GCI updated the FCC on problems it has faced replacing text telephone (TTY) with real-time text (RTT). TTY is considered an outdated technology for deaf and hearing impaired communication. GCI’s first attempt “resulted in garbled, difficult-to-understand text for calls converted from RTT to TTY, and vice-versa,” said a filing Monday in docket 15-178. The Alaska provider and its vendors “worked diligently and expended significant resources to identify the cause of this translation problem and developed a unique solution to resolve it,” the filing said: “Due to the detailed nature of this process, the extensive back-and-forth between GCI and its vendors, and the need to ensure that this solution did not cause other unintended consequences on GCI’s network, this process took approximately eighteen months to complete.”

NCTA officials and members spoke with aides to all five FCC commissioners about Samsung Electronics America’s request for a waiver for a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see 2309130041). Cable companies objected earlier (see [Ref:2401050052). Technical analysis demonstrates that Samsung’s multiband radio “and others sure to follow based on its theory would increase the median noise in the CBRS band by roughly 11 dB, harming the services existing CBRS users are providing to consumers,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-98. Approval of the waiver “would set a troubling precedent by allowing future parties to disregard emissions limits and other protections, undermining the Commission’s ability to manage interference.” Among those represented on the calls were Comcast, Charter Communications and Cox Enterprises.

The FCC should delay a 5G Fund auction until broadband equity, access, and deployment program funds ae awarded, ACA Connects said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 20-32. “Though the Commission’s high-cost programs distinguish fixed service from mobile service, 5G networks are capable of, and already provide, both,” ACA said: “5G fixed service providers have signed up millions of customers annually in the past few years, capturing the lion’s share of recent fixed broadband growth and providing intense competition to wireline providers.” The association said “where fixed and mobile broadband services were once distinct segments of the marketplace, 5G blurs the line between the two.” The Competitive Carriers Association raised similar timing concerns in a meeting with aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “It is critical that a 5G Fund auction does not occur prematurely to ensure funds are used most efficiently and are targeted to those areas that need it most,” CCA said: “Fiber deployed through the BEAD program will provide a tremendous resource for future 5G mobile deployments as fiber is needed to connect towers across rural America.” CCA said fiber backhaul can comprise up to 20% of the cost of deploying a tower.

FirstNet Authority officials urged that the FCC make the 4.9 GHz band available as part of FirstNet during a meeting with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. NTIA made an ex parte filing on the meeting, on behalf of the authority, posted on Tuesday in docket 07-100. The band's future has been hotly contested (see 2403150054). “The FirstNet Authority is in a position to leverage the 4.9 GHz band for the benefit of public safety by using it to provide enhanced and innovative broadband communications services and capabilities to first responders on a nationwide basis,” the authority said: Use of the spectrum as part of the FirstNet network “would be for public safety on a primary basis and should be governed under the FirstNet program’s statutory framework.” The authority said it would protect existing incumbent operations in the band.

Tribal-area wireless provider Smith Bagley asked the FCC to temporarily provide expanded monthly tribal Lifeline benefits of $25 to $65.75 to make up for the loss of funding as the affordable connectivity program expires. “Over 329,000 Tribal households currently receive ACP discounts, including residents living in remote rural areas that have poverty rates many times the national average,” said a petition posted Monday in docket 11-42: The loss of tribal ACP funding "will have devastating impacts as many residents will find high-quality broadband connections to be priced out of their reach, with few or no options to connect.” Smith Bagley also reported on a call with an aide to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez on the proposed 5G Fund. It emphasized that the upcoming Tribal 5G Fund auction mechanism “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,” said a filing in docket 20-32. The firm “discussed the extraordinary costs that the company faces in accessing fiber backhaul to its towers, 90% of which are today served by microwave. Without fiber, it will be difficult to meet the Commission’s 5G Fund auction performance requirements.”

The FCC asked for comments, due June 10, on the burden of complying with an information collection regime required under the FCC wireless emergency alerts rules, said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register. “This modification to an existing collection will require all … providers to file their election regarding participation in the WEA system by submitting the information to an FCC-created and maintained WEA database,” the notice said: “This will refresh … provider WEA-elections that were last required over a decade ago and provide a single source of information on WEA availability.”

The FCC is seeking comment, due June 10, on a requirement that upper microwave flexible use service licensees in the 28 GHz band demonstrate how they are using the band. “Licensees relying on mobile or point-to-multipoint service must show that they are providing reliable signal coverage and service to at least 40 percent of the population within the service area of the licensee, and that they are using facilities to provide service in that area either to customers or for internal use,” said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register. Licensees relying on point-to-point service “must demonstrate that they have four links operating and providing service, either to customers or for internal use, if the population within the license area is equal to or less than 268,000,” the notice said: If the population within the license area is greater than 268,000, the licensee “must demonstrate it has at least one link in operation and is providing service for each 67,000 [POP] within the license area.”

The FCC asked for comment on how it might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees” as part of its wireless enhanced 911 location accuracy requirements. The FCC is seeking Office of Management and Budget approval for an extension of this information collection and will submit the information collection after a 60-day comment period, said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register.

Dish Wireless filed an amended petition at the FCC seeking eligible telecom carrier status in the federal default states of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire and North Carolina and in the District of Columbia (see 2302020030). “Designation of DISH Wireless as an ETC will make wireless broadband services more robust and more affordable to low-income consumers,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 09-197. Granting the petition would also “promote the public interest in broadband deployment in underserved areas by better positioning the Company to pursue broadband infrastructure funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other programs,” Dish said.

CTIA representatives warned about potential negative effects from some robotexting rules proposed in comments to a December Further NPRM (see 2312190032). “Reject calls from a handful of non-consumer message senders to dismantle the wireless ecosystem’s existing practices that are stopping billions of spam and scam text messages,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-402: “These groups’ support for adoption of a content-neutral and non-discriminatory blocking standard would gut the messaging ecosystem’s multi-layered defenses for consumers.” CTIA said adopting that proposed standard “would remove the best practices that prevent non-consumer message senders from sending text messages that consumers do not want, including campaigns related to illegal substances and content related to sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco.” CTIA representatives spoke with FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Alejandro Roark and others from the bureau.