Verizon updated the FCC in a required semi-annual report on the company’s compliance with regulatory requirements approved as part of Verizon's Tracfone acquisition three years ago (see 2111220069). The carrier noted that Q3 saw the strongest results from the subsidiary since it became part of the company. “Most significantly, the Verizon Value Operations organization has undergone a number of changes over the past six months to more effectively and efficiently deliver results to customers, which is driving positive performance results,” said the report, posted Monday in docket 22-210. “Over the past three years, Verizon has continually enhanced its compliance program to adjust for changing organizational structures and business environments, with an overarching goal of continuous improvement with all aspects of its compliance program.” Parts of the report were redacted.

LG Electronics USA withdrew its August request for a waiver of FCC cellular vehicle-to-everything rules (see 2408150044). In a filing posted last week in docket 19-138, the company said the request is no longer necessary following the FCC’s recent order (see 2411210054) updating rules for the 5.9 GHz band.

NTIA's request for comments regarding L-band direct-to-device operations (see 2412200060) refers to out-of-band-emission limits on mobile devices that might be able to connect to a terrestrial base station.

ARIA Sensing announced on Monday the launch of what it says is a “groundbreaking” ultra-wideband radar system-on-chip (SoC) offering 3D beamforming with programmable bandwidth up to 1.8 GHz. “The ‘Hydrogen’ SoC introduces advanced waveforms supporting both single-pulse and pulse-compression capabilities, delivering unparalleled precision in radar sensing application,” the Italian company said. Beamforming is a technology that improves the signal-to-noise ratio of received signals, more accurately directing a wireless signal toward a specific receiving device.

The FCC Wireless Bureau last week granted nine additional licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment to PDV Spectrum. Six licenses are in Texas, two in Missouri and one in Iowa. The FCC approved an order in 2020 reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband, while maintaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).

NTIA is investigating possible L-band direct-to-device (D2D) service impacts on GPS. In a notice Thursday, it said that given the growing deployments of consumer equipment that could operate on mobile satellite service (MSS) networks near the L-1 GPS signal at 1575.42 MHz, it is requesting public comments on the risk of interference into GPS by those D2D L-band services and potential routes for mitigation. It said the L band's MSS rules contain "substantially more relaxed" out-of-band emission (OOBE) limits than are placed on fixed satellite service operations in the band. "The wide deployment of devices subject to the MSS limit thus presents an unexpected increase in the risk of interference to nearby GPS receivers." It added that it is seeking input from D2D providers about actual OOBE of the devices and the potential for limiting these further, as well as from GPS manufacturers and users about documented instances of harmful interference from MSS L-band devices and ways of mitigating that while minimizing the impact on MSS service. NTIA's notice hasn't yet been published in the Federal Register.

Rather than 5G, most mobile network operators (MNO) offer "4.5G" and call it 5G, consultant William Webb wrote Wednesday. Most MNO use 5G non-stand-alone (NSA) networks, which offer the existing 4G core network instead of a dedicated 5G core network like 5G stand-alone (SA) networks use, he said. There are no signs of widespread moves to SA networks, he said. Most MNOs have deployed 5G radio access networks on existing cells, rather than building much denser networks. And 5G hasn't changed the services networks offer or material aspects of the MNO business, with one exception being the U.S. and fixed wireless access, he said. As such, people working on 6G should consider that the starting point is 4.5G. If some MNOs don't adopt SA, 6G should be able to work with NSA, he said. Base station density won't be higher, so new frequency bands will have to work with the existing grid structure.

NTIA is making up to $450 million in additional funding available through the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (see 2409170061). The third round of funding targets development of open radio access network (ORAN) software, which will help "generate value for industry verticals" and reduce costs through automation, NTIA said Tuesday. Applications are due by March 17.

Gogo Business Aviation asked the FCC to extend to July 21 its deadline for meeting requirements of the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Under the program, which Congress hasn't fully funded, providers must remove, replace and dispose of Huawei and ZTE equipment from their networks. Gogo has already received one extension, through Jan. 21 (see 2403290040). Its replacement process is “predicated on a multi-year timeline due to the unique nature of its aviation operations, the need for custom radio equipment rather than off-the-shelf solutions for both its ground infrastructure and airborne components, Gogo’s limited spectrum holdings, and the operational challenges in removing and replacing equipment on thousands of aircraft nationwide,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89. Gogo uses equipment from Chinese supplier ZTE.

Air Voice Wireless asked the FCC to designate it an eligible telecommunications carrier to provide Lifeline service in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. The carrier is an MVNO that uses AT&T’s network. “AIRVOICE has already demonstrated its ability to provide Lifeline services as it has grown to serve over 800,000 households, while maintaining strong processes to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 09-197. The carrier notes it provides Lifeline service in 39 states and Puerto Rico. “AIRVOICE has historically reached and enrolled customers in suburban, exurban, and rural areas outside of high-density urban areas” and some 200,000 of its Lifeline customers are "first-time Lifeline enrollees,” the company said.