The FCC’s final order on letter of credit (LOC) rules for providers receiving high-cost USF support saw one major change from the draft version. Commissioners approved the order 5-0, with language added at the request of Commissioner Anna Gomez (see 2412110050), addressing tribal issues. The final version notes that “making wholesale changes to our rules in the middle of an ongoing program would be unnecessary and could create confusion for support recipients,” the same as the draft. But the final version added a sentence: “Given the difficulties some Tribal carriers have collateralizing assets to support a LOC, however, we will consider waiving the relevant LOC requirements on an individual basis consistent with the Commission’s waiver standard, and we do not foreclose examining in future support programs whether Tribal carriers should be permitted to rely on alternatives to LOCs.” The FCC on Friday posted the final version of the LOC changes. It includes a statement by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The agency also posted the final version of an order that expands the parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low-power (VLP) devices are permitted to operate without coordination. That order was also approved 5-0 with no changes of note (see 2412110040). Only Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks issued written statements. That order was also posted on Friday.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appears intent on closing several outstanding wireless issues in her final weeks at the helm, but industry experts said it appears unlikely she will tackle controversial items or launch anything. That approach differs from the way former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai conducted business at the end of the first Donald Trump presidency.

FCC commissioners, as expected, approved unanimously (see 2412090047) an order that expands the parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low-power (VLP) devices are permitted to operate without coordination. In addition, commissioners Wednesday approved 5-0 an NPRM proposing updates for broadcast radio and TV rules. The open meeting was the penultimate with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel at the helm.

FCC commissioners appear likely to approve, with few changes, a draft order that would expand parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low-power (VLP) devices are permitted to operate without coordination. One wrinkle, industry officials said, is that Commissioner Nathan Simington appears sympathetic to concerns NAB raised earlier. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the order at their open meeting Wednesday.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology conditionally approved Axon Networks’ plan to operate an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system to manage access to the 6 GHz band by standard-power unlicensed devices. In February, OET approved the applications of seven AFC providers (see 2402230050) and in July, conditionally approved C3Spectra's application. Axon “has sufficiently demonstrated that it has the technical capability and knowledge to operate an AFC system and may now move to the testing phase of the AFC system approval process,” said an order posted last week in docket 21-352.

AT&T and CTIA urged that the FCC rethink citizens broadband radio service rules and questioned the band's success, filing reply comments to an August NPRM (see 2411070032). But most commenters said the FCC should only tweak the band. CBRS advocates largely defended the model as a sharing success story. Interest in the proceeding was strong, with more than two dozen reply comments posted as of Friday.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Thursday approved Extreme Networks’ request for a waiver of rules for low-power indoor (LPI) devices for 6 GHz access points (APs), to be installed exclusively in indoor sports venues. Extreme plans to use weatherized enclosures, which FCC rules prohibit. Extreme noted the APs will be installed under seats "where they are susceptible to being stepped on, kicked, and having food and drinks spilled on them." The waiver request proved controversial when the FCC took comment last year (see 2310170045). OET noted the “skyrocketing demand for data” at sporting venues. “Extreme’s access points will enable expanded Wi-Fi coverage at indoor sports venues, thereby providing fans access to full capacity, low latency, and high-quality Wi-Fi networks,” the order said. But to protect other 6 GHz users from harmful interference, OET also imposed conditions on the waiver. Among them is a requirement "that Extreme be responsible for manufacturing, distribution, and sales of the access points and ship these access points directly to the relevant venue,” OET said: “This waiver would not permit operations in any outdoor locations, such as the stands of the stadium with a retractable roof or any outdoor areas associated with an indoor stadium.” The waiver is also limited to professional teams' indoor stadiums and arenas or those with a seating capacity of more than 3,000 persons.

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved on Thursday a waiver sought by the Wi-Fi Alliance allowing automated frequency coordination systems in the 6 GHz band to take building entry loss (BEL) into account for “composite” standard-power and low-power devices that are restricted to operating indoors. The FCC sought comment on the waiver request last year (see 2304060049). OET noted that it now has four waiver requests before it that are seeking the change. Allowing AFC systems “to consider BEL when determining channel availability will increase the operating power of the composite … access points when appropriate, thereby increasing their utility to consumers,” OET said: “The greater operating power will enable the access points to provide increased indoor coverage and/or provide higher data rates,” which “will expand the use of the 6 GHz band, thereby furthering the Commission’s goal of encouraging more efficient spectrum use.” OET is limiting the BEL AFC systems may use in their calculations “such that the risk of harmful interference occurring is not increased compared to operation under the Commission’s current rules,” the order said.

The FCC order allowing use of 17.3-17.7 GHz downlinks by non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service satellites is effective Jan. 6, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the order 5-0 in September (see 2409270059).

ABI Research said the FCC should allocate more spectrum, including in the 7 GHz band, for Wi-Fi, and noted strong growth in use of the 6 GHz band reallocated for unlicensed use in 2020. Wi-Fi carries 82%-89% of mobile data traffic, said the report, released Tuesday: “Wi-Fi also supports a rapidly increasing volume and diversity of connected devices, and manages traffic from a more densely-arrayed set of devices.” ABI predicted that 6-GHz-enabled consumer devices shipped to North America will grow from 95 million today to an estimated 367 million in 2029. “Wi-Fi needs multiple 320 Megahertz channels to support the growing number of devices and high-performance applications, particularly in dense networking environments,” the report said. WifiForward said Wednesday that the report augments “a growing body of evidence highlighting an urgent need for more unlicensed spectrum.” It added, “The unlicensed spectrum of today will not be able to handle what consumers expect for the future: more devices that are more data intensive.”