Tango Networks, a wireless provider with operations in the U.S. and other nations, urged that the FCC take an aggressive approach on handset unlocking requirements proposed in an NPRM. The NPRM is set for a vote on Thursday (see 2406270068). Applying proposed changes to existing contracts “would provide immediate benefit" for consumers "with little impact to the service providers holding those contracts,” Tango said in a filing last week in docket 24-186. Service providers in other countries and Verizon Wireless “have proven that long term device locking is not required to prevent fraud.” Tango also said increasing the number of unlocked devices on the secondary market “would enable businesses to provide mobile service to a greater number of their employees.” Tango noted it also has operations in other countries in North America and Europe.
Global smartphone shipments increased 6.5% year over year to 285.4 million units in Q2, IDC said Monday. While that marks the fourth consecutive quarter of shipment growth “and builds the momentum towards the expected recovery this year, demand has yet to come around in full and remains challenged in many markets,” IDC said. Samsung led with an 18.9% market share, down from 20% a year ago. Apple was second at 15.8%, down from 16.6%. China’s Xiaomi was third at 14.8%, up from 12.4% a year ago. Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team, noted that prices are increasing, as is buzz about generative AI smartphones. “As Apple and Samsung both continue to push the top of the market and benefit the most from the ongoing premiumization trend, many leading Chinese [manufacturers] are increasing shipments in the low end in an attempt to capture volume share amidst weak demand,” Popal said.
Peter Adderton, CEO of MobileX and founder of Boost Mobile, urged the FCC to move forward on its draft handset unlocking NPRM set for a commissioner vote on Thursday (see 2406270068). “Locked phones create significant challenges and confusion for consumers, hindering their ability to switch carriers and access better deals,” a filing posted Friday in docket 24-186 said. The practice “disproportionately affects some of our most financially vulnerable citizens, who may already be struggling to manage their mobile expenses,” Adderton said.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, who earlier met with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to oppose giving FirstNet and AT&T control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2407010041), discussed the band with Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Vestberg repeated arguments that the FCC shouldn’t provide AT&T free access to mid-band spectrum valued at more than $14 billion. “If the Commission chooses to make the 4.9 GHz band available for public safety and commercial wireless use, it must assign this spectrum through an appropriate competitive process (e.g., auction, bidding process, etc.) rather than gifting the spectrum to one commercial provider,” said a filing Thursday in docket 07-100. AT&T didn’t comment. The filing doesn’t clarify how Verizon arrived at the $14 billion figure.
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Open Technology Institute at New America asked the FCC to expand its draft order allowing schools and libraries to use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services to include partnerships with nontraditional providers (see 2406270068). The draft order “would only provide subsidy for traditional, commercially available hotspots and services, which could skew the market and prevent schools and libraries from considering lower-priced and higher quality options,” the groups said: They asked the commission to consider allowing support for alternative services and devices, including anchor-enabled networks, “outside of those offered by traditional mobile carriers.” The groups met with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Anna Gomez, and Wireline Bureau staff, a filing posted Friday in docket 21-31 said. The Wireless ISP Association, meanwhile, met with aides to Starks and Gomez on whether the FCC has legal authority to adopt the order. With those meetings, the group has now met with aides to all five commissioners (see 2407100028).
Google is asking for a waiver of FCC rules requiring environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference in Texas markets that Hurricane Beryl affected. The FCC last week approved a similar waiver for Federated Wireless (see 2407080030). Google sought the waiver Friday in a filing in docket 15-319.
AT&T responded to NCTA after the group Wednesday joined the fray on the 4.9 GHz band, saying FirstNet and by extension AT&T shouldn't gain control of it (see 2407100020). “This is a public safety issue, not an industry issue,” a spokesperson emailed. “Contrary the filing, we support public safety and join major public safety groups … in supporting FCC action to preserve this spectrum for public safety and meet the critical and evolving future communication needs of first responders.” AT&T noted the support of the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its position, “among many others.”
CTIA wants the FCC to make several tweaks to the draft order and Further NPRM that let schools and libraries use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services (see 2406270068). The item is set for a commissioner vote July 18. The FCC should consider increasing the $15 funding cap for services and $90 for hot spots, a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-31 said: “The Draft Order indicates that these values represent median costs, meaning that fully half of the costs in the sample were above these levels. Using median costs as funding caps could unduly restrict the range of offerings available to schools and libraries.” The requirement to monitor usage should rest with applicants, not providers, CTIA said. In addition, the FCC should consider removing the limitation on devices with ethernet ports, the group said. “This limitation is not necessary to ensure appropriate use of the funding and the Draft Order offers no explanation for its inclusion.”
Mint Mobile customers now get unlimited talk, text and 3GB of high-speed data per month when they roam in Canada, parent T-Mobile said Thursday. Mint subscribers already enjoy free calling in Mexico and the U.K. “Roam like a Canadian, but without the Canada-sized bill,” T-Mobile said.
The Wireless ISP Association said the FCC should stick with revised rules for the 4.9 GHz band, allowing nonpublic safety use of the spectrum on a secondary basis (see 2301180062). The commission “correctly held” that a band manager model “would ensure that public safety operations are fully protected, while promoting spectrum efficiency, fostering innovation, and reducing equipment costs,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 07-100 said. WISPA noted that the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance has urged the FCC to change the rules: “PSSA is incorrect that secondary, non-public safety access on a preemptible basis would complicate the Band Manager’s ability to fulfill its frequency coordination and band management responsibilities,” WISPA said.