UScellular agreed in a Monday filing that lawyers for Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) who represent the Rural Wireless Association can be considered “Outside Counsel of Record for RWA for the purposes of the Protective Order in this proceeding and that no further clarification as to their status is required at this time.” RWA has opposed T-Mobile’s proposed purchase of UScellular's wireless assets (see 2501290019). UScellular reported on a meeting that included FCC staff, T-Mobile representatives and Carri Bennet and others from WBD on the law firm’s status in the proceeding. Bennet acknowledged in the meeting that her title with RWA “has been changed from ‘General Counsel’ to ‘Outside General Counsel’ to further clarify her role,” said the filing in docket 24-286.

AT&T and Verizon each successfully completed video calls using AST SpaceMobile satellite connectivity, the carriers said Monday. The call between AT&T smartphones in Texas "marks a significant milestone in the quest for enhanced global connectivity," AT&T said. Verizon said it completed a video call using one phone connected to AST and one connected to Verizon's terrestrial network. “Adding this layer of ability -- not only to text someone, but to be able to call, video chat, or send files -- ... will only enhance the reliability of our customers' connectivity and communication experience," Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg said. AT&T COO Jeff McElfresh said, “We know our customers want connectivity wherever they are, and they deserve a simple, seamless experience from one provider.”

Wireless ISP Association representatives supported a draft notice of inquiry on the upper C band and an NPRM on issues related to an auction of AWS-3 spectrum in a meeting with an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on both Thursday (see 2502060062). About the NOI, “terrestrial use and spectrum sharing may be possible in the band and may be deployable at lower power and more expeditiously in light of the proximity of the band to radio altimeters,” WISPA said in a filing Friday in docket 13-185. “The questions in the draft C-Band Notice of Inquiry will allow WISPA to address those points in the docket for that proceeding.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied Hilliary Acquisition’s request for a writ of mandamus seeking the return of $841,128.25 in down payments for 42 licenses when it was the high bidder during the 2020 citizens broadband radio service auction (see 2412110065).

SpaceX representatives met staff from all four FCC commissioner offices seeking tweaks to the notice of inquiry on the upper C band, set for a vote Thursday (see 2502060062). “Swiftly establishing a modern sharing framework for the 3.98-4.2 GHz band … will help solidify American leadership in next-generation 6G networks that interweave terrestrial and satellite systems to provide ubiquitous connectivity to consumers,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 25-59. SpaceX said it sought “targeted changes” to the draft: “Accelerating the comment and reply deadlines for the item to 30 and 45 days after publication in the Federal Register, respectively, will provide sufficient time to develop a record while allowing the Commission to expeditiously initiate a rulemaking proceeding for the band.”

Representatives from CTIA, T-Mobile, UScellular and Verizon met with an aide to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez about the upper C band, closing out a round of meetings with commissioner aides on a notice of inquiry set for a vote Thursday (see 2502200049). “CTIA urges the Commission to advance the NOI and move quickly to a notice of proposed rulemaking to maximize the spectrum opportunity for 5G in the Upper C-Band and provide certainty to market participants on the timeline for auction and for transitioning the band for licensed, full-power terrestrial wireless use,” CTIA said in a filing posted Friday in docket 25-59.

Buu Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation, urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to make a tribal priority window part of future FCC auctions of AWS and upper C-band spectrum. “The success of the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window has demonstrated the transformational impact of policies that provide direct spectrum access to Tribal Nations,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 13-185. The 2.5 GHz window, established under Republican Chairman Ajit Pai’s “leadership in 2020, was an unprecedented federal policy that enabled over 300 federally recognized tribes to obtain spectrum in rural areas,” Nygren said. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance asked the FCC to add questions on tribal windows to the C-band notice of inquiry and AWS-3 NPRM before commissioners, both set for votes Thursday (see 2502060062). “One of the great challenges in addressing the lack of modern communications technologies that Tribal Nations and the Commission face together in their joint efforts to address their broadband challenges is the lack of access to spectrum and spectrum licensing opportunities,” said a filing posted Friday. The 2.5 GHz window “dramatically increased the number of Tribal Nations holding spectrum licenses from 18 to at least 319.”

C3Spectra, approved by the FCC last month to operate an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system in the 6 GHz band (see 2501150018), asked if it could take building entry loss (BEL) into account for “composite” standard- and low-power devices that are restricted to operating indoors. “Allowing C3Spectra’s AFC system to account for BEL up to 6 dB will enhance indoor coverage and data rates, promoting efficient spectrum use while protecting incumbent services from harmful interference,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-352.

Hilliary Acquisition asked the FCC to reconsider a January order denying its request that the agency return $644,722 in down payments for 42 licenses where it was the high bidder during the 2020 citizens broadband radio service auction (see 2412110065). In addition, it is seeking a writ of mandamus ordering the return of the money at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2501290067). “Reconsideration is warranted because the FCC failed to address Hilliary’s request for relief when it denied Hilliary’s request for partial refund,” said a filing this week in docket 19-244. While Hilliary requested a refund of the amount held by the FCC that exceeded the required deposit under the agency’s rules, the commission “instead ruled on whether it should issue a refund of the entire amount of money paid by Hilliary in connection with the auction,” the filing said. “Reconsideration is also warranted because the FCC’s rules do not contain any provision for the Commission to retain the amount of a final payment made by a disqualified winning bidder,” it continued. “Due to the lengthy and excessive period of time that the FCC has unlawfully retained the amount of Hilliary’s overpayment, Hilliary seeks expedited reconsideration of the Refund Order and issuance of the requested refund.”

Significantly higher power levels and relaxed emission limits across the citizens broadband radio service band could cause problems for users, Spectrum for the Future said following meetings with aides to FCC Commissioners Nathan Simington and Anna Gomez. Other groups and companies have expressed similar concerns (see 2502060050). “Such changes would fundamentally alter the longstanding nature of CBRS, result in massive harmful interference to existing deployments, undermine existing and planned investments” and “immediately halt America’s global momentum in private wireless networks,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-258.