FCC authorization of a slightly higher maximum power level for low-power indoor use of the 6 GHz band is “particularly crucial for digital equity and inclusion,” said Michael Calabrese of the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute in a meeting with aides to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Monday, according to an ex parte filing in docket 18-295. Failure to raise the power allowed could cause a “disproportionate number of lower-income and less tech savvy households to miss out on the full benefits of next generation Wi-Fi,” the filing said. The power increase now has greater support in the record than it did in 2020, and academic studies show that it wouldn’t pose an interference risk to incumbents, the filing said.

Representatives of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) completed a series of meetings at the FCC on the group’s push to use the 6 GHz band (see 2305260032), said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. SIG members met last week with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington and staff from the Office of Engineering and Technology. They earlier met with Commissioner Anna Gomez (see 2310260030). SIG members “elaborated on the wide range of applications for Bluetooth technology, from wireless audio to connected consumer electronics, glucose monitors, and hearing aids,” the filing said: “They highlighted the importance of accessing the 6 GHz spectrum as a means to support and expand the technology and explained that their members are part of a cross-license patent agreement, which allows them to focus and spend their resources on growth and development.”

Despite changes in leadership in the months leading up to World Radiocommunication Conference in Dubai, the U.S. is in a good position before the start of the conference next month, government officials said during a U.S. ITU Association conference. Steve Lang, who replaced Anna Gomez as head of the U.S. delegation to the conference (see 2309120069), also spoke Thursday (see 2310260054). WRC-23 starts Nov. 20.

Representatives of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) met with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez on the group’s push to use the 6 GHz band (see 2305260032). They “explained that they need access to the 6 GHz spectrum because the 2.4 GHz band -- which they currently use -- will not support this growth in their technologies,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. In response to questions from Gomez, SIG members “explained that the proposed framework does not currently provide for a narrow band service,” the filing said: The representatives “said they plan to move into the 5.8 GHz band, but it is insufficient to meet their needs for narrow band service and is not recognized on a global basis. They are working with the Wi-Fi industry to ensure that what they do works for them, as well as with U.S. and European regulators.”

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Wednesday extended by 15 days the deadlines for challenges to Comsearch and Federated Wireless public trial testing of their automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to the 6 GHz band. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) had asked for a 30-day extension (see 2310180053). “According to EPRI, it submitted a large number of test vectors to the common test portal prior to the beginning of the public trial period and did not receive the revised test results until a month after the public trial period had commenced for the two AFC applicants,” OET said: “EPRI is not requesting a time extension to establish an iterative process to make multiple challenges to the test responses as the Wi-Fi Alliance claims. Instead, EPRI is requesting additional time to perform an analysis of the revised test results which it received after a delay.”

T-Mobile remains at least two years ahead of its competition on the deployment of spectrum for 5G, CEO Mike Seivert told analysts Wednesday as the carrier announced Q3 results. T-Mobile said it added 850,000 postpaid smartphones in the quarter, with churn of 0.87%. The carrier also announced it now covers 300 million POPs with dedicated mid-band 5G, two months ahead of its target.

The FCC should reject the Electric Power Research Institute's request to extend by 30 days the deadline to file challenges to ongoing public trials of the automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to the 6 GHz band (see 2310180053), the Wi-Fi Alliance said. FCC rules “state that ‘[i]t is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted,’” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-352. “EPRI fails to provide any facts or circumstances that require the Commission to deviate from its policy in this case,” the alliance said: “To the contrary, the Commission routinely denies requests for extension of time when, as here, the requesting party is simply dissatisfied with the amount of time permitted for a required action.”

The FCC approved an order authorizing the use of very-low-power (VLP) devices in 850 MHz of the 6 GHz band 5-0 at the commissioners' open meeting Thursday, as expected (see 2310160050). An accompanying Further NPRM asks about additional changes, including on the rules for low-power indoor (LPI) devices. Commissioner Brendan Carr said the FCC should have gone further and addressed the other major proposal in a 2020 FNPRM. Commissioner Nathan Simington questioned whether the concerns of band incumbents had been adequately addressed.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) asked the FCC to extend by 30 days the deadline to file challenges to ongoing public trials of the automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems that will manage access to the 6 GHz band (see 2308250061). An August order requires that test portals be able to accept challenges for 15 days after the close of a 45-day trial period. EPRI “in collaboration with multiple utilities, other 6 GHz fixed service (FS) system operators, and … FS equipment vendors, has been conducting research for the past three years on the potential for harmful interference from the introduction of unlicensed use into the 6 GHz band,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-295. EPRI said for a Comsearch trial the end date is Oct. 23 and challenges are due Nov. 7. EPRI said it submitted test vectors to the test portal Sept. 5 and received responses Sept. 8. “EPRI invested significant hours analyzing the responses and is currently preparing challenges to some of the responses” but then on Oct. 11 “received revised responses from Comsearch for the entire set of requests,” the institute said: “For EPRI to provide accurate analysis, we respectfully ask the FCC for more time.”

CTIA and Google officials clashed Tuesday on the future of spectrum sharing and the citizens broadband radio service band, speaking during a Broadband Breakfast webinar on spectrum sharing. Other speakers said CBRS has been a success.