Not all sub-1 GHz spectrum is equal or superior to spectrum in higher bands, AT&T said in a filing posted by the FCC, answering Wireless Bureau questions on AT&T’s proposed buy of spectrum from Club 42 CM Limited Partnership. Much of the response was redacted. But AT&T did not redact details it offered on the difference between sub-1 GHz spectrum bands. AT&T argued that the lower 700 MHz D and E blocks have limitations that mean they shouldn’t be counted with other low-band spectrum as the FCC does a competitive analysis. “These blocks currently can only be used in conjunction with spectrum above 1 GHz, rendering moot many of the ‘inherent benefits’ of spectrum below 1 GHz,” AT&T said. The blocks are also subject to “unique technical limitations,” the carrier said. Pairing the lower 700 MHz B or C blocks with the lower 700 MHz D or E blocks “would create an unacceptable level of self-interference within a device supporting both blocks,” AT&T said. “Such self-interference occurs because these blocks are directly adjacent, and there is not enough frequency separation to mitigate interference.” AT&T has to do substantial work on its towers just to “combat this interference and, in a significant number of cases, even that is ineffective and power must be substantially reduced -- by approximately 6-9 dB -- to limit the impact on B Block operations,” AT&T said. The filing was made in docket 14-145.

Spectrum allocations above 24 GHz that the FCC has identified for possible wireless use “present an important opportunity to open large contiguous blocks of spectrum,” but the commission also should continue to examine bands below 24 GHz since those are the bands where 5G services “are expected to emerge first,” AT&T said in a filing posted Friday. Most other industry stakeholders also encouraged the FCC in separate filings to proceed with caution on rulemakings for spectrum above 24 GHz. The FCC, in an Oct. 17 notice of inquiry, identified six sets of bands above 24 GHz for possible wireless use: the local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) bands, the 39 GHz band, the 37/42 GHz bands, the 57-64 GHz and 64-71 GHz bands, the 71-76 GHz bands, the 81-86 GHz bands and the 24/25 GHz bands. Reply comments on the NOI were due Feb. 17.

A draft order on establishing air-ground (ATG) mobile broadband service for aircraft passengers in the 14.0 to 14.5 GHz band was removed from circulation Feb. 6 amid national security concerns, FCC officials said. It was circulated Jan. 23, according to the agency's public list of circulated items. The Association of Flight Attendants raised concerns in a Feb. 5 comment in docket 13-114 that the system could increase the risk of terrorism and cyberwarfare (see 1502060034). Federal law enforcement also raised concerns.

The FCC is moving toward final rules for spectrum sharing in the 3.5 GHz band and they should be out shortly, Preston Marshall, Google principal wireless architect, said Thursday at a spectrum conference. Marshall said exclusion zones, proposed to protect Navy operations in the band, shouldn't be an impediment.

Google expressed enthusiasm about the future of spectrum above 24 GHz, especially for unlicensed use and experimentation. Carriers were more circumspect, saying it likely will be of only limited use and not a substitute for lower band spectrum because of its propagation characteristics. But fights loom over the extent to which the spectrum should be made available on an unlicensed basis or licensed for commercial use as favored by carriers. At its October meeting the FCC approved a notice of inquiry on new technology developments that could increase the viability of operations above 24 GHz (see 1410170048) . Comments were posted by the FCC Thursday and Friday.

The Satellite Industry Association requested a 30-day deadline extension for comments in a proceeding on the annual Satellite Competition Report. SIA and its member companies are working on several pending proceedings, including items on Part 25 rules changes, use of spectrum bands above 24 GHz and the development of commission positions for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference, it said in a filing in docket 14-229. The report comment cycle overlaps with the comment cycles of the three major proceedings, it said. SIA would like the deadline for initial comments to be Feb. 6, and for replies, Feb. 23, it said.

The FCC established a pleading cycle Thursday on AT&T’s proposed buy of two lower 700 MHz C block licenses in the Hubbard, Minnesota, cellular market area from Consolidated Telephone Co. “Our preliminary review indicates that, as a result of the proposed transaction, AT&T would acquire 12 MHz of Lower 700 MHz C Block spectrum in this CMA,” the FCC said. It said that post-transaction, AT&T would hold 135 MHz of spectrum in the CMA, including 55 MHz of spectrum below-1-GHz. Petitions to deny are due Jan. 20; oppositions Jan. 30; replies Feb. 6.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the FCC will take up orders at its Oct. 17 meeting on speeding deployment of distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells, an order on avoiding interservice interference, and a public notice that would suspend low-power TV construction permit deadlines in the auction. The agency also will launch a rulemaking on LPTV issues related to the incentive auction and a notice of inquiry looking at new spectrum frontiers -- the use of spectrum above 24 GHz, the subject of a speech Monday by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (CD Sept 23 p4). The LPTV and auction items had been expected (CD Sept 9 p4).

The FCC Wireless Bureau seeks comment on an AT&T petition asking for a rulemaking to amend FCC rules for the C and D blocks of the Wireless Communications Services. AT&T sought revision to the construction requirement, power limits and out-of-band emission limits rules for the 2.3 GHz spectrum, and proposed a new coordination rule to protect adjacent Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) spectrum from harmful interference (http://bit.ly/1sDuvMr). Comments are due Sept. 22 and replies, Oct. 6, a public notice released by the bureau Thursday said (http://bit.ly/1tpXaT5).

The FCC International Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology allowed EchoStar to modify its license for the EchoStar 6 satellite. The satellite can operate at 96.2 degrees west, and use the 12.2-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency bands, the offices said Tuesday in an order (http://bit.ly/VgGNvJ). They also granted related applications for modification of three EchoStar licenses for earth stations used for technical support of EchoStar 6 operations, the order said. Granting the modifications will serve the public interest by facilitating possible development of new services to the Atlantic Ocean region, it said.