The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition objected to changes Aeronet sought (see 2401120048) to the FCC’s draft 70 and 80 GHz band order, set for a vote Thursday (see 2401040064). The FCC shouldn’t allow “Aeronet’s eleventh-hour ex parte filings to derail adoption of the draft order,” said a filing posted Friday on docket 20-133. The agency’s practice of releasing draft orders before open meetings “has appropriately allowed interested parties to ask the Commission to clarify the language in an order before adoption,” the coalition said: “However, Aeronet’s proposal amounts to a wholesale change in the proposed rule that would eliminate a coordination trigger protecting existing [fixed service] links.” CTIA raised similar concerns (see 2401180062).
The Electric Power Research Institute briefed the FCC about the analysis it used that led to file challenges to various public trials of 6 GHz automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems (see 2312220043). EPRI submitted test vectors consisting of locations along fixed-service system centerlines "with line of sight to an FS receive station,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 21-352. “The AFC operator response for each test vector was compared to a free space path loss (FSPL) calculation,” EPRI said: “Locations where it was found that the AFC operator assigned co-channel maximum power spectral density (PSD) was more than 3 dB in excess of the maximum PSD based on the FSPL calculation were included in the challenge letter.” EPRI understands the metrics it used were different from those the FCC specified, the filing said.
The FCC should approve Samsung Electronics America and Ericsson waiver requests for 5G base station radios that work across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum, CTIA said (see 2303280054). “Commenters in this proceeding have highlighted that use of a single radio covering two bands, rather than two separate radios operating in the same bands, has substantial benefits,” a filing posted Friday in docket 23-93 said. A multiband radio “reduces the weight and physical footprint of tower collocations, which allows for additional equipment, potentially by different operators, to be deployed,” CTIA said. They are also more energy efficient than using multiple radios, the group said: Samsung maintains the proposed radio will increase energy efficiency by 30%-45% “as compared to two standalone units.”
Wavelength asked the FCC to reconsider a December Wireline Bureau order denying its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction long-form application Friday. The company said in an application for review posted in docket 19-126 that the bureau's denial was "based solely on financial concerns raised at the eleventh hour" after previously determining that Wavelength's technical plans and qualifications "are sound." The bureau "should not be permitted to summarily dismiss Wavelength’s application as part of a last-minute rush to conclude overall RDOF applicant review, while denying Wavelength an opportunity to correct the bureau’s manifest errors," it said. It asked the FCC to reverse the decision and "promptly issue a ready-to-authorize notice."
Consolidated asked the FCC to grant it a six-month waiver of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction rules concerning letters of credit. The company said in a petition posted Friday in docket 19-126 that it needed a waiver so it may continue receiving RDOF support while it seeks a new bank to issue LOCs. Consolidated said the Universal Service Administrative Co. notified it that its current issuer, Wells Fargo, is now below the Weiss bank safety B- rating required under RDOF rules.
The FCC wants comments by Feb. 19, replies by March 5, in docket 19-195 on its broadband data collection challenge process. A public notice posted Friday noted the FCC must submit a report to Congress on the data collection process and whether any tools are needed to improve the data's accuracy.
President Joe Biden signed off Friday on a continuing resolution (HR-2872) that averts a partial government shutdown, as expected (see 2401180057), the White House said. The CR funds the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service through March 1. In addition, it funds the FCC, FTC, NTIA, other Commerce Department agencies and the DOJ Antitrust Division through March 8.
An FCC order establishing rules to prevent digital discrimination takes effect March 22, said a notice for Monday's Federal Register (see 2311150040). Commissioners adopted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-mandated rules in a 3-2 vote during the agency's November meeting.
The FCC seeks to dismiss the petition for review filed Dec. 21 by the Insurance Marketing Coalition (see 2312220059) because it is “premature,” and the 11th U.S. Court of Appeals therefore lacks appellate jurisdiction to consider it, said the commission’s motion Friday (docket 23-14125).
Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) officials made their case Friday for assigning the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet, a proposal that faces objections on numerous fronts. A year ago, commissioners approved 4-0 a long-awaited order and Further NPRM on the band's future, establishing a national band manager governing the leasing process. The FCC also sought comment on rights and responsibilities of the band manager (see 2301180062). The PSSA has asked that a single, national licensee get the spectrum (see 2304240057).