AT&T questioned a study CableLabs did last year of power-level sensitivity in the 6 GHz band (see 2211290068), which argued that the rules for the band can be further liberalized (see 2303270037). “Fundamentally, parties to this proceeding -- and the [FCC] itself -- should have the opportunity to develop a complete understanding of CableLabs’ purported simulation if that work is to be relied upon to expand the rights of radio local area network devices in the 6 GHz band,” said a Tuesday filing in docket 18-295. AT&T said the results, as reported, can't be verified. CableLabs should have to “file the simulations in their entirety instead of merely providing curated, self-interested results,” AT&T said: “The refusal to file the simulations is even more alarming in the face of NCTA’s inability -- on behalf of CableLabs -- to satisfactorily explain troubling inconsistencies, assumptions, and results that fly in the face of common-sense engineering and real-world testing.”

Cable representatives met via videoconference with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff to discuss a study CableLabs did last year of power-level sensitivity in the 6 GHz band (see 2211290068). “The simulation demonstrates that before a 6 GHz Low-Power Indoor (LPI) device causes any impact to a fixed link’s 99.999% reliability, the power spectral density (PSD) limit must be increased to significantly higher levels than what the Commission proposed in the 6 GHz FNPRM, and, even at those significantly increased PSD levels, 6 GHz LPI devices pose an extremely low risk of harmful interference to fixed link availability.” The cablers urged the FCC to wrap up work on an LPI proposal in the 6 GHz Further NPRM. At the meeting were Comcast, Charter Communications, Cox Enterprises, Quadra Partners and NCTA, said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295.

The “jury’s still out” on whether the FCC’s 3.45 GHz auction was a success, said John Hunter, T-Mobile senior director-technology and engineering policy, during an FCBA wireless lunch Wednesday. Speakers welcomed the administration’s early steps on a national spectrum strategy (see 2303200044).

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Tuesday on a waiver sought by the Wi-Fi Alliance of rules for the predictive propagation models that an automated frequency coordination system must employ in the 6 GHz band. Comments are due April 5, replies April 20, in docket 23-107. In conditionally approving AFC operators, OET recognized that “building entry loss (BEL) could be an input to any predictive propagation model to determine permitted power levels for 6 GHz standard-power devices,” the notice said: “OET took no position on whether to permit AFC systems to account for BEL in their calculations. In its Waiver Request, Wi-Fi Alliance seeks flexibility for its AFC system to incorporate BEL attenuation losses when assessing allowable channel availability and power constraints for composite devices that are authorized to operate in both [low-power indoor] and standard power mode.”

Tech companies urged the FCC to ignore an AT&T filing last month to condition approval of 6 GHz automated frequency coordination system applications on compliance with requirements similar to those recently imposed by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) in Canada. “AT&T improperly asks the Commission to reconsider decisions already made in the 6 GHz Order,” the tech companies said: “The Commission should reject AT&T’s inappropriate and untimely effort to seek that relief. AT&T’s new requested ‘conditions’ have no relevance to open issues from [Office Engineering and Technology’s] AFC Conditional Approval Public Notice or the pending testing process. AT&T simply prefers how ISED decided certain issues.” The filing by Apple, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Qualcomm was posted Monday in docket 18-295.

Officials from the Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked about the status of two unlicensed bands, in calls with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. On 5.9 GHz, “we encouraged the Commission to move rapidly to authorize outdoor use at full Part 15 power levels just as soon as NTIA reports that it has resolved any remaining federal agency coordination issues,” the groups said: On 6 GHz “we encouraged rapid resolution of the critical issues in the [Further] NPRM, of which the authorization of Very Low Power devices and higher power for indoor-only use are particularly crucial for consumers and U.S. leadership in innovative next generation Wi-Fi.”

Tech companies met with an aide to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington on a Monte Carlo analysis of the risk of very-low-power (VLP) operations in the 6 GHz band to fixed service incumbents, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295. The analysis was done in San Francisco. Companies at the meeting were Apple, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Qualcomm. They have been making the rounds at the FCC and previously spoke with other commissioner aides (see 2302280076).

A lawyer representing tech companies on proposed changes to 6 GHz rules said analyses offered by the companies on interference to incumbent operations in Houston and San Francisco (see 2302070040 and 2302280076) offer a more appropriate analysis than a recent study by electric utility Evergy (see 2303020077). HWG’s Paul Margie spoke with Ron Repasi, acting chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. Margie represents Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Meta Platforms and Microsoft in the proceeding.

Representatives of the Edison Electric Institute and Evergy met virtually with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology to discuss tests Evergy did last year on potential interference from 6 GHz low-power indoor operations to utility use of the band. The Kansas City-based utility offered a technical explanation of problems uncovered by the tests, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-295. “The participants emphasized that protecting existing 6 GHz networks remains a vital issue for electric companies,” EEI and Evergy said: “These 6 GHz communications networks are particularly necessary for the safety of electric company personnel and to maintain the backbone of electric companies’ operations not only day-to-day, but also, during emergencies and disasters such as ice storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.”

Tech companies met with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a Monte Carlo analysis of the risk of very-low-power (VLP) operations in the 6 GHz band to fixed service incumbents. The analysis was done in San Francisco. “The FCC’s interference analysis for VLP must be based on its inherent variability, lower power, and different use cases,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295: “The Commission found that a static, worst-case analysis was inappropriate for [low-power indoor use]. It is even more inappropriate for VLP. Even in situations where a VLP device is in a position to theoretically exceed a given [interference-to-noise] level, it will only remain in that position for a short time -- even this worst-case situation will be temporary.” The filing was signed by Apple, Broadcom, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Qualcomm and Salt Point Strategies.