The Competitive Carriers Association disagrees with CTIA on one change CTIA sought on the FCC’s digital opportunity data collection rules (see 2105200021). CTIA asked to eliminate a requirement that mobile broadband providers submit “signal-strength ‘heat’ maps or, at minimum, require these maps to be submitted only upon request.” CCA said the disclosure of received signal strength indicator or reference signal received power “will provide useful information that will improve the quality of the collected data and help the Commission and industry assess and compare coverage maps,” in a filing posted Monday. CCA agreed with CTIA that the FCC should eliminate a requirement to “model in-vehicle coverage for each mobile wireless technology because such in-vehicle maps would be unnecessarily burdensome.” Focus on “the quality of the data collected rather than the quantity of maps,” CCA advised. T-Mobile backed CTIA complaints the FCC should drop a decision “to require mobile wireless providers to model in-vehicle coverage” and “to deny confidential treatment to mobile wireless providers’ link budgets.” Cutting “the requirement to submit in-vehicle coverage maps, which are much harder to replicate, would avoid unnecessary complications with the … challenge process and make it easier to implement other verification processes,” the carrier said. The Wireless ISP Association backed CTIA arguments against base fines of $15,000 for every “materially inaccurate or incomplete portion” of a data submission. “The Commission provides no explanation for adopting a base forfeiture that is five times higher than the base forfeitures for comparable programs other than a simple statement that this amount ‘reflect[s] the importance of the filings at issue’ and will ‘encourage compliance,’” WISPA said. Comments on two CTIA petitions were due Friday in docket 19-195.

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act “struck an appropriate balance in advancing the complementary policy goals of promoting accessibility and encouraging innovation,” said the Information Technology Industry Council in comments posted Friday in FCC docket 21-140. ITI said the FCC should identify situations in which subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing could be used to satisfy IP captioning requirements in display-only monitors and video projectors that aren't equipped with digital tuners or streaming capability. The National Federation of the Blind wants improvements to the CVAA on audio description rules and how they apply to online streaming video. It wants streaming services required to buy described content when buying content rights, and MVPDs to provide multiple secondary audio channels. It seeks audio description quality standards.

Auto industry groups and Wi-Fi advocates clashed in comments on an FCC Further NPRM on sharing 5.9 GHz. Wednesday, ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn last year’s 5-0 FCC order dividing the band between Wi-Fi and auto safety (see 2106020076). Comments were due Wednesday in FCC docket 19-138. Proposed power limits on unlicensed devices “will fail to protect the 5.895-5.925 GHz band for intelligent transportation system (ITS) operations,” ITS America said. Work with the Department of Transportation “to ensure that the 30 MHz reserved for ITS … is free of harmful interference and usable for [vehicle to everything] technologies,” the group said. The order was “wrong and misguided,” AASHTO said. Protect ITS “from harmful interference” and let DOT and industry “best determine the technology to be used for the next generation of V2X,” Toyota said. The band is critical to the future of Wi-Fi, countered NCTA: “The newly available spectrum will improve the Wi-Fi experience.” Broadcom and Facebook urged taking “the next step by allowing portable devices” at power levels of 23 decibel-milliwatts of equivalent isotropically radiated power. Portable devices “have tremendous potential to bring to the consumer market new and innovative use cases,” they said. Drop plans for exclusion zones protecting federal radars “within which point-to-point and point-to-multipoint devices would be prohibited,” the Wi-Fi Alliance urged. Proposed power limits are adequate to protect V2X based on years of similar operations in the U-NII-3 band, the alliance said. The Wireless ISP Association said unlicensed use is safe for V2X, but the FCC should consider higher power limits for some uses outside of exclusion zones with protections like professional installation. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation petitioned for reconsideration. “Promote the smooth and rapid deployment of cellular [V2X] technology in the upper segment of the 5.9 GHz band by expeditiously issuing licenses to qualified users and requiring unlicensed entrants in the lower 45 megahertz segment … to pay for transitioned licensees’ relocation costs,” the alliance commented: “Implement safeguards to ensure that V2X can operate free from harmful interference.” The 5G Automotive Association asked the FCC to reconsider the order and stay provisions “that would permit unlicensed indoor access points, subordinate devices, and client devices to operate across the entire 5.850-5.895 GHz portion of the 5.9 GHz band beginning on July 2.”

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will circulate a draft decision with final results "soon" on 911 fee diversion, she told the 911 strike force Thursday (see 2105170042). "We are wasting no time." Commissioners unanimously approved an NPRM in February (see 2102170049).

ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn last year’s 5-0 FCC order splitting the 5.9 GHz band between Wi-Fi and auto safety (see 2011180043). “The Commission’s actions … are in excess of the statutory authority,” they said. The decision to “reallocate 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for use unrelated to automotive safety curtails the usefulness of the Safety Band, undercuts the goals of the Congressionally-established ITS program, and directly contravenes the recommendations of the agency responsible for designing and overseeing the [intelligent transportation system] program,” the groups said Wednesday, noting opposition by the Department of Transportation to the order. Vehicle-to-everything "technologies continue to be our best available tool to significantly reduce crashes,” said ITSA President Shailen Bhatt. The agency isn’t expected to rethink its approach (see 2105210047). The order “ensures much-needed Wi‑Fi capacity for consumers while also promoting the development of new connected car technologies,” WifiForward said in a statement: “The FCC acted well within its authority.” The commission didn't comment.

Revisions to the FCC rules on pro forma assignments and transfers of control should start with a declaratory ruling clarifying existing requirements, and an NPRM on proposals to streamline post-closing procedures to pro forma transactions, the Satellite Industry Association said Tuesday in docket 20-186. "As CTIA and USTelecom have correctly noted, the FCC has ample authority to proceed." SIA said the declaratory ruling would clear up uncertainty about such items as whether non-substantial changes in ownership constitute an assignment or transfer of control that necessitates filings and if pro forma filings are required only if a license is assigned or if a transfer of control affects the licensee's parent.

Industry commenters said the FCC should avoid rules for open radio access networks, in replies due Friday on a notice of inquiry in docket 21-63. “The FCC should not put itself in a position where it is picking winners and losers,” the Telecommunications Industry Association said. CTIA opposed rules: “The imperative of network security and reliability is another compelling reason that the Commission should allow providers to deploy Open RAN at the time and manner that they believe meets the requirements of their networks.” T-Mobile said the FCC doesn’t need to act to promote ORAN. While ORAN “may show promise, it is not yet ready for broad deployment,” the carrier said. Push for “common specifications,” “allowing service providers to choose from a growing global ecosystem,” and “facilitate demonstration beds and innovation zones,” Nokia asked. Don't favor U.S. ORAN suppliers, Ericsson said: “Foster a diverse, trusted market.” The Open RAN Policy Coalition said comments show strong interest in ORAN, and artificial intelligence and machine learning will play an important role. Mavenir said the FCC’s program for replacing Chinese gear in networks should accommodate ORAN deployments. “Choice, or the lack thereof, and the present semiconductor shortage warrant an extension of time under the Secure and Trusted Communications Act Reimbursement Program,” Mavenir said.

FCC staff said ISPs can get emergency broadband benefit reimbursement for connected broadband devices even when customers switch providers, granting two requests and applying them throughout the EBB program. The Wireline Bureau granted Cox Communications and the National Lifeline Association's requests, said an order Friday in docket 20-445. Cox and NaLa asked to waive the requirement that a provider can't request reimbursement for a connected device for subscribers who aren't receiving EBB-supported service from the provider at the time of the snapshot (see 2105240063). “This waiver permits all participating providers offering a connected device to submit a reimbursement claim for a connected device discount provided to a household that had been receiving an EBB-supported service from that provider at the time the device was supplied to the household, even if the household subsequently transferred its benefit to another provider prior to the snapshot date,” staff wrote: “We grant this waiver to remove a disincentive” to providers. Cox said its participation in the connected device program depended on the waiver (see 2105110047).

What the Senate voted Thursday to end debate on was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.'s substitute amendment for the Endless Frontier Act (S-1260), which allowed 30 hours of post-cloture debate (see 2105270082).

FCC commissioners are considering whether to approve an order and second Further NPRM on contraband cellphones in correctional facilities, with no votes recorded so far, officials said. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated an item in April that would establish new requirements for carriers to disable identified contraband cellphones when requested by a designated correctional facility official and would seek further comment on other technological solutions to curb use of contraband devices (see 2105030062). CTIA, which has been spearheading industry outreach on the issue, declined comment Friday. FCC officials said the item hasn't been controversial. CTIA and major carriers spoke with an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington last week, wrapping up a series of virtual meetings with aides to the four commissioners. “As the Commission contemplates providing corrections officials with an FCC-based termination framework, it should ensure sufficient oversight of approved contraband interdiction systems and designated corrections officials to provide a level of accountability and protection for consumers and providers that is commensurate with existing court order processes,” CTIA said in a posting in docket 13-111. Commissioners approved Thursday a stay of last year’s 4.9 GHz order, circulated in the same time frame, with a dissent by Commissioner Brendan Carr (see 2105270071).