The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Friday on Piper Networks' request for a waiver of rules allowing wider use of its enhanced transit location system. The waiver would let Piper obtain equipment authorization for its ultra-wideband train positioning system as fixed-wireless infrastructure in the Greater New York City and Boston areas and in Harris County, Texas. The system already operates under the FCC’s handheld UWB device rules. Piper requests that its system be allowed to operate in the 3.248-4.990 GHz band in the same areas where it’s already authorized to operate. Comments are due Feb. 16, replies March 2, in docket 19-246.
NextNav is challenging the findings of a technical study that Neology filed last month (see 2512160017) on the risks posed to band incumbents if the FCC approves NextNav's proposal to use the 900 MHz band for a “terrestrial complement” to GPS. In a filing posted Friday in docket 25-110, NextNav said it stands by its earlier analysis that found minimal interference risks.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Friday on a waiver request by Vivint for doorbells that contain ultra-wideband transmitters operating in the 6-10 GHz band. The technology allows users to unlock a paired smart lock, “similar to other devices for which the Commission has previously granted waiver,” OET said. It uses a camera and facial recognition software “to confirm the identity of the person approaching before unlocking the door.” Comments are due Feb. 16, replies March 2, in docket 26-11.
Representatives of Cisco Systems and Hewlett Packard Enterprise met with the FCC last week to urge the agency to make a tweak to its draft 6 GHz order and further NPRM, which is set for a vote Jan. 29 (see 2601080066). According to a filing Friday in docket 18-295, the companies told an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr that they're pleased with the item in general but want the commission to seek comment on “other updates to the FCC’s rules reflecting technological and business developments since the 6 GHz rules were adopted in 2020.” Some Wi-Fi use cases “may not have been considered specifically when the Commission adopted” those rules.
Groups representing local governments filed FCC comments accusing the wireless industry of distorting the record on the real issues that carriers face in wireless siting. Reply comments were due Thursday (docket 25-276) in response to the FCC’s wireless infrastructure NPRM, which commissioners approved in September (see 2511250075). RF safety advocates continued to flood the record with objections as well.
A Verizon representative apologized to subscribers Thursday after an outage cut service to tens of thousands of its wireless customers across the country Wednesday (see 2601140050). It's also offering a $20 credit to customers who lost service. In an email Wednesday night, a spokesperson said the outage had been resolved and customers still having problems should restart their devices to reconnect to the network.
Verizon offered details in an FCC filing about proposed leasing, equipment authorization and contraband device rules that would lead to the approval of jamming systems in correctional facilities. The wireless industry as a whole opposes jamming (see 2601130057). In reply comments posted this week in docket 13-111, Verizon laid out an eight-step process creating “procedural safeguards to protect legitimate users” of spectrum. “Verizon’s comments offer a ‘trust but verify’ regime that accounts for concerns raised in the rulemaking record,” the carrier said.
Worldwide fixed-wireless subscriptions are expected to surpass 191 million by 2029, the Dell’Oro Group said Wednesday. Fixed-wireless access “continues to surge, supporting both residential and enterprise connectivity due to its ease of deployment along with the more widespread availability of 4G LTE and 5G Sub-6GHz networks.”
The FCC is “monitoring” an outage that affected tens of thousands of Verizon's wireless customers Wednesday, an agency spokesperson said. Commissioner Anna Gomez also said she was watching the situation unfold. Other carriers saw more limited problems, based on reports to Downdetector.
Aviation associations met last week with FCC staff, including aides to Chairman Brendan Carr, on progress being made to protect radio altimeters as the agency moves toward an auction of upper C-band spectrum. According to a filing Tuesday in docket 25-59, they discussed new altimeter designs “safely enabling full power access for wireless operations for a potentially large amount of the spectrum being proposed by the Commission.” The groups at the meeting were Airlines for America, the Aerospace Industries Association, Aviation Spectrum Resources, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the International Air Transport Association and the Regional Airline Association.