The Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division recommended that T-Mobile drop an advertising slogan that says, “Holidays Are Coming in Hot: Families: Save 20%.” Verizon had complained to the NAD, which “determined that, despite T-Mobile having modified the savings claims to explicitly reference streaming services, one message that continues to be conveyed is that consumers who switch to T-Mobile from Verizon can save 20%, and that those savings are achieved through plan costs alone,” said a Monday release. T-Mobile plans to appeal the decision, the release said.
Representatives of the National Consumer Law Center urged the FCC to take a limited approach in response to a petition by the Ecommerce Innovation Alliance and others asking the agency to issue a declaratory ruling that people who provide prior express written consent to receive text messages can't claim damages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act for messages received outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (see 2503030036). Representatives met with aides to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, said a filing posted Monday in docket 02-278. The center said the FCC could address the Edison Electric Institute's complaints (see 2504280016) “by issuing a waiver for communications seeking enrollment in demand response programs,” without making other changes.
The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) and AT&T disagreed sharply on the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials’ request that the FCC launch an NPRM on rules for the 4.9 GHz band (see 2502070020), including increasing the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) limits to make the band more attractive for 5G. Reply comments were due Thursday in docket 07-100.
Opponents of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of wireless assets from UScellular met with an aide to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about their concerns, which were consistent with those expressed in earlier meetings at the commission (see 2503210032). The Rural Wireless Association, EchoStar, Communications Workers of America, Public Knowledge and New America’s Open Technology Institute participated in the virtual meeting, said a filing posted Friday in docket 24-286.
Telecommunications Industry Association representatives met with aides to all four FCC commissioners about the “bad labs” order and Further NPRM, set for a vote May 22 (see 2505010037). “TIA raised potential steps the Commission could take to ensure that trusted vendors and allied governments are aware of FCC actions regarding certification facilities that pose a national security threat to ensure a harmonized, global approach to ICT testing and certification,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 24-136.
Wi-Fi advocates urged the FCC to reject an NAB petition for reconsideration of an order expanding the parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low-power devices are permitted to operate without coordination (see 2504070062). The FCC declined to set aside 55 MHz as a “safe haven” for electronic newsgathering operations, as NAB requested (see 2410290052). Commissioners approved the order 5-0 in December.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau notified the Beachwalk (At Hallandale) Condominium Association that it’s suspected of interfering with public safety communications through the use of a signal booster in the 799-805 MHz band. Agents detected the transmissions in January, emitting from a property that’s part of the Miami-area association, the bureau said.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment Wednesday on a request by the Monsey Fire District in New York to modify its private land mobile radio system by adding an 800 MHz specialized mobile radio to its two-site conventional system. Comments are due May 29, replies June 13, in universal licensing system file number 0011089434. The FCC posted the notice on its website's homepage.
The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment Wednesday on a proposal by the C-band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse to “wind down and cease operations on or about June 30.” Comments are due May 29 in docket 18-122. “In its request, the RPC states that it has completed all substantive functions required under the Commission’s rules and the 3.7 GHz Report and Order,” the bureau said: “The RPC notes that all reimbursement claims have been reviewed, every claim approved in whole or in part has been invoiced, and only a single claim remains pending appeal.”
New CTIA President Ajit Pai met with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez to discuss the group’s spectrum priorities, said a filing Wednesday in docket 25-59. Pai stressed the importance of the upper C band to carriers, the focus of a notice of inquiry commissioners approved 4-0 in February. CTIA urged the commission “to repurpose as much of the 220-megahertz band as possible for 5G,” the filing said.