Roberson and Associates said most public safety 4.9 GHz licensees are using the band for mobile connections. The FCC is finalizing its approach on the band (see 2401020050). The firm examined 1,912 licensed entities and found that 98% hold a mobile-location-class license, according to a report filed last week at the FCC in docket 07-100. Meanwhile, 25% hold fixed and 23% hold both mobile and fixed allocations, Roberson said. Only 38 have a fixed without mobile allocation, the report said. It estimated 4.2% of public safety agencies utilize the band.

Dish Wireless representatives spoke with FCC Wireline Bureau staff about a 2021 petition to serve as an eligible telecom carrier (see 2111290051), and in particular, an amended petition last week to serve as an ETC in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. Through retail wireless offerings under the Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile brands, “DISH serves a significant number” of affordable connectivity program subscribers, the filing said.

The FCC is investigating AT&T's 2022 complaint against granting T-Mobile additional mid-band licenses in the 2.5 GHz band because of the carrier’s already huge position in the band (see 2211100066) and plans to include data from carriers in its investigation, said a Monday notice by the Wireless Bureau. T-Mobile has asked the FCC to dismiss the complaint (see 2211150017). The bureau said it plans to include a Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) report, carrier-specific local number portability (LNP) data and other information in the record in the proceeding, subject to a protective order. Companies have until Feb. 15 “to oppose the limited disclosure of their NRUF and LNP data pursuant to the protective order,” the bureau said.

The Competitive Carriers Association and its members raised questions about the size of a proposed 5G Fund in meetings with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff, a filing posted Friday in docket 20-32 said. Proceeding with a $9 billion budget, as proposed in 2020 (see 2310240046), “without sufficient rationale and updated analysis risks leaving areas in dire need behind and potentially leaving many states and territories with no benefit from the 5G Fund,” CCA said. Other items included raising eligibility to at least 35/3 Mbps “to be consistent with Administration and prior FCC precedent” and the need to time auctions to “best leverage” the NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program and other federal funding. The FCC should also ensure “accurate mobile mapping data and a robust mobile challenge process” prior to moving forward, CCA said. Among those attending the meetings were representatives of C Spire, Nex-Tech Wireless, Nsight, Southern Linc and Union Wireless. Rural Wireless Association representatives also discussed the fund with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, as the group continues a series of meetings at the FCC (see 2402010037).

Competitive Carriers Association representatives sought additional changes to the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2312040015) in a meeting with FCC Wireline Bureau staff. The representatives noted recent changes, “including increased staffing levels, faster invoice processing, facilitating increased efficiency in responses to Reimbursement Program staff, and the use of dedicated review teams,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89. In addition, they asked for “streamlined reporting obligations, faster modification approvals, and more categorical treatment of substantially similar modification applications.” Among those at the meeting were representatives of Summit Ridge Group, Union Wireless, Viaero Wireless and Widelity.

President Joe Biden understands the importance of a “coordinated policy” that maximizes "the benefits the American people get from spectrum,” Austin Bonner, deputy U.S. chief technology officer-policy, said Thursday during the NTIA spectrum policy symposium's final panel. The White House's spectrum strategy reaffirms the FCC's and NTIA's roles, establishes the Interagency Spectrum Advisory Council (ISAC) and creates a White House-led mechanism for dispute resolution, providing “a consistent and clear place to bring challenges,” she said. During the many meetings the administration held before releasing the strategy, a consistent theme was “the need for senior level buy-in,” which led to ISAC's creation, she said. Bonner said the council is planning on meeting regularly. From the beginning of the administration, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she works, the National Economic Council and the National Security Council “strongly agreed that spectrum policy needed to change” and “needed presidential-level direction,” Bonner said. The strategy ensures that, before spectrum studies are conducted, they’re coordinated between NTIA and the agencies. “That’s really critical,” said Matthew Pearl, NSC director and special adviser-emerging technologies. Something that emerged during recent spectrum fights was the importance of assumptions and methodology when bands are studied, Pearl said. The president wants a “science-based, data-based approach” on spectrum issues, he said. NTIA and ISAC will be unable to resolve some issues and that’s when the White House will step in and convene the agencies prior to a decision, he said. Pearl noted that he was previously at the FCC and worked on spectrum issues, including the C-band. The FCC and NTIA “have made significant progress” in working together, adopting and operationalizing a memorandum of understanding on proposed spectrum decisions, he said (see 2208020076). The White House is committed to resolving disputes “as early in the process as we can,” he said, acknowledging difficult spectrum issues will result in disputes. “We’ve turned a corner, but we also have set ourselves a challenging road,” Bonner said.

Prepaid provider Total by Verizon announced Thursday the launch of unlimited 5G Home Internet service, starting at $45/month. The offering can be purchased online or at Total stores. “Total by Verizon recognizes that most of the communities we serve have limited options for home broadband service,” said Ryan Weikert, Total managing director: “This new offering underlines our commitment to providing affordable connectivity across America.”

Representatives of the Rural Wireless Association met with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington on the group’s concerns about a proposed 5G Fund (see 2401300059), said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-32. “In each meeting we discussed RWA’s concerns with the 5G Fund framework and how the current rules potentially leave legacy high-cost mobile carriers’ investment in their networks stranded,” RWA said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau Thursday granted 16 licenses to winning bidders in the 2022 2.5 GHz auction. Under the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act, enacted in December, the FCC can now issue licenses despite the expiration in March of its spectrum auction authority (see 2312200061). The licenses were awarded to Northern Valley Communications in South Dakota, Paladin Wireless in Georgia and SkyPacket Networks in Maryland and West Virginia.

The FCC Wireless Bureau Thursday granted three licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment, to PDV Spectrum. The licenses are in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The FCC approved an order in 2020 reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband, while maintaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).