The FCC 2.5 GHz tribal priority window closed Wednesday as scheduled with more than 400 applications, the agency said Thursday. It has been under pressure to extend by six months the window, which opened Feb. 3, but granted only a 30-day extension. As of July 31, the FCC said 229 applications had been submitted, with 55 more in the pipeline. “Tribes showed tremendous interest in the 2.5 GHz band over the past several months, and I am pleased by the large number of applications the Commission has received,” said Chairman Ajit Pai: “We are now a step closer to enabling Tribal entities to obtain this spectrum for free and quickly put it to use to bring service to rural Tribal lands.” Public Knowledge urged the FCC to open a new window. “For Tribes, closing the window before the end of the pandemic is a slap in the face that will prevent their communities from accessing the vital connections they need to engage in daily life,” PK said.

Verizon appears to be girding for a fight with T-Mobile over whether its spectrum holdings should preclude the “uncarrier” from bidding in the C-band auction, which starts Dec. 8, industry officials said. Verizon would flip the script on T-Mobile, which lobbied against Verizon and AT&T holdings seeking preferential treatment for competitors in the TV incentive auction (see 1408130047).

Washington, D.C., apparently incorrectly dispatched emergency medical services several times in as many days, according to our analysis of walkie-talkie radio traffic. We listened to three such incidents from this and last week. For more, see here, here and here, including the radio transmissions marked with a star. That's on top of many other such shortcomings observed in recent months.

Utilities remain worried about the pending rollout of Wi-Fi and other unlicensed in the 6 GHz band and worry about the difficulty of getting a handle on interference, executives said Monday during a Utilities Technology Council virtual conference. The FCC approved unlicensed use of the band in April with further changes expected (see 2008200040).

Utilities remain worried about the pending rollout of Wi-Fi and other unlicensed in the 6 GHz band and worry about the difficulty of getting a handle on interference, executives said Monday during a Utilities Technology Council virtual conference. The FCC approved unlicensed use of the band in April with further changes expected (see 2008200040).

The Land Mobile Communications Council sought “expedited FCC action” to address alleged harmful interference from newly authorized DTV stations to Part 90 private land mobile radio (PLMR) systems. “This interference has rendered affected PLMR facilities entirely unusable in certain markets, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of lost revenue as customers of commercial systems are forced to search for alternative communication options and incurred expenses as licensees have sought remedial action by the broadcasters and/or acquired other spectrum to which their operations could be moved,” said a Friday filing by the group. “The interference with what had been reliable communications endangers the safety of employees, disrupts operations at affected facilities, and poses a major threat to public safety in certain instances,” the council said: “The urgency of the problems demand FCC action to enforce those regulations and policies as promptly as possible and to avoid the creation of similar problems in the future.” The filing cites incidents in major markets from New York to Los Angeles, mostly focused on co-channel interference in the T-band, which is considered the most difficult problem to solve. Enterprise Wireless Alliance President Mark Crosby said in a statement. “Some EWA members are so frustrated that they wonder if the reaction of a few TV stations might be ‘There is nothing we can do; the environment is the root cause; we didn’t want to move in the first place; or, maybe the PLMR incumbents will go away in time and leave us alone,’” he said: “These are unacceptable responses as the PLMR industry is as vital to the well-being of this country as are broadcasters, even if not as well known. The LMCC seeks only a fair hearing and the FCC’s active support towards a resolution.” Fletcher Heald’s Peter Tannenwald told us he has been in the thick of one of the fights for a low-power station. “It is very difficult to determine what the actual facts are, partly because the land mobile people seem to want to be at war, in the sense that they want complete victory more than a compromise resolution, and partly because field observation that you really need to pin down the problem is nearly impossible during the pandemic,” Tannenwald said: “The FCC doesn’t make things any easier, because it talks to both sides ex parte, through different bureaus. Then the Wireless and Media bureaus talk, and we don’t know what goes on between them.” NAB is reviewing the filing, a spokesperson said.

The FCC is likely to issue an NPRM on spectrum in the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft system operations in coming months, but rules will have to wait until next year, industry lawyers told us Friday. Drones have been a White House focus, which could help get the FCC to act. An FCC report to Congress said the “unencumbered” 5030-5091 MHz band is likely suitable for UAS operations, but the 960-1164 MHz band isn’t. Last year, the FCC took comment on the possible use of both bands by drones (see 1912270039).

The FCC is likely to issue an NPRM on spectrum in the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft system operations in coming months, but rules will have to wait until next year, industry lawyers told us Friday. Drones have been a White House focus, which could help get the FCC to act. An FCC report to Congress said the “unencumbered” 5030-5091 MHz band is likely suitable for UAS operations, but the 960-1164 MHz band isn’t. Last year, the FCC took comment on the possible use of both bands by drones (see 1912270039).

The FCC is likely to issue an NPRM on spectrum in the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft system operations in coming months, but rules will have to wait until next year, industry lawyers told us Friday. Drones have been a White House focus, which could help get the FCC to act. An FCC report to Congress said the “unencumbered” 5030-5091 MHz band is likely suitable for UAS operations, but the 960-1164 MHz band isn’t. Last year, the FCC took comment on the possible use of both bands by drones (see 1912270039).

Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, explained the group’s push for prompt action on the 5.9 GHz band (see 2008210044) in calls with an aide to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-138. “Reallocating all 75 megahertz of the unused 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use and authorizing [vehicle-to-everything] in a new public safety band, particularly the 4.9 GHz band, can achieve the optimal win-win for consumers and the U.S. economy,” Calabrese said. 5G Automotive Association representatives emphasized in a call with a Pai aide the growing use of cellular V2X. Ford “plans to deploy C-V2X Direct throughout its vehicle fleet pending favorable Commission action in this proceeding, and many other automakers, including Fiat Chrysler, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Tesla, among others, also have endorsed this technology,” 5GAA said: “This growing momentum is also reflected in planned and operational infrastructure deployments of C-V2X Direct technology in Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, and -- most recently -- Hawaii.”