Utilities Technology Council President Sheryl Osiene-Riggs and others from the group said, “Utilities need access to interference-free spectrum with sufficient capacity and coverage for reliable private internal communications to address a variety of new and increasing demands and challenges,” in a meeting with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-295. They said: “At the same time, they need access to funding to accelerate broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. They also need to be able to protect their communications networks and ensure the reliability and integrity of their infrastructure as well as the safety of their personnel and their operations, particularly during emergency response.” UTC repeated concerns about Wi-Fi interference in the 6 GHz band.

Federated Wireless answered questions from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on its bid to be an automated frequency coordination system operator in the 6 GHz band, but asked that many of the details be given confidential treatment, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-352. Federated said its proposed system is similar to one it operates in the citizens broadband radio service band. “The confidential information details the functioning of the Federated Wireless AFC in the 6 GHz Band, and Federated Wireless and other AFC operators will compete vigorously on the basis of the services provided through these products,” the company said.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has moved more slowly on wireless issues than expected since being confirmed to another term as a commissioner and designated last year as permanent chairwoman. On Wednesday, the FCC acted on the next steps on a 2.5 GHz auction. But other wireless items haven’t advanced as quickly as some hoped.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s December decision upholding the FCC’s 6 GHz order firms up the agency’s authority as “the expert agency” on spectrum, said FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks during the Fierce Wireless virtual Wi-Fi summit Monday. Other speakers said use of 6 GHz is growing and will be critical to better Wi-Fi.

Private wireless revenue last year was “slightly weaker” than projected, leading to a downward outlook revision, Dell’Oro Group said Friday. “The markdown is more driven by the challenges of converting these initial trials to commercial deployments than a sign that demand is subsiding,” said Vice President Stefan Pongratz. “Indicators suggest private wireless activity is firming up.” Private wireless radio access network revenue, including macro and small cells, is still likely to double 2021-26, with LTE dominating the market and 5G gaining share, Dell’Oro said. “The successful launch of private 5G services by suppliers with strong enterprise channels could accelerate the private 5G market at a faster pace than expected,” the firm said: “5G awareness is improving but it will take some time for enterprises to fully understand the value of private LTE/5G.” Dell’Oro said in a second report that Wi-Fi 6E, which uses 6 GHz, is growing more slowly than expected. “Although manufacturers launched Wi-Fi 6E products in mid-2021, products are either not available, or they are in very limited supply,” Dell’Oro said: “Supply constraints have prompted manufacturers to focus on enabling the availability of popular models by re-designing these models with components that are more readily available.”

Wireless issues top APCO's 2022 regulatory priorities, the group posted Thursday. Improving location accuracy for wireless calls to 911 leads the list, followed by protecting public safety use of the 6 GHz band and revising rules for 4.9 GHz, said Chief Counsel Jeff Cohen. Securing “major federal funding to implement Next Generation 9-1-1 nationwide” topped legislative priorities.

Judges appeared sympathetic to the FCC Tuesday during oral argument on whether the agency overstepped in reallocating the 5.9 GHz band, with the lawyer for ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials facing tough questions from a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The FCC’s 2020 5.9 GHz order allocated 45 MHz of the band for Wi-Fi and 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology.

The Wi-Fi Alliance asked an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for quick action on a limited remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit of one part of the agency’s 6 GHz order (see 2112280047). The court instructed the FCC to address NAB concerns about interference in the 2.4 GHz band. The FCC should “respond to the 6 GHz Court Order by explaining that the underlying premise of the NAB’s assertion -- that contention-based protocols failed to protect licensed users in 2.4 GHz band -- simply lacks any merit because its claims are unsupported and the contention-based protocol requirement that it asserts failed to protect [electronic newsgathering] operations at 2.4 GHz does not exist,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. The alliance earlier spoke with staff from the Office of General Counsel and Office of Engineering and Technology.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s decision on 5.9 GHz may not be as straightforward as its ruling on 6 GHz, because the court will have to grapple with a novel issue -- whether the FCC ignored the Transportation Equity Act and the Department of Transportation’s role in encouraging intelligent transportation systems when it reallocated the band, experts said. The FCC’s 2020 5.9 GHz order allocated 45 MHz of the band for Wi-Fi and 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology.

The Wi-Fi Alliance asked the FCC to quickly act on a limited remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit of one part of the agency’s 6 GHz order (see 2112280047), in calls with FCC Office of General Counsel and Office of Engineering and Technology staff. The court instructed the FCC to address NAB concerns about interference in the 2.4 GHz band. Despite the court’s “strong affirmation of the 6 GHz Report and Order, the limited remand creates regulatory uncertainty in the market for unlicensed deployments in the 6 GHz spectrum,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295: “That uncertainty may impede introduction of low-cost wireless connectivity solutions, frustrating the Commission’s intentions and harming American consumers.” The remand can be easily addressed by noting “that the use of a contention-based protocol is not required in the 2.4 GHz band, unlike the rules adopted in the 6 GHz” order, the group said.