The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials urged the FCC to adopt a plan for the 4.9 GHz band based on a “decentralized structure,” with the four public safety coordinators serving as band manager. AASHTO representatives relayed this view in a conversation with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Nathan Simington. Opposition to a proposal by the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance to give FirstNet control “is driven partly by a reaction to [the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance] and FirstNet, but also by nervousness about a centralized, powerful band manager,” AASHTO said in a filing last week in docket 07-100. That’s a similar reaction to concerns about an earlier approach where “individual states were deemed to have too much power over the band,” AASHTO said. The FCC overrode that proposal. AASHTO is concerned that an appointed band manager “will have its own business interests and agenda, and these interests would not necessarily align with the multitude of public safety interests,” the group said.

The FCC accepted long-form applications for filing from three bidders in the 2022 2.5 GHz auction, according to a Tuesday notice by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics. The three are Northern Valley Communications, Paladin Wireless and SkyPacket Networks. The agency asked for petitions to deny not later than Jan. 26, oppositions Feb. 2 and replies to oppositions Feb. 9. Under the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act, enacted in December, the FCC can issue licenses despite the expiration in March of its spectrum auction authority (see 2312200061).

The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment on Trace-Tek’s application to provide contraband interdiction system services in correctional facilities. The bureau said Friday it reviewed the application and found it complete. Comments are due Feb. 12 in docket 13-111. In July 2021, the FCC established a two-phase process for authorizing the systems and a “rule-based process” for disabling contraband devices (see 2107130029).

The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment Friday on a request from Garmin International (see 2310060031) for a waiver of rules concerning certification of the hand-held general mobile radio service (GMRS) devices it manufactures. Comments are due Feb. 12, replies Feb. 27, in docket 24-7. “Garmin alleges that its request builds on, but is narrower than, the recent waiver granted by the Mobility Division to Midland Radio,” the bureau said: Garmin claims “a waiver would serve the public interest by guaranteeing ‘that critical communications and location information are automatically available with sufficient time and information to’ locate individuals both in emergency and non-emergency situations.”

Aeronet representatives met with aides to all FCC commissioners except Commissioner Anna Gomez seeking technical changes to the draft 70 and 80 GHz band order revising rules for the spectrum, set for a vote at the FCC’s Jan. 25 meeting (see 2401040064). The company is among the biggest supporters of rules changes (see 2311080055). Aeronet expressed “appreciation for the significant efforts of the FCC staff as well as staff at the federal agencies involved in evaluating the technical issues raised by Aeronet’s proposed use of the 70/80 GHz bands to provide high-speed, ‘in-home’ equivalent broadband experiences to consumers in planes and on ships,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-133. Aeronet sought tweaks to provisions on proposed elevation angles for aviation ground and maritime stations and on coordination requirements, among other parts of the draft.

Nearly 50,000 commercial maritime vessels had cellular capabilities as of the end of 2023, owing to the growing use of cellular technology at sea as vessels that relied on satellite connectivity are increasingly opting for multimodal connectivity, Valour Consultancy said Thursday in a report. The inability of cellular coverage to extend far distances at sea keeps it from being the primary connectivity in the commercial maritime market, Valour said. The growing popularity of low earth orbit very small aperture terminals and medium earth orbit services has slowed demand for cell services in some markets and regions, it added. Cellular is particularly dominant with commercial leisure vessels, it said. Valour said 5G should lead to new use capabilities, especially in shipping ports and terminals.

Wi-Fi Alliance Services representatives urged FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff to let the company launch operations as an automated frequency coordination system provider in the 6 GHz band. They noted the company “has taken all the steps specified by the Commission to be recognized as a provider of 6 GHz AFC services, including submitting its Report on the public trial it conducted,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-352 said.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked auto manufacturers and wireless service providers to help protect domestic abuse survivors "from the misuse of connected car tools by abusers." In letters Thursday, Rosenworcel wrote, "Having access to a car is also a critical lifeline," adding: "No survivor of domestic violence and abuse should have to choose between giving up their car and allowing themselves to be stalked and harmed by those who can access its data and connectivity." Rosenworcel contacted Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Stellantis, Tesla and Toyota asking for "details about the connected car systems they offer, any existing plans to support survivors in their efforts to disconnect from abusers, and how these companies handle consumers’ geolocation data." In addition, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile received letters. Rosenworcel asked the providers for information about "existing connected car services, treatment of geolocation data from these services, current compliance with the Safe Connections Act of 2022, and how/if the companies provide connected car services to consumers who are not subscribers to their wireless services otherwise."

5G Americas released a white paper Wednesday highlighting the importance of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project's recent work and 5G release 18, with its focus on 5G-advanced. The release delves into such “cutting-edge" areas as the metaverse and use of AI and machine learning in networks, the paper said. “The evolution from 5G to 5G-Advanced promises groundbreaking improvements, including reduced latency and enhanced reliability,” 5G Americas said: “Milestones in Rel-17, such as MIMO [multiple-input and multiple-output] and Non-Terrestrial Networks, set the stage for comprehensive 5G development.”

Smith Bagley Chairman Kevin Frawley and others from the provider discussed the rules for a proposed 5G auction with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-32. Auction mechanisms “must treat remote Tribal lands as a special case to ensure that these highest-cost areas are not excluded from receiving support as a result of an auction process,” the company said. Smith Bagley said it has nearly 100,000 subscribers, many of whom didn’t previously have a phone. It estimated that about 400 of its towers must be upgraded and another 400 constructed to cover its tribal lands with 5G at 35/3 Mbps speeds.