Comments are due June 29, replies July 27 in response to the FCC's Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules approved by commissioners 5-0 in April (see 2004230059), says Thursday's Federal Register.

Petitions for reconsideration, and possibly a legal appeal, are expected to the FCC’s 6 GHz order. APCO appears the most likely to file a recon petition and maybe take the agency to court, industry officials said. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said during a Lincoln webinar he expects some to challenge.

An order FCC commissioners approved 5-0 in April (see 2004230059), allocating 1,200 MHz for sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use in 6 GHz, takes effect July 27, said Tuesday's Federal Register.

Ultra-high band spectrum remains a “wild, wonderful and challenging” world, said Ted Rappaport, director-NYU Wireless at New York University School of Engineering, during a National Science Foundation webinar Wednesday. The FCC tapped Rappaport to speak on the importance of spectrum above 95 GHz before a vote last year approving the spectrum horizons order (see 1903150054). Some are looking to spectrum as high as 700 GHz, he said. Commissioners will consider an NPRM on the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands at their June 9 meeting (see 2005190058).

Commissioners will act at their June 9 meeting on CTIA and Wireless Infrastructure Association proposals for more changes to wireless infrastructure rules designed to accelerate siting of towers and other 5G facilities, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday. The move was expected, as is a fight from local and state governments (see 2005110029). Pai will also ask commissioners to approve auction procedures for Phase I of the FCC's 10-year, $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and proposed an NPRM on the use of very high-band spectrum. ATSC 3.0 also is on the agenda (see 2005180066).

The FCC approved 5-0 allowing broadband in 900 MHz, reallocating a 6 MHz swath while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband. Commissioners voted electronically (see 2005130008) before Wednesday's abbreviated virtual meeting, as expected (see 2005070054). Anterix executives said the spectrum could help utilities across the U.S. update operations and move to a smart grid.

Broadcasters, public safety groups and wireless mic makers raised concerns about proposals to allow TV white spaces (TVWS) devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas, in comments on an FCC NPRM. Commissioners approved the notice 5-0 in February (see 2002280055). CTA, public interest groups and Microsoft urged the FCC to approve the proposal. Initial comments were due Monday in docket 20-36.

A slowdown in video customers canceling service might be temporary, resulting from shelter-in-place orders, Charter Communications CEO Tom Rutledge said Friday, announcing Q1 results. He said the company expects residential broadband demand to stay strong, but unemployment and economic issues could be a headwind. Nonpolitical advertising in March was down 18% year over year in large part due to sports cancellations (see 2005010011), Chief Financial Officer Chris Winfrey said. Q2 for advertising “will be challenging,” he said, saying Charter expects ads to pick up when the economy picks up. He said 140,000 customers are in its disconnection protection program, with 65,000 of them carrying past-due balances beyond the point of normal disconnection. He said those numbers are likely to grow in Q2. Charter has 25.47 million residential broadband customers, up 1.45 million; 15.55 million residential video customers, down 400,000; and 9.36 million residential voice customers, down 655,000. In Q1, it lost 70,000 video customers compared with a loss of 152,000 in Q1 2019. Revenue was $11.7 billion, up 4.8%. Rutledge said the FCC's April 6 GHz order (see 2004240011) was "a transformational step for broadband," but it didn't affect what value Charter might see for citizens broadband radio service auction spectrum.

Despite concerns raised by some automakers, highway safety groups and others, the FCC appears likely to move forward before fall on a proposal to open 5.9 GHz channels to sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users, agency and industry officials said in interviews this week. Wi-Fi advocates see the band as transition spectrum, which can be deployed faster than 6 GHz. Both sides filed replies this week on a December NPRM (see 2004280064).

The FCC should consider making permanent temporary spectrum assignments it approved in reaction to COVID-19, and in a way that treats everyone fairly, Commissioner Brendan Carr said during a Forum Europe webinar Tuesday. Carr said U.S. networks are doing well under this “surprise stress test.”