The Aerospace Industries Association said the FCC shouldn’t make a quick decision on a request for waiver for drones of 450 MHz general aviation air-ground radiotelephone service rules by Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications (see 2006240023). Other commenters said drones need more spectrum for command and control (C2) and the request should be approved. Several reminded of a pending rulemaking on use of the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands by drones (see 1912270039), posted through Monday in docket 20-185. AIA raised air safety concerns. “Given that the waiver is seeking a change in the use of spectrum from the Land-Mobile service … to an aviation safety use, AURA should be required to consult with" FAA, the group said. Boeing also raised safety issues: “Issuing an expedited waiver to a single provider, in a frequency band that has not been demonstrated to be safe for UAS [unmanned aircraft system] C2 operations, is not the best path.” The 5030-5091 MHz band is allocated for drone control “pursuant to international consensus,” Boeing noted. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed waiver, warning “additional spectrum for payload and possibly for command and control will be needed for effective UAS operations, given the expanding demand for UAS.” The Enterprise Wireless Alliance “supports whatever waiver relief the FCC considers necessary,” EWA said: “This is a logical response to technology advances that often exceed the pace of regulatory changes.” EWA agreed drones need spectrum beyond 450 MHz. The Edison Electric Institute said drones are increasingly important to electric utilities and the waiver should be approved. The band’s “propagation characteristics, bandwidth and lack of other incumbents makes it well suited for command and control and non-payload communications at low altitudes and a cost-effective nationwide coverage for low-altitude, Beyond Visual Line of Sight and other expanded operations,” EEI said. Federated Wireless said dynamic sharing can prevent harmful interference.

The Aerospace Industries Association said the FCC shouldn’t make a quick decision on a request for waiver for drones of 450 MHz general aviation air-ground radiotelephone service rules by Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications (see 2006240023). Other commenters said drones need more spectrum for command and control (C2) and the request should be approved. Several reminded of a pending rulemaking on use of the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands by drones (see 1912270039), posted through Monday in docket 20-185. AIA raised air safety concerns. “Given that the waiver is seeking a change in the use of spectrum from the Land-Mobile service … to an aviation safety use, AURA should be required to consult with" FAA, the group said. Boeing also raised safety issues: “Issuing an expedited waiver to a single provider, in a frequency band that has not been demonstrated to be safe for UAS [unmanned aircraft system] C2 operations, is not the best path.” The 5030-5091 MHz band is allocated for drone control “pursuant to international consensus,” Boeing noted. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed waiver, warning “additional spectrum for payload and possibly for command and control will be needed for effective UAS operations, given the expanding demand for UAS.” The Enterprise Wireless Alliance “supports whatever waiver relief the FCC considers necessary,” EWA said: “This is a logical response to technology advances that often exceed the pace of regulatory changes.” EWA agreed drones need spectrum beyond 450 MHz. The Edison Electric Institute said drones are increasingly important to electric utilities and the waiver should be approved. The band’s “propagation characteristics, bandwidth and lack of other incumbents makes it well suited for command and control and non-payload communications at low altitudes and a cost-effective nationwide coverage for low-altitude, Beyond Visual Line of Sight and other expanded operations,” EEI said. Federated Wireless said dynamic sharing can prevent harmful interference.

The Aerospace Industries Association said the FCC shouldn’t make a quick decision on a request for waiver for drones of 450 MHz general aviation air-ground radiotelephone service rules by Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications (see 2006240023). Other commenters said drones need more spectrum for command and control (C2) and the request should be approved. Several reminded of a pending rulemaking on use of the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands by drones (see 1912270039), posted through Monday in docket 20-185. AIA raised air safety concerns. “Given that the waiver is seeking a change in the use of spectrum from the Land-Mobile service … to an aviation safety use, AURA should be required to consult with" FAA, the group said. Boeing also raised safety issues: “Issuing an expedited waiver to a single provider, in a frequency band that has not been demonstrated to be safe for UAS [unmanned aircraft system] C2 operations, is not the best path.” The 5030-5091 MHz band is allocated for drone control “pursuant to international consensus,” Boeing noted. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed waiver, warning “additional spectrum for payload and possibly for command and control will be needed for effective UAS operations, given the expanding demand for UAS.” The Enterprise Wireless Alliance “supports whatever waiver relief the FCC considers necessary,” EWA said: “This is a logical response to technology advances that often exceed the pace of regulatory changes.” EWA agreed drones need spectrum beyond 450 MHz. The Edison Electric Institute said drones are increasingly important to electric utilities and the waiver should be approved. The band’s “propagation characteristics, bandwidth and lack of other incumbents makes it well suited for command and control and non-payload communications at low altitudes and a cost-effective nationwide coverage for low-altitude, Beyond Visual Line of Sight and other expanded operations,” EEI said. Federated Wireless said dynamic sharing can prevent harmful interference.

CTIA and USTelecom got broad support for a June petition seeking regulatory relief on pro forma filings (see 2006050039). The paperwork is routine and involves a company assigning a license authorization from one wholly owned subsidiary to another, the two said then. In comments due Friday in docket 20-186, the American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research noted that, according to the petition, the FCC Wireless Bureau processes an average of 600 pro forma applications per year. “Pro forma transactions can strain resources for license holders, delay business decisions, and divert the already strained resources to comply with the onerous and unnecessary fillings and review procedures required for such transactions,” the group said. The burdens from existing filing requirements are “significant,” NAB commented. “A single non-substantial internal transaction can result in filing requirements that strain resources, delay business decisions and divert sparse resources,” broadcasters said. “Pro forma transactions are by their very nature non-substantive; the associated filing requirements ought to be as well,” Verizon said. “For companies like T-Mobile, with a complex ownership structure and numerous licensee subsidiaries, a non-substantive ownership change can require a large number of burdensome filings,” the carrier said. The rules permit post-closing notice of pro forma transactions for common carrier radio station licenses, submarine cable landing licenses, international authorizations and common carrier satellite and earth station licenses, T-Mobile said: They require prior approval of pro forma transactions including private radio licenses, some experimental licenses and licenses held by designated entities. The Land Mobile Communications Council said it “fully supports this common-sense proposal that will reduce regulatory burdens.” Markets are "the most efficient means of assigning radio operating rights,” wrote the R Street Institute.

Dozens supported a proposal the FCC extend the Aug. 3 2.5 GHz rural tribal priority application window deadline (see 2007220021). The agency “declared broadband is needed ‘for every facet of daily life,’” the groups said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120: “However, less than half of housing units on rural Tribal lands have access to broadband. … Unfortunately, approximately 80% of eligible Tribes will not be able to take advantage of this spectrum unless the FCC extends the deadline.” Access Humboldt, Access Now, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Common Cause, First Nations Development Institute, Free Press, Incompas, Internet Society, Media Alliance, Mobile Beacon, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, National Tribal Telecommunications Association and United Church of Christ were among signers.

Dozens supported a proposal the FCC extend the Aug. 3 2.5 GHz rural tribal priority application window deadline (see 2007220021). The agency “declared broadband is needed ‘for every facet of daily life,’” the groups said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120: “However, less than half of housing units on rural Tribal lands have access to broadband. … Unfortunately, approximately 80% of eligible Tribes will not be able to take advantage of this spectrum unless the FCC extends the deadline.” Access Humboldt, Access Now, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Common Cause, First Nations Development Institute, Free Press, Incompas, Internet Society, Media Alliance, Mobile Beacon, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, National Tribal Telecommunications Association and United Church of Christ were among signers.

The $38 million in Trade Act Section 301 tariff costs iRobot incurred in 2019 inflicted a hit of 3 percentage points on its gross margin for the year, said CEO Colin Angle. IRobot assumes the List 3 tariff exclusion that landed last month on the robotic vacuum cleaners it sources from China will expire at the end of 2020, he said. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “made it quite explicit” in congressional testimony last month that any granted List 3 exemptions “would expire at the end of the year,” said Angle Wednesday after quarterly results. The company’s “cash position” improved when it recently started receiving “cash payments associated with our tariff refunds” from the Trump administration, said Chief Financial Officer Julie Zeiler. “We anticipate receiving the $57 million in tariff-related refunds owed to us over the next 12 months.” IRobot is “continuing to push with all energy to drive the diversification of our manufacturing base,” said Angle. Delay in shifting production to Malaysia and bringing it to scale “has been one of the impacts of COVID-19,” he said. “There’s travel bans in place” that inhibit “sending people into Malaysia, which has created a delay,” he said. The company is trying to get that work “back on track,” he said. “We do believe that by the end of 2021, we’ll be in a situation where we are effectively geographically diversified and U.S.-China trade policy does not substantially affect our business anymore.” Europe is the region most reliant on brick-and-mortar, and stores were shuttered for much of the quarter, he said. Europe’s e-commerce infrastructure also is less “mature” and the system buckled under the weight of demand for essential products during the pandemic, he said. E-commerce revenue grew about 50% in Q2 from the year-ago quarter and was more than 70% of total quarterly revenue, said Angle. IRobot stock closed $79.35, down 7.49%.

The $38 million in Trade Act Section 301 tariff costs iRobot incurred in 2019 inflicted a hit of 3 percentage points on its gross margin for the year, said CEO Colin Angle. IRobot assumes the List 3 tariff exclusion that landed last month on the robotic vacuum cleaners it sources from China will expire at the end of 2020, he said. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “made it quite explicit” in congressional testimony last month that any granted List 3 exemptions “would expire at the end of the year,” said Angle Wednesday after quarterly results. The company’s “cash position” improved when it recently started receiving “cash payments associated with our tariff refunds” from the Trump administration, said Chief Financial Officer Julie Zeiler. “We anticipate receiving the $57 million in tariff-related refunds owed to us over the next 12 months.” IRobot is “continuing to push with all energy to drive the diversification of our manufacturing base,” said Angle. Delay in shifting production to Malaysia and bringing it to scale “has been one of the impacts of COVID-19,” he said. “There’s travel bans in place” that inhibit “sending people into Malaysia, which has created a delay,” he said. The company is trying to get that work “back on track,” he said. “We do believe that by the end of 2021, we’ll be in a situation where we are effectively geographically diversified and U.S.-China trade policy does not substantially affect our business anymore.” Europe is the region most reliant on brick-and-mortar, and stores were shuttered for much of the quarter, he said. Europe’s e-commerce infrastructure also is less “mature” and the system buckled under the weight of demand for essential products during the pandemic, he said. E-commerce revenue grew about 50% in Q2 from the year-ago quarter and was more than 70% of total quarterly revenue, said Angle. IRobot stock closed $79.35, down 7.49%.

Consumer and tribal groups asked the FCC to extend the 2.5 GHz rural tribal priority window deadline. Public Knowledge, the National Congress of American Indians, Amerind Risk Management and Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association filed an emergency motion for stay, said a Wednesday release. The pandemic “impacted American Indians and Alaska Natives on Tribal lands harder than any other community in America, a situation further aggravated by the lack of reliable broadband on Tribal lands,” the groups told the FCC: “Unless the Commission extends the Tribal Window, hundreds of eligible Tribal nations will miss this unique opportunity to provide 5G service to their people.” Chairman Ajit Pai told lawmakers in June the commission is watching the window and considering extending it past the Aug. 3 end date (see 2006300084). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel supported giving the tribes more time (see 2004290055). “My feeling from talking to the chairman's office is that it really is under consideration, so we remain hopeful,” PK Senior Vice President Harold Feld told us. One problem is that Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma is the only Capitol Hill Republican to support an extension, Feld said. “We need more Republicans to express support so this doesn't look like it's something partisan,” he said: “We had bipartisan support last year to ask the FCC to give a 180-day window rather than a 90-day window, which the FCC ultimately did, and … we need the same kind of bipartisan showing here.” The filing was posted Wednesday in docket 18-120.

Federal policymakers must help spur rural connectivity to support precision agriculture and ensure food security, John Deere Director-Advanced Technology, Intelligent Solutions Group Daniel Leibfried told a virtual meeting of the FCC precision agriculture task force Wednesday. Leibfried, who chairs the task force's connectivity demand working group, said if it were profitable to deliver connectivity to rural agricultural lands, ISPs would have done so.