The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment Friday on a proposed leasing agreement between AT&T and FTC Management Group. The companies proposed the agreement in July, said a notice in docket 25-138. AT&T and FTC would lease 40 MHz of 3.45 GHz spectrum to each other in the Florence and Sumter, South Carolina, partial economic areas. FTC would also lease AWS-1 and AWS-3 spectrum to AT&T in the Florence market. The swap would mean both companies would exceed the FCC’s “aggregation limit” of up to 40 MHz of spectrum in the 3.45 GHz band in various markets, the bureau said. Comments are due March 28, replies April 11.

The FCC Wireless Bureau officially signed off Friday on Summit Ridge’s closing of the 3.45 GHz relocation reimbursement clearinghouse (see 2503110014). “The 3.45 GHz band transition is complete with both incumbent operators, NBCUniversal and Nexstar Broadcasting, having relocated to the 2.9-3.0 GHz band and been reimbursed for their costs of relocation,” the bureau said in docket 19-348.

Comments are due May 16, replies June 16, on a January NPRM seeking comment on current 900 MHz broadband rules, according to a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. The FCC wants input about “whether the current 900 MHz broadband rules, such as the eligibility criteria, application requirements and procedures, licensing and operating rules, and technical requirements, are the appropriate vehicles for effectuating a ten megahertz broadband licensing framework,” the notice said.

Comments are due April 16, replies May 16, on a January NPRM on rules aimed at providing more spectrum for uncrewed aircraft systems. The comment dates came in a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. The FCC adopted the NPRM unanimously, but Commissioner Anna Gomez recused herself from voting on the 450 MHz portion of it (see 2501170023). The NPRM proposes opening the 450 MHz band “to aeronautical command and control operations; allowing for a single, nationwide license in the band; and adopting flexible licensing, operating, and technical rules that will facilitate robust use of the band at a range of altitudes while minimizing interference to neighboring operations,” Monday's notice said: “It also proposes expanding radiolocation operations in the 24.45-24.65 GHz band for uncrewed aircraft system detection operations” and “proposes to modernize the Commission’s legacy power rules for Commercial Aviation Air-Ground Systems in the 849-851 and 894-896 MHz band, which is used for in-flight connectivity."

Southern Ohio Communication Services (SOCS) asked the FCC for an extra 90 days to complete the removal of Chinese equipment from its network. The carrier has already received two extensions, according to a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-89. The only remaining covered equipment in the network “is one ZTE router, which has been powered down and is awaiting transport to the destruction warehouse,” while other gear awaits disposal, the filing said.

Dish Wireless parent EchoStar is interested in leasing spectrum to smaller carriers and tribes, the Rural Wireless Association told members Thursday. Leases are available “on a first-come, first-serve basis” in the 600 MHz, 700 MHz, citizens broadband radio service, AWS-3, AWS-4 and AWS H-block bands, RWA said. “EchoStar is making its spectrum licenses available for lease pursuant to conditions imposed by the FCC in a granted extension request of its final 5G construction milestones,” the group said.

The FCC is asking for comments March 31, replies April 14, on the AWS-3 NPRM that commissioners approved 4-0 last month (see 2502270042), according to a notice for Thursday’s Federal Register. Comments are due April 10, replies April 25, on the bidding procedures notice (see 2503110061). New Street’s Blair Levin told us in an email that it makes sense for the FCC to release the AWS-3 notice while an NPRM on the auction is in progress. “The AWS-3 proceeding will be one of the easiest FCC auction proceedings ever,” Levin said. “After all, pretty much all the issues have been addressed before. So there is little need to wait for the NPRM,” and “there is a congressional clock ticking.” Comments should be filed in dockets 25-70, 25-71 or 13-185.

AT&T is in pursuit of additional spectrum, CFO Pascal Desroches said at a Deutsche Bank financial conference Tuesday, the same day the FCC released a notice seeking comment on the procedures for an AWS-3 auction (see 2503110061). “If you're in the wireless business, you're always interested in acquiring spectrum because it's the best, most cost-effective way to provide coverage and capacity, and the returns on it are proven and true,” Desroches said. “We would always be interested if more spectrum became available.”

The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Wednesday scheduled oral argument for April 27 on Verizon’s challenge of a $46.9 million penalty from the FCC for not adequately protecting subscribers’ real-time location information. Commissioners approved the fine on a 3-2 vote last year, along with fines against AT&T and T-Mobile (see 2404290044). All the carriers are challenging the penalties. In February, the 5th Circuit heard oral argument in AT&T’s challenge of a $57 million fine (see 2502030050). The government defended the order in the 5th Circuit even though current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington had dissented.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association on Wednesday praised the CTIA's choice of former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as the group’s president and CEO, effective April 1 (see 2503120036). He was picked following an executive search by Korn Ferry International. Pai is “an effective leader with the right mix of government and industry experience to help propel the wireless industry forward,” said Patrick Halley, WIA president and CEO. “WIA looks forward to working with him and the CTIA team to ensure every consumer and enterprise in America benefits from the power of wireless connectivity.” Pai “brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective from his years of public and private sector experience,” said Rhonda Johnson, AT&T executive vice president-regulatory relations.