An FCC rule requiring mobile service providers to "block texts purporting to be from" North American numbering plan numbers on a reasonable do not originate list that includes "numbers that purport to be from invalid, unallocated, or unused numbers" takes effect Sept. 3, said a public notice Wednesday in docket 02-278. Commissioners adopted the item in March 2023 (see 2303170056).
Representatives of both companies met virtually with FCC staff on T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of Mint Mobile (see 2303150032), a low-cost prepaid wireless brand, and other assets from Ka’ena. T-Mobile “provided an overview” of its “internal processes and business policies, including with respect to customer information and data management,” said a filing Tuesday in docket 23-171. The companies “emphasized that the applications have now been pending for eleven months, that no filings opposing the applications were submitted during the comment period, and that Team Telecom carefully reviewed the Applicants and the proposed transaction and filed its no-objection letter with the Commission over two months ago.” The filing references a presentation made at the meeting, which was redacted. Team Telecom refers to the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector.
A January FCC order requiring that carriers implement location-based routing (LBR) for calls and real-time texts to 911 is effective May 13, a notice in Wednesday’s Federal Register said. Under the January order, compliance is required within six months of when the rules become effective for nationwide providers and 24 months for small providers. A follow-up notice will announce compliance dates. The order was approved 5-0 (see 2401250044). “Wireless 911 calls have historically been routed to [public safety answering points] based on the location of the cell tower that handles the call,” the notice said: “Sometimes, however, the 911 call is routed to the wrong PSAP because the cell tower is not in the same jurisdiction as the 911 caller.”
T-Mobile representatives spoke with aides to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about the company’s argument that “specialized services” like slicing should be excluded from net neutrality rules (see 2402260058). Among other suggestions, T-Mobile said the agency should ground “reasonable network management on objective rather than subjective, intent-based standards” and preempt state regulation “to avoid a patchwork of compliance obligations.” The filing was made in docket 23-320.
Panasonic supported a 5G Automotive Association petition (see 2106030075) asking the FCC to reduce by 20 dB the permitted level of unwanted emissions from the unlicensed services that share the 5.9 GHz band. Panasonic noted it was among the first granted a waiver for early cellular vehicle-to-everything deployments. “Unwanted emissions levels that the FCC adopted for unlicensed services that neighbor C-V2X in the 5.9 GHz spectrum band place the benefits of C-V2X at risk by subjecting the technology to harmful interference,” said a filing Monday in docket 19-138.
Replies to a December FCC NPRM on implementing a 100% hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) requirement for wireless handset models largely tracked initial comments (see 2402270066). Replies were posted this week in docket 23-388. The Mobile & Wireless Forum called on the FCC to adopt the HAC Task Force’s recommendations contained in a December 2022 report (see 2212160063). “The work of the Task Force -- which was operating at the behest of the FCC -- reflects the hard-fought consensus reached among the stakeholders and should be respected,” the forum said: “FCC should adhere to the consensus reached by the Task Force wherever possible.” CTIA saw broad agreement in support of the task force report. The record confirms the importance of including “modern and mainstream Bluetooth technology as part of the deployment benchmarks to achieve 100% HAC,” CTIA said. Commenters also agree that “consistent with past practice and to prevent consumer confusion” the FCC should “grandfather handsets previously tested and certified to a HAC standard.” Following "hundreds of hours of tests, surveys, and discussion,” the task force report “represents the best and smoothest [path] towards achieving a universal goal: providing the best technologies and choice to those experiencing hearing loss,” said the Competitive Carriers Association. Current recommendations are “the result of broad stakeholder consensus and are consistent with the Commission’s goals and the public interest,” CCA said. The record confirms the importance of using digital labeling technology, “rather than printed labels and paper inserts,” to provide access to HAC information, said CTA. It encouraged the FCC to promote competition, “rather than adopting a top-down regulatory approach for Bluetooth-connected hearing aids, as suggested by some.” In addition, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group supported adoption of the report's recommendations. There is no indication that the task force’s consensus recommendations “will directly impact or burden the consumer while seeking to achieve 100% HAC,” the group said. “Nearly 100% of all mobile phones, tablets, and PCs currently support some form of Bluetooth technology coupling for audio-related peripherals.”
Verizon supports the FCC’s approach in the draft supplemental coverage from space (SCS) licensing framework, expected to be approved at the commission's open meeting Thursday, but opposes advocacy from SpaceX and T-Mobile (see 2403080059), said a filing posted Monday in docket 23-65. Verizon said it “expressed concern with recent requests for the FCC to relax the -120 dBW/m²/MHz aggregate out-of-band emissions power flux density limit in the Draft SCS Order or defer consideration of aggregate OOBE to a future proceeding.” Verizon spoke with staff from the Wireless and Space bureaus and Office of Engineering and Technology.
The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comments, due April 10, on requests from subsidiaries of utility company Exelon for a waiver of rules to grant two additional 800 MHz channel pairs allowing use of mobile-to-mobile communications on the subsidiaries’ 800 MHz land mobile radio systems. Replies are due April 25, said a Monday notice. The subsidiaries “assert that the mobile-to-mobile communications would be utilized at the same power levels currently permitted for mobile units to ensure there is no increased risk of ‘interference to adjacent channel licensees or co-channel licensees,’” the bureau said.
The FCC Wireless Bureau, at the request of the DOD, deleted the Norfolk, Virginia, cooperative planning area (CPA) and periodic use area (PUA) from the list of areas to be protected under 3.45 GHz rules and combined them with the larger Newport News, Virginia, CPA/PUA. The bureau said the combined entity was renamed the Newport News-Norfolk CPA/PUA, said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest.
The FCC Wireless Bureau cleared Trace-Tek’s application to provide contraband interdiction system services in correctional facilities. The bureau noted it sought comment on the application and none was filed (see 401120041). The company may now begin phase two on-site testing of its system at individual correctional facilities, a notice posted Tuesday in docket 13-111 said.