T-Mobile representatives spoke with aides to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about the company’s argument that “specialized services” like slicing should be excluded from net neutrality rules (see 2402260058). Among other suggestions, T-Mobile said the agency should ground “reasonable network management on objective rather than subjective, intent-based standards” and preempt state regulation “to avoid a patchwork of compliance obligations.” The filing was made in docket 23-320.

Panasonic supported a 5G Automotive Association petition (see 2106030075) asking the FCC to reduce by 20 dB the permitted level of unwanted emissions from the unlicensed services that share the 5.9 GHz band. Panasonic noted it was among the first granted a waiver for early cellular vehicle-to-everything deployments. “Unwanted emissions levels that the FCC adopted for unlicensed services that neighbor C-V2X in the 5.9 GHz spectrum band place the benefits of C-V2X at risk by subjecting the technology to harmful interference,” said a filing Monday in docket 19-138.

Nokia representatives explained the dynamics behind network slicing in meetings with aides to the FCC commissioners and other agency staff. Robert Backhouse, head-technology and solutions for Nokia’s North American Mobile Networks, “provided an overview of network slicing technology, including an explanation of how slicing actually works, the technology’s lengthy research and development timeline, and anticipated use-cases,” said a filing Monday in docket 23-320. Slicing “is not a fixed, static pipe but rather one that is dynamic and can be optimized in real time” and “allows these capabilities which, in turn, are critical to driving demand for and deployment of 5G,” Nokia said. Nokia met with the staff of all the commissioners except Nathan Simington.

The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comments, due April 10, on requests from subsidiaries of utility company Exelon for a waiver of 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. Replies are due April 25, said a Monday notice. The subsidiaries “assert that the mobile-to-mobile communications would be utilized at the same power levels currently permitted for mobile units to ensure there is no increased risk of ‘interference to adjacent channel licensees or co-channel licensees,’” the bureau said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau, at the request of the DOD, deleted the Norfolk, Virginia, cooperative planning area (CPA) and periodic use area (PUA) from the list of areas to be protected under 3.45 GHz rules and combined them with the larger Newport News, Virginia, CPA/PUA. The bureau said the combined entity was renamed the Newport News-Norfolk CPA/PUA, said a notice in Tuesday’s Daily Digest.

Replies to a December FCC NPRM on implementing a 100% hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) requirement for wireless handset models largely tracked initial comments (see 2402270066). Replies were posted this week in docket 23-388. The Mobile & Wireless Forum called on the FCC to adopt the HAC Task Force’s recommendations contained in a December 2022 report (see 2212160063). “The work of the Task Force -- which was operating at the behest of the FCC -- reflects the hard-fought consensus reached among the stakeholders and should be respected,” the forum said: “FCC should adhere to the consensus reached by the Task Force wherever possible.” CTIA saw broad agreement in support of the task force report. The record confirms the importance of including “modern and mainstream Bluetooth technology as part of the deployment benchmarks to achieve 100% HAC,” CTIA said. Commenters also agree that “consistent with past practice and to prevent consumer confusion” the FCC should “grandfather handsets previously tested and certified to a HAC standard.” Following "hundreds of hours of tests, surveys, and discussion,” the task force report “represents the best and smoothest [path] towards achieving a universal goal: providing the best technologies and choice to those experiencing hearing loss,” said the Competitive Carriers Association. Current recommendations are “the result of broad stakeholder consensus and are consistent with the Commission’s goals and the public interest,” CCA said. The record confirms the importance of using digital labeling technology, “rather than printed labels and paper inserts,” to provide access to HAC information, said CTA. It encouraged the FCC to promote competition, “rather than adopting a top-down regulatory approach for Bluetooth-connected hearing aids, as suggested by some.” In addition, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group supported adoption of the report's recommendations. There is no indication that the task force’s consensus recommendations “will directly impact or burden the consumer while seeking to achieve 100% HAC,” the group said. “Nearly 100% of all mobile phones, tablets, and PCs currently support some form of Bluetooth technology coupling for audio-related peripherals.”

Representatives from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation asked the FCC to exclude motor vehicles from the definition of “IoT product” under the draft cyber mark order, set for a vote Thursday (see 2402220059). “While there is no existing cybersecurity labeling requirement for motor vehicles,” they are “subject to domain-specific cybersecurity guidance, standards, and international regulations,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-239. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “has the authority to promulgate motor vehicle safety regulations on cybersecurity, and has enforcement authority to secure recalls of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment with a safety-related defect, including one involving cybersecurity flaws,” the alliance said. The group met with the Public Safety Bureau and staff for Commissioners Anna Gomez, Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks.

CTIA supports a public notice by the FCC Wireless Bureau Thursday seeking comment on how to make unassigned licenses in the agency's inventory available for use absent general auction authority (see 2403070062). CTIA appreciates Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s “focus on spectrum auctions as an ‘indispensable’ tool for promoting economic growth and national security,” emailed Scott Bergmann, senior vice president-regulatory affairs. The notice “only underscores the importance of Congress moving rapidly to restore the FCC’s auction authority and create a pipeline of licensed spectrum to ensure our wireless leadership.”

Competitive Carriers Association President Tim Donovan Friday called on Congress to restore FCC auction authority. The lapse “creates challenges for the wireless industry and frustrates America’s goals to remain the global wireless leader,” he said. “Competitive carriers must have access to spectrum to meet our nation’s insatiable demand for wireless connectivity, especially as carriers deploy 5G and prepare for 6G services.” Auction authority lapsed a year ago.

Former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly raised security concerns this week about wireless routers from Chinese companies. “Bad actors can misuse wireless routers to infect millions of home networks to obtain consumer information and documents, proliferate misinformation, disrupt functionality, or cause other harm,” O’Rielly wrote in a Hudson Institute blog post. “While the underlying internet infrastructure is protected by layers of encryption and other security features in its embedded standards, routers can give malicious actors entry to these systems, potentially affecting service providers, wider networks, and the global internet.” O’Rielly said policymakers should look at whether wireless routers could give China-sponsored hackers their “next entry point into U.S. networks.”