The assets Dish Network would gain through DOJ’s “remedy” with T-Mobile/Sprint would be a “catalyst” to building out a 5G network “faster” than otherwise possible, testified Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen Wednesday at the T-Mobile/Sprint bench trial in U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan. “We’re going to need 5G to compete against the big three incumbents,” including AT&T, Verizon and the new T-Mobile, said Ergen. “We can’t wait” to compete against T-Mobile, he said.

The assets Dish Network would gain through DOJ’s “remedy” with T-Mobile/Sprint would be a “catalyst” to building out a 5G network “faster” than otherwise possible, testified Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen Wednesday at the T-Mobile/Sprint bench trial in U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan. “We’re going to need 5G to compete against the big three incumbents,” including AT&T, Verizon and the new T-Mobile, said Ergen. “We can’t wait” to compete against T-Mobile, he said.

The “Do Not Disturb” feature in Apple’s iOS 11 operating system infringes a nearly five-year-old patent for technology to curb distracted driving, alleged a complaint (in Pacer) Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Bay Area restaurateur Nick Bovis, owner of Lefty O’Doul’s and the Broadway Grill, invented a mobile device solution he called “inactive mode” for curbing distracted driving without forcing users to turn off their phones and risk missing important calls or texts, said the complaint. The mode notifies the sender that the recipient is driving and not available to take calls or texts, then generates for the recipient a log of missed communications when the mode is deactivated, it said. Bovis landed a February 2015 patent (8,958,853) and built the technology into an app he called “Off Mode,” available for download at the Google Play store since May 2013, it said. Apple launched Do Not Disturb in iOS in September 2017 with the “same features," said the complaint. It’s “inconceivable that Apple did not know” about the Bovis patent when it launched Do Not Disturb, it said. Instead of licensing the technology from Bovis for a “reasonable royalty,” Apple “helped itself” to the invention and paid him “no compensation,” it said. Apple didn't comment.

The Native Nations Communications Task Force highlighted obstacles to broadband deployment on tribal lands and made recommendations in a report the FCC posted Friday on dockets including 19-126. It recommended loosening or removing single-use funding restrictions so federally subsidized infrastructure can be extended where coverage is limited. Designate tribes eligible telecom carrier status to allow them better sovereignty over tribal lands, it said: "At the very least, the ETC designation process should include consultation with tribal nations regarding any plans to serve tribal lands." The task force wants buildout requirements modified to favor serving native tribes earlier. It said tribes should be able to self-identify areas they want to serve rather than committing to government-defined areas such as census blocks.

The “Do Not Disturb” feature in Apple’s iOS 11 operating system infringes a nearly five-year-old patent for technology to curb distracted driving, alleged a complaint (in Pacer) Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Bay Area restaurateur Nick Bovis, owner of Lefty O’Doul’s and the Broadway Grill, invented a mobile device solution he called “inactive mode” for curbing distracted driving without forcing users to turn off their phones and risk missing important calls or texts, said the complaint. The mode notifies the sender that the recipient is driving and not available to take calls or texts, then generates for the recipient a log of missed communications when the mode is deactivated, it said. Bovis landed a February 2015 patent (8,958,853) and built the technology into an app he called “Off Mode,” available for download at the Google Play store since May 2013, it said. Apple launched Do Not Disturb in iOS in September 2017 with the “same features," said the complaint. It’s “inconceivable that Apple did not know” about the Bovis patent when it launched Do Not Disturb, it said. Instead of licensing the technology from Bovis for a “reasonable royalty,” Apple “helped itself” to the invention and paid him “no compensation,” it said. Apple didn't comment.

Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr are hopeful the FCC will soon propose sharing the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users. “The conversation” here “has matured extensively,” O’Rielly said after Thursday's commissioners' meeting. “I’m excited about where we’re about to land.” He predicted an item could come in Q1. If we get rid of hyperbole and sensationalism, “we can get to the right mitigation mechanisms and the protections needed from different types of unlicensed,” he told us in Q&A. “I think we’re just about ready to turn the corner.” Carr said he has had “some very productive meetings” with power companies using the band. The band is “part of a 5G ecosystem that we need to develop,” he said. “I see the opportunity here for a significant win. … There are still decisions to be made on that band.”

Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr are hopeful the FCC will soon propose sharing the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users. “The conversation” here “has matured extensively,” O’Rielly said after Thursday's commissioners' meeting. “I’m excited about where we’re about to land.” He predicted an item could come in Q1. If we get rid of hyperbole and sensationalism, “we can get to the right mitigation mechanisms and the protections needed from different types of unlicensed,” he told us in Q&A. “I think we’re just about ready to turn the corner.” Carr said he has had “some very productive meetings” with power companies using the band. The band is “part of a 5G ecosystem that we need to develop,” he said. “I see the opportunity here for a significant win. … There are still decisions to be made on that band.”

The “Do Not Disturb” feature in Apple’s iOS 11 operating system infringes a nearly five-year-old patent for technology to curb distracted driving, alleged a complaint (in Pacer) Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Bay Area restaurateur Nick Bovis, owner of Lefty O’Doul’s and the Broadway Grill, invented a mobile device solution he called “inactive mode” for curbing distracted driving without forcing users to turn off their phones and risk missing important calls or texts, said the complaint. The mode notifies the sender that the recipient is driving and not available to take calls or texts, then generates for the recipient a log of missed communications when the mode is deactivated, it said. Bovis landed a February 2015 patent (8,958,853) and built the technology into an app he called “Off Mode,” available for download at the Google Play store since May 2013, it said. Apple launched Do Not Disturb in iOS in September 2017 with the “same features," said the complaint. It’s “inconceivable that Apple did not know” about the Bovis patent when it launched Do Not Disturb, it said. Instead of licensing the technology from Bovis for a “reasonable royalty,” Apple “helped itself” to the invention and paid him “no compensation,” it said. Apple didn't comment.

The Native Nations Communications Task Force highlighted obstacles to broadband deployment on tribal lands and made recommendations in a report the FCC posted Friday on dockets including 19-126. It recommended loosening or removing single-use funding restrictions so federally subsidized infrastructure can be extended where coverage is limited. Designate tribes eligible telecom carrier status to allow them better sovereignty over tribal lands, it said: "At the very least, the ETC designation process should include consultation with tribal nations regarding any plans to serve tribal lands." The task force wants buildout requirements modified to favor serving native tribes earlier. It said tribes should be able to self-identify areas they want to serve rather than committing to government-defined areas such as census blocks.

Some officials and lobbyists believe legislative efforts to repeal a provision of the 2012 spectrum law that mandates public safety move off the 470-512 MHz T band by 2021 and combat state and local-level diversion of 911 fees are unlikely to advance until the new year. Those issues are now tied to a bid to attach language on a pending FCC auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band to FY 2020 federal spending bills. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is pushing to attach language from his C-band-centric 5G Spectrum Act (S-2881) to the spending bills despite Democrats' opposition. Senate Commerce last week approved adding language from the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451/S-2748) and the 911 Fee Integrity Act (HR-2165) to S-2881 (see 1912110038).