Qualcomm briefed the FCC Wireless Bureau staff about “the capabilities and need” for aircraft-to-everything (A2X) 3rd Generation Partnership Project standardized communications for safety-critical detect-and-avoid operations. In addition, company representatives also discussed the importance of dedicating a 20 MHz channel in the 5030 MHz band to A2X, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 22-232. Transforma projects that the number of small drones with cellular connections for commercial use “will increase from 106,000 in 2022 to 295,000 in 2026, then to 1 million by 2032,” Qualcomm said.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, House Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson; Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez are among those scheduled to speak at NTIA’s spectrum policy symposium on Feb. 1, NTIA said Thursday. Other speakers include DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman and Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology. The symposium starts at 9 a.m. at the National Press Club, with livestream availability.
A December FCC order requiring wireless providers to block text messages from a particular number following notification from the commission is effective March 26, said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. Rules requiring terminating providers to block texts from a particular number are effective 120 days after the effectiveness date (see 2312190032).
A September order mandating a May 1 compliance date for all carriers, regardless of size, for new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI) requirements approved by commissioners in 2022 (see 2207060070) is set for publication in Friday’s Federal Register. The FCC released the order Sept. 15 (see 2309180039). It responds to an October petition by CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association (see 2211010056). The FCC “requires that each facilities-based mobile wireless provider enter into bilateral roaming agreements with all other facilities-based mobile wireless providers from which it may foreseeably request roaming privileges, or that may foreseeably request roaming privileges from it, when the MDRI is active,” the notice said: “The Commission clarified that roaming is foreseeable, without limitation, when two providers’ geographic coverage areas overlap.”
The FCC Wireless Bureau on Thursday reminded 700 MHz guard band licensees and 220 MHz band managers that they must file annual reports on or before March 1. “Licensees must provide information about the manner in which the spectrum in each of their markets is being utilized,” the bureau said: It should “accurately convey the current level of service being offered in each licensed area, including information regarding coverage provided by Licensees’ operations and any spectrum lease agreements.”
The FCC appointed Commissioners Nathan Simington and Anna Gomez to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations, according to an order Thursday in docket 96-45. Both commissioners are members of the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services. Gomez was appointed chair of the universal service joint board and advanced series joint conference. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will continue to serve as the chair of the separations board.
Service providers must comply with the FCC's permanent disconnection reporting rule for the reassigned numbers database even if they don't have "permanent disconnections to disclose," the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau said in a public notice Thursday in docket 17-59. Providers must submit monthly reports on permanent disconnections of numbers assigned to them.
The FCC on Thursday asked for applications by Feb. 12 to serve on the FCC’s World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC) for the 2027 WRC. The WAC coordinates industry positions as the U.S. prepares for the conference. “The Commission seeks applications from interested organizations, institutions, or other entities from both the public and private sectors that wish to be considered for membership on the Committee,” the FCC said: “Selections will be based on factors such as expertise and diversity of viewpoints that are necessary to address effectively the questions before the Committee.”
FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order Thursday requiring carriers to implement location-based routing (LBR) for calls and real-time texts to 911 within six months of when the rules become effective for nationwide providers and 24 months for small providers.
Wireless carriers in comments this week condemned a “dynamic approach” to data and other proposals for California’s low-income program. The California Public Utilities Commission received feedback Wednesday on an Oct. 30 staff proposal for setting California LifeLine specific support amounts (SSA) and minimum service standards (MSS). Some urged the CPUC to tap the brakes, especially with uncertainty about continued funding for the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP).