The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Thursday approved a waiver sought by Norway's Kontur of rules for ultra-wideband (UWB) devices for a new ground-penetrating radar (GPR) device expected to be deployed in several industries. The UWB Alliance and the GPS Innovation Alliance supported the waiver last summer (see 2408150014) after OET sought comment (see 2407100057). The device is “a stepped frequency, continuous wave modulated GPR transmitter that closely resembles its previously approved GPR device,” OET said in docket 24-209: “Providing trained professionals with improved tools to detect potential flaws and safety risks, and providing increased information that lets the device operator focus on the job of locating subsurface problems and recommending solutions clearly benefits the public.” OET imposed technical restrictions similar to those imposed on other GPR UWB devices. The restrictions cover the operating frequency range, modulation type, dwell time on each frequency and measurement procedures.

In response to challenges brought by competitor AT&T, the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division issued decisions on Thursday asking T-Mobile to drop two different advertising claims. The first was that “Families Can Save 20% Every Month Versus AT&T and Verizon.” NAD said the ad doesn’t inform consumers “that the 20% savings claim is calculated by including the cost of third-party streaming services on top of the price of AT&T’s and Verizon’s monthly wireless plans.” The second claim was that with T-Mobile consumers “Save On Every Plan vs. The Other Big Guys.” Here too “T-Mobile included the cost of certain third-party streaming services, that are bundled with a T-Mobile plan, on top of the price of AT&T and Verizon wireless plans,” NAD said. In response, T-Mobile said while it disagrees with NAD, it will comply with the decisions.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Wednesday approved C3Spectra to operate an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system in the 6 GHz band (see 2408130030). “This action benefits American consumers and businesses by enabling an additional AFC system to provide service to standard power and fixed client devices further expanding spectrum access for new applications and services,” said an order in docket 21-352.

AT&T’s FirstNet will provide “unmatched network support for federal and local first responders” around the National Mall during Donald Trump's inauguration next week, a spokesperson emailed on Wednesday. “We are pre-positioning several deployable network assets from the dedicated FirstNet fleet around the National Mall and surrounding areas to provide enhanced network coverage for public safety on FirstNet should they need it,” the spokesperson said: “In a capability unique to FirstNet,” AT&T has also “cleared and locked” Band 14 spectrum on cellsites around the National Mall and surrounding areas “meaning first responders have their own ‘VIP lane’ and public safety communications is protected from spectators’ network congestion.”

UPM sought review this week in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of two orders by the FCC resolving complaints by the company against Digicel-Haiti for allegedly deactivating thousands of SIM cards UPM purchased through third-party contractors in Haiti and shipped to the U.S. to access a Digicel-Haiti discount roaming plan. UPM’s complaint at the FCC demonstrated that the Haitian wireless carrier “was providing foreign telecommunications services from the United States … and was therefore a telecommunications carrier within the Commission’s jurisdiction” and “certain Digicel-Haiti actions (cutting off UPM’s service) violated the Communications Act and longstanding Commission precedent,” UPM said. In two orders, the latest in December, the FCC found Digicel-Haiti didn’t fall under agency jurisdiction and that actions regarding UPM were lawful.

It is critical that more licensed spectrum becomes available for the wireless industry, Rhonda Johnson, AT&T executive vice president-federal regulatory relations, said Wednesday. “The U.S. has no supply of the licensed spectrum that fuels wireless services, and the FCC has no authority to auction the essential resource,” Johnson wrote in a blog post: “This spectrum drought has allowed other countries, including China, to surpass the U.S. in allocating key portions of spectrum.” Expanding AT&T’s network “requires expanding access to the licensed spectrum that powers it,” she said. AT&T arguably has been the most outspoken national wireless carrier in projecting positive things to come from Donald Trump's incoming administration (see 2412100069). Johnson also stressed the importance of regulators clearing a path for the provider to shutter inefficient copper networks (see 2405210059). “Outdated regulations force U.S. telecom companies to maintain inefficient copper networks, diverting investment from the resilient high-speed internet technologies of the future.”

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Tuesday approved Piper Networks' request for a waiver of rules allowing use of its enhanced transit location system in the metropolitan Boston area (see 2411080021). The system operates in the 4243-4743 MHz band, and Piper sought an expansion of its current waiver. “We find that granting Piper’s request to operate its system in the greater Boston area is in line with the waiver’s intent and serves the public interest,” OET said: “We are not aware of any reported harmful interference to existing services resulting from Piper’s operations, and we see no reason why a geographic expansion under the same technical restrictions would alter this dynamic.”

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) objected on Tuesday to one aspect of a December order by the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology that conditionally approved Axon Networks’ plan to operate an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system to manage access to the 6 GHz band by standard-power unlicensed devices (see 2412060046). FWCC complained that OET “arbitrarily” departed “from Commission policy” by permitting Axon to shorten its public trial period to 20 days, instead of the usual 45. “OET fails to meet the standard for agency decisionmaking because shortening the public trial period will result in disparate treatment among similarly situated AFC applicants,” said a filing in docket 21-352: The decision “constitutes an impermissible policy change because the change was made without good reason.”

Mongoose Works isn't entitled to an additional $69,686 for its relocation out of the lower C-band after all, according to an FCC order (docket 21-333) in Tuesday's Daily Digest. The agency said the administrative law judge's decision in Mongoose's favor (see 2407180049) wrongly held that it met the burden of proof to show the C-band relocation payment clearinghouse's reclassification of two earth station antennas was inconsistent with the FCC's C-band order. The ALJ decision had reversed an FCC Wireless Bureau decision that Mongoose was entitled to the additional sum.

The NTIA on Tuesday offered a brief summary of comments the agency collected in response to a May request for comment on the state of 6G development (see 2409040032). The post comes amid questions about spectrum policy in the second Trump administration and whether officials will scuttle some of the work done under the Biden administration’s national spectrum strategy (see 2501030041). Companies that responded “emphasized spectrum policy, open networks, AI-driven networks, global standards leadership, and infrastructure deployment,” NTIA said in a blog post: “Academic institutions contributed by focusing on research and innovation in areas like non-terrestrial networks, AI, and quantum-safe encryption. They also emphasized workforce development, advocating for more educational programs and industry partnerships to train the next generation of engineers in wireless technologies.” The responses “highlighted the necessity for AI-native networks, flexible spectrum management, robust security and privacy frameworks, sustainable network designs, collaborative partnerships, and equitable access to ensure 6G technologies benefit all sectors and communities,” the agency said. NTIA said comments also underscored “the need for a comprehensive, adaptable governance framework that balances innovation, security, and equity, while ensuring the United States retains global leadership in 6G.”