of its Freedom of Information Act case against FirstNet after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case over a missed briefing deadline (see 1902050028). Opposing counsel for the government doesn’t oppose reinstating the appeal, said the local news organization’s motion (in Pacer). In an accompanying brief (in Pacer) filed over the weekend, the appellant asked the 2nd Circuit to reverse and remand rulings by the U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont, which found FirstNet is exempt from FOIA requests, the Commerce Department and NTIA were right to refuse to search for responsive records, and VTDigger lacked standing to claim the government violated Section 208 of the 2002 E-Government Act by failing to conduct and publish a privacy impact assessment for the FirstNet state plan portal accessed by state officials. Agencies generally may not refuse to process FOIA requests, VTDigger said. The government cited an exemption for FirstNet in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, but VTDigger said that covered Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking requirements but not specifically FOIA, even though it falls under APA. Also, DOC and NTIA didn’t satisfy their burden to prove searching for records would be futile, the news organization said. The agencies’ decisions not to search “were additionally unreasonable” because they referred requests to FirstNet while believing it wasn’t subject to FOIA, it said. “They refused to search for records with full knowledge that, under their interpretation of the law, the only records that Appellants could possibly obtain through FOIA would be in their offices.” VTDigger properly challenged FirstNet for not doing a privacy impact assessment, it said. “Appellants do not need to have their information collected to have standing to bring this case.”

The FCC Enforcement Bureau warned all companies marketing RF devices they may be subject to new compliance requirements under supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC) procedures. “Before being marketed in the United States, devices subject to the SDoC procedures must be properly authorized, labeled, and furnished with the proper user information disclosures,” EB said Friday. “Failure to comply may subject the violator to substantial monetary penalties that could total more than $150,000 per violation.” The rules cover many consumer and commercial devices, including computer peripherals, LED signs, ultrasonic humidifiers and microwave ovens. EB posted a specific advisory to LED sign marketers, target of recent enforcement.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved a yearlong Ford Motor test of cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the 5.9 GHz band in California. “The proposed testing would support equipment research and development, field testing, and proof of concept,” Ford said. It's “integrating the C-V2X functionality into the Telematics Control Units (TCU) by using an add-on module that would attach to the TCU.” The automaker plans indoor and outdoor tests. The FCC could consider a broad-based Further NPRM on the 5.9 GHz band, rather than waiver sought by the 5G Automotive Association to use part of the band for C-V2X (see 1902140057). Ford asked for experimental authority in December.

The FCC asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the stay on Portland, Oregon's challenge to the agency's ban on local moratoriums of wireless infrastructure deployments, on Friday (in Pacer) in Portland v. FCC, No. 18-72689. Three petitions for reconsideration are pending, with the FCC suspending work on them during the recent partial federal shutdown, the agency said. “Continued stay … is warranted because the pending agency reconsideration petitions raise the same issues that the City intends to argue before this Court. As a result, the FCC’s resolution of its reconsideration proceeding may simplify judicial review -- either by resolving issues that the Court would otherwise need to address, or by providing additional analysis on issues that ultimately remain in dispute.”

The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Innovation & Technology Council said additional bandwidth and offloading options are needed as 5G is deployed. “Mobile data traffic will continue to increase exponentially, and service providers are seeking solutions to prevent future congestion,” WIA reported Thursday. “Offloading data traffic frees network capacity, while providing a consistently high quality of service. Customers can make and receive calls and texts, in addition to accessing data, over Wi-Fi or other local connections, including new Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum.”

Harris Wiltshire's Paul Margie spoke with William Davenport, new chief of staff to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, on 6 GHz concerns of Apple and other companies he represents. Comments are due Friday in docket 18-295 on an NPRM commissioners approved in October (see 1810230038). Margie “expressed support for the NPRM’s framework, it’s recognition of the need for additional unlicensed frequencies, and the importance of FCC rules implementing this framework that would support the use of standard-power and lower-power devices throughout the band,” he filed, posted Thursday. Margie also represents Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Microsoft.

The Wireless Bureau reminded 700 MHz guard band licensees and 220 MHz band managers of their obligation to file annual reports at the FCC on or before March 1, or face enforcement action. “Licensees must provide information about the manner in which the spectrum in each of their markets is being utilized,” the bureau said Wednesday. “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.”

T-Mobile representatives met FCC Public Safety Bureau staff on work restoring wireless service last year in the Florida Panhandle area after Hurricane Michael. Verizon officials reported on a similar meeting (see 1902120038). “The group generally discussed T-Mobile’s planning, preparation, response, and restoration activities, as well as its observations of what worked well in restoring service,” said a filing Tuesday in docket 18-339. T-Mobile said most of its network remained in operation: “For that portion of the network rendered inoperable as a result of the storm, loss of service largely was due to loss of power and backhaul service.”