Comments are due June 28, replies July 29, on the FCC's proposal requiring georouting of 988 calls by wireless carriers, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register. Commissioners voted 5-0 at their April open meeting to adopt an NPRM proposing the georouting requirement (see 2404250054). The NPRM seeks comment on georouting options and their viability, whether existing FCC rules would need amending, and the hurdles for georouting texts to 988. Comments are due in docket 18-336.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs told the FCC it remains “steadfast" in its support for letting the FirstNet Authority manage the 4.9 GHz band. The authority “has experience in maintaining a national public safety broadband network; mandated priority and ruthless preemption for public safety users; and has both federal and Congressional oversight to ensure proper stewardship of a vital taxpayer-owned resource,” a filing posted Tuesday in docket 07-100 said.
Ligado urged the FCC to reallocate the 1675-1680 MHz band for shared commercial use, licensed on a nationwide basis, “but limited to uplink-only operations,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-116. Representatives spoke with staff from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology. The proposal “would allow the spectrum to be put to good use supporting 5G IoT services and be consistent with the key conclusion of the in-depth spectrum sharing study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it is feasible to open the band to sharing with commercial uplink-only operations,” Ligado said. The FCC sought comment on the band in 2019 (see 2006010057). Ligado said it envisions the band “being used to provide free-standing 5G IoT services to critical infrastructure industries such as electric utilities” and that it could be paired with the adjacent 1670-1675 MHz band.
The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) fired back at the Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) in their dispute over the role FirstNet should play in the 4.9 GHz band (see 2405100061). CERCI’s approach is “wrong from top to bottom: its legal analysis is unsound, and its proposal for the use of the 4.9 GHz band would perpetuate the band’s chronic under-utilization,” a filing posted Friday in docket 07-100 said. Congress made clear that "it would not limit the FirstNet Authority’s ability to build a nationwide interoperable public safety network to a single generation of technology or spectrum band -- especially given the evolving nature of technology in general, and mobile technology in particular,” the PSSA said.
The FCC expanded the focus of its test lab security NPRM to ask additional questions about the supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC) process for obtaining equipment authorization. Commissioners approved the NPRM unanimously Thursday as officials discussed this change (see 2405230033). The NPRM was posted Friday. It proposes barring test labs from entities on the agency’s “covered list” of unsecure companies from participating in the equipment authorization process. In addition, it proposes taking other steps to bolster U.S. security. The final version adds a paragraph not included in the draft on SDoC issues that would potentially broaden the reach of revised rules. “Our current rules on authorization of equipment through the SDoC process do not require that any requisite testing of equipment be conducted by an accredited, FCC-recognized test lab,” the NPRM asserts: To “test labs in which entities identified on the Covered List have certain direct or indirect ownership interests or control do not participate in our equipment authorization program, we seek comment on whether the Commission also should require that all equipment authorized pursuant to the SDoC process be tested by accredited and FCC-recognized test labs.” The NPRM explains that the SDoC program is used for equipment that doesn’t have a radio transmitter but includes digital circuitry. It cites as examples computer peripherals, microwave ovens, industrial, scientific and medical equipment, power supply devices, LED light bulbs and TV interface devices. All the commissioners except Nathan Simington produced a written statement attached to the NPRM.
Breezeline, an internet, TV and voice provider, is launching mobile wireless service as an add-on to its internet service. The ISP covers New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia and other markets. Breezeline said Thursday its unlimited data plans start at $35/month. “Customers bring their existing mobile devices to Breezeline Mobile, providing added value and convenience,” the company said. “The service is pay-as-you-go, so there are no term contracts or cancellation fees.”
NTIA asked for comment on or before Aug. 21 about the state of 6G development. “NTIA is most interested in comments on 6G topics related to proposed priorities, likely or potential use cases, and research and development from relevant stakeholders,” a notice in Thursday’s Federal Register said. “Which specific use cases will benefit from 6G technology initially, and how can the U.S. Government support these innovations?” the notice asks: “What new challenges will arise from 6G regarding privacy, equity, and civil liberties? How can the U.S. Government ensure that the benefits of 6G technology extend to all segments of society?” NTIA stressed it’s not seeking comment on spectrum issues as part of the proceeding.
Ahead of the November elections, CTIA launched a political text messaging website. In the campaigns section, the site “provides information about setting up effective, consumer-friendly texting operations, the importance of getting opt-in, consumer consent before beginning to send text messages, and reasonable methods of obtaining consent,” Sarah Leggin, assistant vice president-regulatory affairs, said in a blog post. For consumers, “the site includes resources about how to stop unwanted messages, tips for reporting spam, and what to consider when giving your contact information to a campaign. And it provides additional information on how the wireless industry protects consumers from unwanted and illegal messages.”
Samsung Electronics America urged the FCC to act on the company’s request for a waiver for a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see 2309130041). Samsung summarized the record so far in the proceeding, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 23-93. “Over the past 21 months, Samsung and others have provided information to the FCC numerous times explaining the benefits of this waiver, its compliance with the FCC’s rules (apart from the narrow waiver), its lack of any material impact on the noise environment in the CBRS band, and the fact that it would set no precedent for any future waivers for other, hypothetical equipment that (unlike the Samsung device) potentially would affect the CBRS noise environment,” Samsung said.
Crown Castle said Wednesday that “based on preliminary information from the Company’s proxy solicitor,” shareholders approved its slate of 12 nominees to the board. The slate defeated a group Boots Capital Management proposed (see 2405170054). “We thank our shareholders for the trust they have placed in our highly qualified board members as they oversee the creation of a stronger, more valuable Crown Castle,” the company said: “The board continues to take action, including conducting the strategic and operational review of our fiber and small cell business already underway, to improve performance and unlock shareholder value.”