The FCC Wireless Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology on Monday posted procedures that spectrum access system operators in the citizens broadband radio service band must follow to renew their initial five-year certifications for full commercial deployment. The FCC noted it has approved seven SAS providers, six of which remain active. CommScope withdrew last year (see 2303130034). The five-year terms for the initial SAS administrators -- Federated, Google and Sony -- expire Jan. 27. SAS administrators seeking renewal must certify their compliance with FCC requirements “no fewer than 14 days before the expiration of their existing certification,” the notice said. The FCC said it will review each renewal application in coordination with DOD and NTIA. If an administrator fails to submit a timely renewal filing, the Wireless Bureau and OET “may direct the SAS administrator to cease operations immediately.”
The FCC Public Safety Bureau told 4.9 GHz licensees they have until June 9 to file granular licensing data. The filing window opened Monday, following OMB approval of the data collection (see 2412060011). “Incumbent licensees must review operations under their active licenses (radio service code PA)” and use the universal licensing system “to create new licenses (with granular data) in newly-created radio service codes PB (public safety licensees performing base/mobile, mobile-only or temporary fixed operations) and PF (public safety licensees operating fixed links),” said the notice posted Monday in docket 07-100. Licensees “will also cancel their now duplicative and obsolete PA license” as part of the process, the bureau said.
ExteNet Systems executives met with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Anna Gomez on concerns raised by the December 2023 pole attachment Further NPRM (see 2402140048). The company deploys and operates distributed mobile infrastructure. ExteNet supports streamlining the rules but is concerned “that comments from some, such as the Coalition for Concerned Utilities, indicate a desire to rollback the progress made on pole attachments, including those rules related to transparency and communication,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 17-84. “Rolling back these provisions will increase delays and prevent consumers from receiving the wireless services they need,” ExteNet said.
Verizon and the California Office of Emergency Services have mutually agreed to an alternate deadline of Jan. 6 for the carrier to initiate location-based routing to 911 in the state, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-64. That’s four days later than the date Verizon noted in a November filing.
The FCC received OMB clearance to collect more granular data on public safety deployments in the 4.9 GHz band, said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. The collection requirement takes effect that day, the notice said. FCC commissioners approved it as part of an order last year (see 2301180062).
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology 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. In February, OET approved the applications of seven AFC providers (see 2402230050) and in July, conditionally approved C3Spectra's application. Axon “has sufficiently demonstrated that it has the technical capability and knowledge to operate an AFC system and may now move to the testing phase of the AFC system approval process,” said an order posted last week in docket 21-352.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology modified a 2021 waiver allowing Zebra Technologies to market its Dart system for precision tracking in NFL and other sports venues, operating at 7125-8500 MHz (see 2104260041). In June, Zebra asked to add seven locations to the list of approved sports venues where the Dart system can operate. “The modifications represent the type of routine adjustments that one would expect from a 32-team professional sports league, including changes to training camp and practice facility locations,” said an order in Friday’s Daily Digest. “In two cases, the construction of new stadiums adjacent to existing facilities are prompting a slight change to the coordinates associated with those sites,” OET said.
T-Mobile on Thursday cut the price of its Home Internet and Small Business Internet services, with prices now starting at $35 monthly with AutoPay and a voice line. The previous starting price was $50/month. “The plans will come with new perks, enhanced performance and Price Lock, so customers’ prices for 5G internet won’t change as long as they stay on their plan (exclusions like taxes and fees apply),” T-Mobile said. In an investors' note, New Street said, “This appears to be a change in the plan structure rather than one of the periodic promotions that T-Mobile has offered intermittently.”
Peter Rysavy of Rysavy Research supported AT&T's arguments about reconfiguring the 3 GHz spectrum range, moving the citizens broadband radio service to 3.1-3.3 GHz (see 2410090037). That would open the 3.55-3.70 GHz band for wide-area, high-power licensed use “consistent with the adjacent 3.7 and 3.45 GHz bands,” Rysavy said. “Until practical and effective spectrum sharing technologies are available, exclusively licensed, full-power spectrum with wide radio channels remains the most effective resource for 5G networks with best results for consumers,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-258. “Diligent efforts” by the National Spectrum Consortium and NTIA are making progress in developing methods of sharing spectrum, “but the realities of implementation are complex and development will take years.”
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Thursday approved Extreme Networks’ request for a waiver of rules for low-power indoor (LPI) devices for 6 GHz access points (APs), to be installed exclusively in indoor sports venues. Extreme plans to use weatherized enclosures, which FCC rules prohibit. Extreme noted the APs will be installed under seats "where they are susceptible to being stepped on, kicked, and having food and drinks spilled on them." The waiver request proved controversial when the FCC took comment last year (see 2310170045). OET noted the “skyrocketing demand for data” at sporting venues. “Extreme’s access points will enable expanded Wi-Fi coverage at indoor sports venues, thereby providing fans access to full capacity, low latency, and high-quality Wi-Fi networks,” the order said. But to protect other 6 GHz users from harmful interference, OET also imposed conditions on the waiver. Among them is a requirement "that Extreme be responsible for manufacturing, distribution, and sales of the access points and ship these access points directly to the relevant venue,” OET said: “This waiver would not permit operations in any outdoor locations, such as the stands of the stadium with a retractable roof or any outdoor areas associated with an indoor stadium.” The waiver is also limited to professional teams' indoor stadiums and arenas or those with a seating capacity of more than 3,000 persons.