The FCC should forbear from applying Section 214 obligations to broadband internet access service under proposed net neutrality rules, just as it did in the 2015 rules, CTIA told the agency. The FCC need not take that step, as it has suggested (see 2310050063), to safeguard national security, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-320. “The national security purposes the Notice identifies are already met by expert national security agencies that possess the expertise and authority to oversee the entire technology sector and security risks within it,” CTIA said: “The Notice specifically points to the Commission’s revocation of Section 214 authority from certain Chinese telecommunications companies to suggest there are gaps to be filled, but as the record shows those companies did not focus on U.S. mass market services such as BIAS.” If the FCC finds it must not forbear from part of the section, so that it can revoke a provider’s international Section 214 entry authorization, “it should forbear from all other Section 214(a)–(d) authority,” CTIA said.
Rural Wireless Association representatives spoke with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on questions about the proposed 5G Fund. These include speed standards and timing of the challenge process for maps. The FCC released limited details on the proposed $9 billion fund (see 2403260052). “RWA noted its members’ concerns with how certain rule changes could potentially leave legacy high-cost mobile carriers’ 5G investments in their networks stranded if they were unsuccessful in an upcoming auction,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-32. “Given the immense burden that losing legacy high-cost mobile support would put on these mobile carriers, RWA requested that the Commission include language in the to-be-adopted … Order that would allow for an extension of the two-year transition or, alternatively, a waiver of the phase out of legacy support conditioned on continued support being cost-based or determined by the auction reserve price established for the eligible area upon a showing of good cause.”
The Competitive Carriers Association warned of problems with the challenge process for broadband maps as the FCC moves forward on a 5G Fund (see 2403260052). CCA members and staff met with the FCC's Broadband Data Task Force staff. CCA noted that some carrier members “have encountered significant difficulties and failures in submitting bulk challenge data, and others believe mobile maps in their areas are inaccurate but have refrained from participating in the mobile challenge process to date to conserve resources pending more clarity regarding what data will be relevant to 5G Fund eligibility,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-32: One carrier “spent hundreds of hours over five-and-a-half months compiling drive test data that covered 11,000 miles in their footprint.” But due to formatting and technical issues with the submission portal, “the carrier was ultimately unable to submit a challenge.” In addition, CCA said other members, “particularly small carriers, have faced or soon will face similar issues, preventing valuable information from contributing to the maps, especially in rural America.” Among the companies represented were Strata Networks, Nex-Tech Wireless, Appalachian Wireless, GCI and Carolina West.
5G is surging, with 1.76 billion global connections at the end of 2023, up 700 million, or 66%, over 2022, 5G Americas said Thursday. The group forecasts connections will reach 7.9 billion by 2028. North America is leading the way, with 197 million 5G connections at the end of 2023. There are 314 5G deployments worldwide, with 17 in the North American region, 39 in Latin America and the Caribbean. “The wireless telecommunications industry witnessed a year of unprecedented growth and innovation, propelled by the unstoppable momentum of 5G technology,” 5G Americas said.
The U.S. table of frequency allocations can differ from the international table because of variations in U.S. rules, FCC Office of Engineering and Technology officials explained during an FCBA lunch Thursday. Attendees heard from Nicholas Oro, deputy chief of the Policy and Rules Division, and Jamie Coleman, chief of the Spectrum Policy Branch. The U.S. doesn’t adopt all the allocations in the international table and may adopt additional allocations, Oro said. Most parts of the table match, he said. Oro noted as one example the supplemental coverage from space (SCS) framework that commissioners approved two weeks ago (see [2403150045). In each of the bands affected, across the 600-700 MHz frequency range, the U.S. table now shows a secondary mobile service allocation, he said. That allocation isn’t included in the international table. “This is kind of the case of the U.S. getting out ahead of the international community,” Oro said. Another example is 6 GHz, where the international table has an allocation for mobile communications but the U.S. table doesn't, he said. Changes to the U.S. table often come through NTIA or as a result of actions during a World Radiocommunication Conference, Oro said. In addition, changes are made as a result of commission orders, he said. All changes require that the FCC seek public comment. NTIA has its own rulebook, the “Manual of Regulations for Federal RF Spectrum Management” or “Redbook,” which applies to federal agencies. Making changes doesn’t require a rulemaking process, Oro said. Coleman said her team at OET is largely responsible for managing the frequency table, ensuring updates are made, checking footnotes and issuing Federal Register updates when needed. “It’s a lot of work,” she said. Her office also works with other parts of the commission “to make sure that we’re properly analyzing … revisions and their impact on other areas of the spectrum.”
Those urging the FCC to update its approach to net neutrality rules to address issues concerning emerging services like network slicing spoke with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, as they make the rounds at the agency (see 2403250018). “Clarify when providing a different type of service to applications evades the Open Internet protections,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 23-320. The advocates said the rules should apply unless “the particular type of application requires a specific level of quality of service, which is objectively necessary for the specific type of application,” which “cannot be met over a well-provisioned broadband Internet access service in compliance with the Open Internet protections.”
The National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council are concerned about an FCC proposal that expands parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low power (VLP) devices can operate (see 2310190054). Comments were posted on Wednesday in docket 18-295. The FCC has “recognized the public interest need to protect important radio astronomy and remote sensing observations at 6 GHz” and shouldn’t “undercut the protections already enacted in this proceeding,” CORF said. The 6650-6675.2 MHz band is important “for observations of methanol that play a critical role in research into star formation, astrochemistry, and precision astrometry,” the committee said. Frequencies between 6425 and 7250 MHz are used for passive microwave measurements, with 6425-7075 for ocean remote sensing, CORF said: “Observations at these frequencies are an essential component for both weather prediction and observing climate change.” NPSTC counseled against further liberalizing the rules for the 6 GHz band. “Public safety, critical infrastructure, commercial wireless and broadcast entities rely on this spectrum to support licensed microwave links for their respective operations,” the group said. It's clear from decisions made so far that the commission “has no intention of reversing course in this proceeding,” NPSTC said. If that’s the case “it is imperative that 6 GHz licensees have a viable mechanism to report and expeditiously resolve any 6 GHz harmful interference to critical microwave links that occurs.” The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) said studies show that unlicensed wideband VLP devices can operate at 14 dBm with a power spectral density of 1 dBm/MHz “without causing harmful interference into incumbent services, and that narrowband VLP devices will provide even greater margin.” The SIG has made a push for Bluetooth devices to be allowed to use 6 GHz spectrum (see [Ref2310270027]). “Bluetooth is an essential unlicensed technology that requires additional spectrum to support the volume growth of existing product categories and to support the technological expansion of important Bluetooth products,” the SIG said. The Wireless Innovation Forum told the FCC it’s “eager” to “support the development of geofencing systems,” one of the FCC’s proposals for protecting 6 GHz incumbents. The group said it could develop “specifications for data systems including any needed enhancements” and work on “propagation models to accommodate possible VLP mobility” and addressing “mobility in spectrum availability determinations.”
Choice Broadband and provider Tarana launched a fixed wireless broadband network in Tohatchi, New Mexico, a Wednesday news release said. Navajo Tribal Utility Authority is majority owner of Choice Broadband. “This is the first of many upgraded networks that will equip residents and businesses of Navajo Nation, the largest indigenous tribe in the United States, with reliable, high-speed internet,” the release said. In Tohatchi, “rocky terrain and significant distances between homes make trenching fiber for broadband access extremely costly.”
The Edison Electric Institute and other groups representing incumbent users of the 6 GHz band asked the FCC to delegate the Wireless Innovation Forum or another inter-industry body to develop “standardized implementations” for automated frequency coordination system propagation models. The groups said they appreciate “that the AFCs are collaborating to develop a single interference reporting process rather than each developing its own -- or not having a defined process at all.” But collaboration shouldn’t mean just AFCs, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-352: “It should include representatives of the incumbents whose systems are entitled to interference protection under FCC rules.” Also signing the filing were the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Utilities Technology Council.
The Information Technology Industry Council called on the FCC to expand parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low power (VLP) devices can operate beyond the 850 MHz of the band in which commissioners voted last year to allow operations (see 2310190054). Comments are due Wednesday on a Further NPRM that the commissioners also approved last year. “The Commission’s decision to authorize VLP operations provides innovators with an important new capability to provide very high-speed connections for some of the most advanced applications, such as augmented and virtual reality, that will help businesses, enhance learning opportunities, advance healthcare opportunities, and bring new entertainment experiences,” the group said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-295.