Safe Connections Act

T-Mobile is considering how to use its growing fiber footprint to further bolster its Home Internet base, CEO Mike Sievert said on a call with investors late Thursday. T-Mobile earlier in the day unveiled a joint venture with infrastructure investor EQT (see 2404250047).

Samsung Electronics America representatives met with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff about the company’s request for a waiver on a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum, said a filing posted Friday in docket 22-93. “Samsung respectfully again urges the Commission to expeditiously grant Samsung’s waiver request based on sound engineering and clear public interest benefits,” the company said. Samsung representatives also met last week with aides for Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2404240036).

The Senate Commerce Committee confirmed Thursday the panel plans to mark up the draft Spectrum and National Security Act and five other tech and telecom-focused bills during a Wednesday executive session, as expected (see 2404240074). The 108-page draft measure from committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would restore the FCC’s spectrum auction authority through Sept. 30, 2029, also as expected (see 2403210063). The proposal also provides a new vehicle for allocating stopgap funding for the commission’s ailing affordable connectivity program amid a delay in advancing a separate House-side bid to force a floor vote on providing that money, lobbyists told us.

FCC commissioners were met with applause following a 3-2 vote that restored the net neutrality framework and reclassified broadband internet access service (BIAS) as a Communications Act Title II telecom service during the agency's open meeting Thursday (see 2404190038). “Essential services [require] some basic oversight,” Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. She told reporters following the vote that the rules are "court tested and court approved" because they are "very consistent with" prior rules that were upheld in court: "I'm confident that these rules will also be upheld."

The 5G Automotive Association met with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on proposals the group made in June 2021 comments seeking a revised definition of cellular vehicle to everything in the 5.9 GHz band. “C-V2X direct communication in the 5.9 GHz band enables ultra-low latency information sharing among vehicles, roadway infrastructure, and vulnerable road users to enable safer travel, reduce roadway congestion and accidents, and, most importantly, save lives,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-138. “The use of C-V2X to provide traffic signal state information to cars, for example, supports red light running violation warnings and promotes general environmental and fuel efficiency benefits by allowing vehicles to avoid unnecessary braking,” 5GAA said.

The FCC Wireless and International bureaus approved, subject to conditions, T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of Mint Mobile (see 2303150032) and other assets from Ka’ena. Mint Mobile is a low-cost prepaid wireless brand. Meanwhile, T-Mobile announced plans Thursday to partner with private equity firm EQT as part of a proposed acquisition of fiber-to-the-home provider Lumos.

AT&T added 349,000 net postpaid phone customers, which was far better than Wall Street expectations, and saw record low churn in Q1, CEO John Stankey said Wednesday as the carrier reported quarterly results. Stankey apologized for the nationwide wireless outage that hit customers Feb. 22 (see 2402220058). Compared to Verizon, whose shares sunk after it reported results Monday (see 2404220042), AT&T was up 1.88%, closing the day at $16.82.

Samsung Electronics America representatives met with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about the company’s request for a waiver for a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum (see 2309130041). The company refuted concerns raised about the potential interference threat to CBRS (see 2404090058). Samsung was “the first phone manufacturer to offer a phone operating in CBRS in the United States and a leading supplier of CBRS base stations around the country,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 23-93: “Samsung has every incentive to ensure its proposed radio does not intentionally interfere with its and others’ CBRS radios.” The waiver request “has been pending more than 600 days and is ripe for grant,” the company said.

Fixed wireless access compares favorably to fiber in the eyes of consumers, said a new Ericsson report surveying 2,000 U.S. households. Respondents "believe 5G Fixed Wireless achieves fiber-level performance while delivering an equitable service experience to Fiber,” the report said. 5G FWA and fiber were rated similarly on capacity, in-door coverage, latency, reliability, security and speed. FWA won in two categories, customer loyalty and price, but lost to fiber on equipment quality. "This enthusiasm for FWA among users is highlighted by the fact that fewer than 1 in 10 households using 5G FWA would consider terminating their subscription within a year," the report said: "Notably, residents of metropolitan areas and of rural towns and villages report the highest 5G FWA network satisfaction."

Republican members of the House and Senate Commerce committees echoed arguments from opponents of the FCC’s draft net neutrality order in a letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel ahead of the commission’s expected adoption of the new rules (see 2404190038). The panels’ Republicans are eying a range of potential actions countering the net neutrality bid (see 2404180058). Meanwhile, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (Ohio) and 11 other Republicans urged Rosenworcel last Thursday to “leverage all resources at its disposal for a successful 5G Fund that maximizes the reach and effectiveness of the program.”