3D-sensing facial recognition, beginning with the iPhone X, “is gradually becoming a new industry trend” in smartphones, said Himax CEO Jordan Wu on a Thursday earnings call. Major Android smartphone OEMs are beginning to integrate 3D-sensing into their “flagship models,” though most such projects are still in the “development stage,” he said. The company announced the feature last year in collaboration with Qualcomm. The leading Android smartphone makers are trying to “strike a good balance” between cost and performance in choosing among the “various 3D-sensing technologies” available, said Wu. More software players also are entering the “ecosystem” to develop new 3D-sensing apps in the fields of facial recognition, online payments and “camera performance enhancement,” he said. Himax is “in partnership with several leading smartphone names” to help enable their 3D-sensing initiatives, “depending on the customer’s needs and their in-house capabilities,” he said. Himax hopes “these efforts will facilitate a broader adoption of 3D sensing” on Android smartphones starting next year, he said, and is targeting “premium” smartphones for product launches scheduled for 2019's first half, he said. Of the various 3D-sensing technologies available, Wu thinks the active stereoscopic camera option has a “better chance” than others of “accelerating 3D-sensing adoption” for facial recognition on Android smartphones.

The FCC Wireless Bureau published an updated list of licenses to be offered in the upcoming 24 GHz auction, the second of two high-band auctions scheduled for later this year. The updated list reflects changes after the FCC approved applications by M&M Brothers to modify its 24 GHz licenses in nine partial economic areas, which changes the number of bidding categories and blocks available in those markets, said an order Friday in docket 18-85 by the bureau.

T-Mobile representatives met with Erin McGrath, aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, to urge “appropriately-sized geographic areas” for priority access licenses in the 3.5 GHz band. “The Commission must avoid use of smaller geographic areas, which will create engineering and interference challenges that will severely limit the ability to provide service using the 3.5 GHz band,” said a filing last week in docket 17-258.

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved a waiver allowing the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) to participate as a challenger in the Mobility Fund II challenge process. The federation can now file challenges to the eligibility map that will be used in the upcoming auction. “We conclude that there is good cause for granting the requested waiver,” the bureau said last week in docket 10-208. “MFBF asserts it has a bona fide interest in the challenge process because the promotion of reliable 4G LTE service throughout the state of Mississippi is part of its mission as a not-for-profit advocacy organization that is dedicated to supporting farms and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Mississippians.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Friday in two areas as required by the Spectrum Pipeline Act. Congress required the FCC to submit an analysis of the results of 2015 rule changes to the 3.55-3.65 GHz band no later than Nov. 2, the public notice said. Due the same day, Congress asked for “an analysis of proposals to promote and identify additional spectrum bands that can be shared between incumbent uses and new licensed and unlicensed services under such rules and identification of at least 1 gigahertz between 6 GHz and 57 GHz for such use,” the FCC said. Comments are due Sept. 11 in docket 14-177, replies Sept. 26.

Nokia slammed Huawei for comments the Chinese company made in an Aug. 6 filing on an FCC proposal to bar USF support for products from companies seen as posing a national security threat (see 1808080021). Huawei said in the filing that other equipment providers serving the U.S. market, including Nokia, also have ties to China. “Huawei claims that Nokia has ‘deep ties’ to the Chinese government and that these ties are ‘(at least) equally strong’ to those of Huawei,” the Finnish equipment maker said in docket 18-89. “This is pure sophistry. Nokia is a well-known, publicly traded company with a 153-year heritage of market leadership, ethical business conduct, and trustworthiness that is without peer in our industry.” Of its China-based joint venture Nokia added, "Nokia itself remains in complete control of the decision making." Nokia said it has never been accused of being “influenced inappropriately by any government anywhere.” Huawei didn't respond.

Sections 253 and 332 of the Communications Act give the FCC “ample authority” to act on local siting rules and practices that “unduly” slow the deployment of wireless infrastructure, including deployment of small cells in public rights-of-way, American Tower told the FCC. “Any curtailment of local siting authority through the exercise of such authority should be accomplished in a way that addresses legitimate concerns raised by local governments, which should be taken into consideration and accommodated to the extent that they do not unduly burden or impede the deployment of new or expanded broadband wireless services,” the tower company said in docket 17-79. “The ultimate outcome should be local siting rules that are reasonable, non-discriminatory and transparent.” Densifying networks for 5G “will entail the deployment of hundreds of thousands of small cells” and will be difficult, American Tower said. “Appropriate policies can enhance and expedite private sector investment in the integrated network infrastructure needed for next generation broadband services.”

Autobrain announced a connected car device designed for driver safety and access. Autobrain, which fits into a car’s diagnostic port, offers access to services including “near real-time” vehicle location, 24/7 roadside assistance, emergency crash response and vehicle diagnostics with a mechanic helpline, said the company. The $19.97 device, selling at Amazon, Jet and Walmart, has a $9.97 monthly access fee and is available exclusively on the AT&T 4G LTE network, it said.

Two firms settled FCC probes into whether they violated rules by marketing LED signs for digital billboards and other uses without required equipment authorizations. Lighthouse Technologies agreed to pay a $115,000 civil penalty, admitted it marketed the signs without the required authorization and will implement a compliance plan, said an Enforcement Bureau order approving a consent decree Wednesday. Absen agreed to pay a $55,000 civil penalty, admitted it violated the rules and will also implement a compliance plan, said another order and consent decree. Neither company commented.

The FCC sought comment by Aug. 22 on the separate requests of T-Mobile and Sprint for a clarification and declaratory ruling, respectively, affecting their participation in the 28 GHz and 24 GHz auctions, given T-Mobile's planned buy of Sprint. The requests seek the actions "on the certification requirement in Section 1.2105(a)(2)(ix) of the Commission’s rules, or alternatively a waiver of that provision, designed to ensure that their Business Combination Agreement (BCA) will not bar their independent participation in Auctions 101 and 102," said a Wireless Bureau order Wednesday in docket 18-85. Comment is also sought on "Sprint’s request for a limited waiver of the Commission’s rule prohibiting major modifications of short-form applications, or alternatively a waiver of its obligation to maintain the accuracy of its short-form applications, to allow Sprint and T-Mobile to close their transaction promptly if the proposed merger is approved." The 28 GHz auction is scheduled to begin Nov. 14, followed by the 24 GHz auction.