T-Mobile announced after the markets closed Thursday it had 934,000 postpaid phone net adds in Q4 and 3.1 million for the year, beating rivals AT&T and Verizon. In addition, T-Mobile said it added 541,000 home internet customers in Q4 and 2.1 million for the year. Postpaid phone churn was 0.96% in Q4, and 0.87% in 2023, T-Mobile said. The carrier also reported service revenue of $16 billion for the quarter and net income of $2 billion.

Qualcomm briefed the FCC Wireless Bureau staff about “the capabilities and need” for aircraft-to-everything (A2X) 3rd Generation Partnership Project standardized communications for safety-critical detect-and-avoid operations. In addition, company representatives also discussed the importance of dedicating a 20 MHz channel in the 5030 MHz band to A2X, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 22-232. Transforma projects that the number of small drones with cellular connections for commercial use “will increase from 106,000 in 2022 to 295,000 in 2026, then to 1 million by 2032,” Qualcomm said.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, House Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson; Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez are among those scheduled to speak at NTIA’s spectrum policy symposium on Feb. 1, NTIA said Thursday. Other speakers include DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman and Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology. The symposium starts at 9 a.m. at the National Press Club, with livestream availability.

A December FCC order requiring wireless providers to block text messages from a particular number following notification from the commission is effective March 26, said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. Rules requiring terminating providers to block texts from a particular number are effective 120 days after the effectiveness date (see 2312190032).

A September order mandating a May 1 compliance date for all carriers, regardless of size, for new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI) requirements approved by commissioners in 2022 (see 2207060070) is set for publication in Friday’s Federal Register. The FCC released the order Sept. 15 (see 2309180039). It responds to an October petition by CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association (see 2211010056). The FCC “requires that each facilities-based mobile wireless provider enter into bilateral roaming agreements with all other facilities-based mobile wireless providers from which it may foreseeably request roaming privileges, or that may foreseeably request roaming privileges from it, when the MDRI is active,” the notice said: “The Commission clarified that roaming is foreseeable, without limitation, when two providers’ geographic coverage areas overlap.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau on Thursday reminded 700 MHz guard band licensees and 220 MHz band managers that they must file annual reports on or before March 1. “Licensees must provide information about the manner in which the spectrum in each of their markets is being utilized,” the bureau said: It should “accurately convey the current level of service being offered in each licensed area, including information regarding coverage provided by Licensees’ operations and any spectrum lease agreements.”

Comments are due Feb. 26, replies March 11, in docket 23-388 on an NPRM seeking comment on implementing a 100% hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) requirement for wireless handsets, which was approved by commissioners in December (see 2312130019), said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. The NPRM tentatively concludes that a 100% requirement for wireless handsets is "achievable" and seeks comment on expanding the definition of HAC to include the use of Bluetooth coupling between handsets and hearing aids.

FCC commissioners approved ahead of Thursday’s open meeting an order allowing point-to-point links to endpoints in motion in the 70 GHz and 80 GHz bands under Part 101 rules, for aeronautical and maritime users (see 2401040064). Aeronet sought changes to the FCC’s draft order (see 2401120048), which proved controversial (see 2401190040). The commission also adopted a Further NPRM seeking comment “on the addition of another type of link as part of maritime operations otherwise authorized in the Report and Order, and the inclusion of Fixed Satellite Service earth stations in the light-licensing regime for the 70 GHz and 80 GHz bands,” said a news release. The order changes the link registration process in the 70/80/90 GHz bands "to require certification of construction of registered links, which will promote more efficient use of this spectrum and improve the accuracy of the link registration database," the agency said. Also taken off the agenda, a restricted adjudicatory matter from the Media Bureau.

The FCC’s proposed cyber trust mark program for smart devices (see 2311130034) should remain voluntary, which will encourage broad participation, representatives of CTA and other groups said during a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington. Preemption and safe harbors “are critical to the Labeling Program’s success,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-239: The groups “urged the Commission to ensure that participation in the program operates as a safe harbor under federal law and preempts state law, both with respect to consumer protection laws and substantive cybersecurity standards.” Other groups in the meeting were CTIA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, USTelecom and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials representatives briefed an aide to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about concerns over the future of the 4.9 GHz band, including its opposition to a Public Safety Spectrum Alliance proposal giving FirstNet control of the spectrum (see 2401160048). In a filing posted Wednesday in docket 07-100, it said, “In response to a question about whether there are different use cases for the 4.9 GHz band, AASHTO noted that some of its members are using the band in conjunction with intelligent transportation systems and in other ways.”