The Open Technology Institute at New America urged the FCC to approve a rule change allowing fixed wireless use of the lower 12 GHz band, but with conditions. In a meeting with Wireless Bureau staff, OTI urged a tribal set aside. “The license rights to all or at least a substantial portion of the 500 megahertz on Tribal lands should be made freely available for broadband deployment at the request of Tribal authorities,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 20-443. The group also said unused spectrum in the band “should be authorized for opportunistic access on a non-interfering basis for fixed wireless services.”

Viya updated the FCC on its work to harden its network in the U.S. Virgin Islands using federal funding (see 2306300024). Work on general hardening is ongoing, though parts were completed last year, said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-143. Some of the data was redacted. “Some of the anticipated work for 2023 was pushed to 2024 so the total spending is less than funds received from July through December 2023,” Viya said: “Spending in 2024 will reflect both the remaining 2023 funds as well as the 2024 funding.”

T-Mobile told customers they have options if, as expected, the affordable connectivity program ends (see 2404020075). “Existing customers using their ACP benefit with Assurance Wireless will keep their service through August 2024 without any changes to their price or plan,” T-Mobile said Monday: After, “they’ll need to qualify for Lifeline, a free federal assistance program -- if they don’t already have it -- or move to another low-cost T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile plan.” T-Mobile discussed its other low-cost services, including Metro by T-Mobile, Connect by T-Mobile and prepaid 5G data plans.

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition urged the FCC to take a cautious approach in making any changes to power spectral density rules for automated frequency coordination systems in the 6 GHz band, as sought by Broadcom and others. “To ensure transparency in future changes to AFC systems” the group asked the commission to “require operators making changes to their AFC to rerun the test vectors required by the Office of Engineering and Technology’s testing plan public notice and file a copy of the resulting report in the docket for public comment,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-352. The Broadcom letter “raises a crucial question about how changes to AFC systems will be made going forward,” the FWCC said: The OET public notice “did not specify what information would be necessary in future public notices regarding changes to an AFC” and the Broadcom letter “gives the Commission the opportunity to provide clarification on that question now.”

Verizon representatives met with aides to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr on net neutrality rules and network slicing. A draft order appeared to look for middle ground on how slicing would be treated under the rules (see 2404050053). “Network slicing is a promising technology that will help drive exciting network innovation and enable new capabilities and services for the benefit of consumers in ways that previously were only possible over wireline networks,” said a filing Friday in docket 23-320. The technology will “help enable more efficient use of wireless networks, while also enabling capabilities and services that will support investment to deploy and add capacity to next-generation wireless networks,” Verizon said. Meanwhile, Barbara van Schewick, director of Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society, blogged Thursday that the proposed rules on slicing could create “a huge problem” and make it possible for providers “to start picking applications and putting them in a fast lane.” Major wireless carriers are "testing ways to create … 5G fast lanes for apps such as video conferencing, games, and video where the ISP chooses and controls what gets boosted,” she said: “The FCC’s draft order opens the door … so long as the app provider isn’t charged for them.... These kinds of ISP-controlled fast lanes violate core net neutrality principles and would limit user choice, distort competition, hamper startups, and help cement platform dominance."

Crown Castle named Steven Moskowitz president and CEO, the company said last week. Moskowitz is an industry veteran who helped establish American Tower’s U.S. business, serving as executive vice president and president of the unit. CEO Jay Brown retired in January (see 2312080042). Anthony Melone, a member of the board and former Verizon chief technology officer, replaced him on an interim basis. Moskowitz also becomes a member of the board of directors. "Steven's breadth and depth of experience in domestic and international towers and small cell solutions is unique in the industry, and we know that he will provide valuable insights as we continue our progress on the strategic and operating review of the company's enterprise fiber and small cell business, and tower growth opportunities,” said board Chair Robert Bartolo.

Reasonable permitting policies are key for a successful broadband equity, access and deployment program, Wireless Infrastructure Association President Patrick Halley said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The letter outlines WIA’s basic positions as the administration starts evaluating and funding BEAD projects. “A constant refrain from our members is that the unpredictability, costs, and delays associated with obtaining permits and approvals to build -- or even upgrade -- infrastructure create real barriers to deployment,” Halley said: “Ensuring predictable, proportionate, and transparent permitting processes balances the needs of government to meaningfully review applications with the needs of communities to get broadband access quickly.” Halley praised NTIA’s work on streamlining reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act, saying it will “have an outsized effect in promoting deployment to the hardest to reach areas.” Halley also called on the department to continue to recognize the importance of work force development, the need for prioritizing spectrum for commercial use and to recognize the importance of fixed wireless access.

Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky met with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Apple’s alleged blocking of messaging app Beeper Mini (see 2402280076). “Interoperability and interconnection are core [Communications Act] Title II requirements with a long pedigree,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 08-7. “The first enumerated power of the Commission obligates common carriers to interconnect with each other,” Beeper said. Public Knowledge and Reset.tech representatives also attended the meeting.

The Rural Wireless Association has concerns that a proposed 5G Fund auction “could potentially leave legacy high-cost support mobile carriers’ ongoing investments in their networks stranded,” it told an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr. RWA argued that if some carriers lose high-cost support for their service areas “because they are not successful bidders in the 5G Rural Fund reverse auction, the significant investments in their network and the service to their communities will be placed in jeopardy,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-32. Smith Bagley executives met with aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks on the company’s push for special treatment for tribal areas under the 5G Fund (see 2404080030). Though Smith Bagley has an existing network, “it still expects its bids at auction to be among the highest in the nation due to the expected cost of building hundreds of miles of fiber to its towers,” the provider said. “Without fiber, it will be difficult to meet the Commission’s 5G Fund auction performance requirements.”

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance supported a request by utility company Exelon for a waiver of FCC rules to grant two additional 800 MHz channel pairs allowing use of mobile-to-mobile communications on the subsidiaries’ 800 MHz land mobile radio systems. The Wireless Bureau sought comment on the request, due Wednesday, in docket 24-80 (see 2403120039). “It is not practical or safe for Exelon employees engaged in dangerous activities or working below ground to have to use a different radio for direct communications,” EWA said: “The better solution is the one proposed in the Waiver Requests: 800 MHz channels used only in specific, typically brief instances for mobile-to-mobile transmissions on a secondary basis.” EWA said because of the “very limited, intermittent use” of the channels the interference risks are minimal. EWA filed the only comment so far.