The FCC’s World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee will meet in person April 15 at 11 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room, the agency said Thursday. This will be the first meeting of the committee during Donald Trump's second presidency. The meeting will be livestreamed.

The FCC Wireless Bureau on Wednesday granted 14 additional licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment to PDV Spectrum, 11 in Texas and three in Missouri. The FCC approved an order five years ago reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband while maintaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).

T-Mobile asked the FCC not to make public the data it must file by Saturday for the agency’s broadband data collection. “Because the Confidential Information is highly proprietary and non-public, T-Mobile requests that this information be afforded confidential treatment indefinitely,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-195.

GSMA discussed the importance of so-called circular business models in the mobile carrier industry, with an emphasis on refurbishing old phones and putting them back into service, in a report released Wednesday. The group said circularity can be increased by “using recycled materials and renewable energy, increasing the lifespan of phones by repairing, reusing and refurbishing existing phones, designing phones to be more durable and repairable and providing adequate software and security support.” Industry can ensure that “no device ends up as waste by recovering and recycling phones that cannot be reused,” the report said. GSMA also expressed support Wednesday for the European Commission’s introduction of a Clean Industrial Deal. The wireless industry “has long been committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with network operators adopting climate targets and promoting sustainability.”

Summit Ridge updated the FCC on the pending closure of the 3.45 GHz relocation reimbursement clearinghouse (see 2501070073), expected this weekend. “Summit Ridge will deliver an audit of Clearinghouse financials covering the period from March 15, 2024 (the ending date of the prior audited financials) through closing … no later than March 15,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-348. All band incumbents “have been reimbursed for the approved clearing costs and have confirmed they have no additional costs to submit or objections to raise.” Summit Ridge will "follow any remaining wind-down activities as instructed” by the Wireless Bureau, the filing said.

Rural Wireless Association representatives discussed 5G Fund issues, including the importance of waiting for the BEAD program to play out before deciding where money is most needed, in a meeting with an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. RWA also asked that the FCC “not take into account areas where T-Mobile plans to build 5G … as part of the conditional approval of its acquisition of Sprint,” said a filing this week in docket 20-32. “RWA noted that T-Mobile's six-year 5G deployment milestone deadlines, pursuant to the T-Mobile-Sprint merger approval, end on April 1, 2026,” the filing said. That deadline is 13 months away, “and by the time a reverse auction is initiated, these deadlines will have passed making any such pre-auction commitments unnecessary and incredibly anticompetitive.” RWA discussed the benefits of waiting for supplemental coverage from space to “develop beyond text messaging and voice services and how this emerging mobility service can enhance connectivity in underserved areas cost effectively without the need” for 5G Fund support.

Federated Wireless executives spoke with an aide to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about the company’s support for some changes to citizens broadband radio service rules, but its opposition to allowing some devices to operate at higher power levels. Federated “articulated its support for codification of the processes that are being used to manage CBRS spectrum access, greater harmonization of the CBRS rules with adjacent bands, and strengthening of the rules that would facilitate use of AI and other advanced tools to maximize efficient use of CBRS spectrum by a wide range of use cases and business models,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-258. Federated has been making the rounds at the FCC, with company representatives meeting last week with an aide to Chairman Brendan Carr.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Tuesday on a Tesla request for a waiver of FCC rules to allow authorization for an ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning system operating in the 7.5-8.5 GHz frequency range “to facilitate wireless charging of electric vehicles.” Comments are due March 27, replies April 11, in docket 25-101. “Tesla describes how it intends to use an impulse radio UWB system to enable peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an EV and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad -- which could be located outdoors -- to achieve optimal positioning to enable wireless charging for the EV,” OET said.

UScellular agreed in a Monday filing that lawyers for Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) who represent the Rural Wireless Association can be considered “Outside Counsel of Record for RWA for the purposes of the Protective Order in this proceeding and that no further clarification as to their status is required at this time.” RWA has opposed T-Mobile’s proposed purchase of UScellular's wireless assets (see 2501290019). UScellular reported on a meeting that included FCC staff, T-Mobile representatives and Carri Bennet and others from WBD on the law firm’s status in the proceeding. Bennet acknowledged in the meeting that her title with RWA “has been changed from ‘General Counsel’ to ‘Outside General Counsel’ to further clarify her role,” said the filing in docket 24-286.

AT&T and Verizon each successfully completed video calls using AST SpaceMobile satellite connectivity, the carriers said Monday. The call between AT&T smartphones in Texas "marks a significant milestone in the quest for enhanced global connectivity," AT&T said. Verizon said it completed a video call using one phone connected to AST and one connected to Verizon's terrestrial network. “Adding this layer of ability -- not only to text someone, but to be able to call, video chat, or send files -- ... will only enhance the reliability of our customers' connectivity and communication experience," Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg said. AT&T COO Jeff McElfresh said, “We know our customers want connectivity wherever they are, and they deserve a simple, seamless experience from one provider.”