An FCC order streamlining cellular service rules, OK'd 4-0 in July (see Notebook at end 1807120033), mostly takes effect Sept. 16, after Federal Register publication expected Thursday. The exception is the portion that modified information collection requirements, needing Office of Management and Budget OK.

AT&T told the FCC it completed all necessary steps to ensure interoperability in the 700 MHz band. The carrier filed its final progress report a year ago and said then all steps were taken, “other than the implementation of the standards-based S8 Home Routing (S8HR) architecture,” said a docket 12-69 filing. That final part was complete April 30, AT&T said.

Spectrum and 5G dominated a meeting Raymond James analysts had with Washington contacts, said a note to investors. “The need to keep the U.S. at the forefront of this global race for next generation networks is very strong from all angles of Washington, making 5G a very important policy goal of regulators and the administration.” Progress will take time, including opening the C-band, the note said. “The FCC is set to vote on pole attachment order later this week, however, actual rulemaking on state and local preemption is further out. We believe the progress made at the state level with various legislative actions has helped further the cause, but the FCC is keenly focused on this issue.”

The FCC asked a federal court to deny a stay of a March wireless infrastructure order, approved 3-2 by commissioners (see 1803220027). The case is before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit -- United Keetoowah Band v. FCC & USA, No. 18-1129. “Petitioners are too late to seek a stay and cannot meet the high burden required to show that this Court should reinstate an expired regulatory regime without the benefit of full merits briefing,” the FCC said. The agency said the claims are meritless. “Petitioners’ principal argument is that the Commission’s licensing of the use of wireless spectrum requires the Commission to conduct federal environmental and historic preservation review of the private deployment of all small wireless facilities … used in ‘5G’ networks,” the FCC said. “The Commission’s failure to do so, Petitioners claim, without any supporting evidence, will result in irreparable harm to historical sites and obstructed views.”

T-Mobile and Sprint told the SEC discussions of their deal, announced at the end of April, got going once again March 26 and 27 during a meeting between representatives of T-Mobile and parent Deutsche Telekom and Sprint and parent SoftBank. The companies detailed the prolonged discussions in a Monday S-4 filing. Three other unidentified companies also had spoken to Sprint about a possible deal. T-Mobile could potentially pay Sprint up to $600 million if the agreement is terminated, the companies said. Even after the two called off a deal last November, some discussions continued. At the March meeting, “representatives of T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom indicated that they would be prepared to proceed with negotiations at an exchange ratio equivalent to 10 shares of Sprint common stock for each share of T-Mobile common stock,” they recounted. “Representatives of Sprint and SoftBank indicated that they would not continue discussions with T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom on that basis.” After more discussions, both sides settled on an exchange ratio equivalent to 9.75 shares of Sprint stock for each share of T-Mobile stock. DT made clear at the March meeting it would agree to a deal only if it became the controlling stockholder. T-Mobile's board signed off on the deal April 27. April 29, the day the deal was announced, “the Sprint board of directors unanimously determined that the business combination agreement and the transactions contemplated by the agreement were fair to, and in the best interests of, Sprint and its stockholders,” the filing said. That day, DT's board of management and, later, its supervisory board agreed. Risks include “the substantial risk that regulatory authorities might seek to impose conditions on or otherwise prevent or delay the merger, or impose restrictions or requirements on the operation of the businesses of the combined company.” Another risk for T-Mobile is “the substantial indebtedness of Sprint and the anticipated substantial indebtedness of the combined company following the closing of the transaction, as well as the type and terms of such indebtedness, and the risk that the combined company will be constrained by its need to, and may not be able to, meet its debt service obligations,” the filing said. Combining won’t be easy, the filing acknowledges. There's “the possibility that anticipated synergies and other benefits of the transaction might not be achieved in the time frame contemplated or at all, and the other numerous risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect the combined company’s operating performance and financial results.”

Asus' new ZenFone 5Z includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and dual Sony IMX363 cameras offering automatic scene detection, real-time portrait effects, 4K video, artificial intelligence photo learning and “real-time beautification,” said the company Monday.

Importer Hirsch Gift is recalling about 21,000 Qi wireless-charging pads made in China because they can be a burn hazard, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission in a Friday notice. Hirsch distributed the charging pads February through May as “a promotional giveaway to employees and customers of various companies,” it said. Consumers should immediately stop using the pads and contact Hirsch for a free replacement, it said. Hirsch knows of seven instances of the pads overheating, but no injuries have been reported, it said.

Ericsson and LG renewed their global cross-license agreement on cellular standard-essential 2-4G patents, said Ericsson Monday. LG and Ericsson are leading contributors to those technologies and “are making significant investments” in 5G development, it said.

T-Mobile signed a $3.5 billion agreement with Nokia for “end-to-end” 5G technology, software and services, with a focus on 600 MHz and 28 GHz spectrum, the companies said Monday. “We are all in on 5G,” said Neville Ray, T-Mobile chief technology officer. “Every dollar we spend is a 5G dollar, and our agreement with Nokia underscores the kind of investment we’re making to bring customers a mobile, nationwide 5G network.” T-Mobile is building out its network as it works toward buying Sprint (see 1807300006).

Using the shared 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band moved another step closer Monday, as the CBRS Alliance announced selection of the first eight labs to test equipment that will be used in the “OnGo” band. Gear must be able to “interoperate with other ecosystem components” and communicate with a spectrum access systems that will control the band as well as “operate within the provided operating parameters for LTE systems with in the 3.5 GHz band,” the alliance said: More labs are likely to be certified this year. The first eight include: Dekra, Nokia Global Product Compliance Laboratory, Sporton International, TUV Sud and Nemko San Diego. This all "further indicates the explosive growth of this technology,” said Alan Ewing, alliance executive director. "The OnGo Certification program ensures that FCC regulations for operating in shared spectrum are met -- expediting formal FCC certification -- and allows manufacturers to conduct the initial phase of functional testing,” the group said.