Telit Communications' ME310M1 is the first module based on Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset to receive AT&T approval, the company said Wednesday. The chipset is “the first in the world to support both unlicensed spectrum and satellite connectivity, enhancing IoT device functionality and application,” it noted. The module is energy efficient, allowing for smaller device sizes and reducing the frequency of battery replacements, “a critical advantage in many IoT applications,” Telit said.

Representatives of the FirstNet Authority, joined by AT&T, “discussed and fielded questions” from the FCC Public Safety Bureau on whether FirstNet should be subject to the agency’s network outage and disaster information reporting systems rules (see 2406140053). The main topic was FirstNet Central, “a tool available to FirstNet public safety users that provides near-real time network status information, including visibility into areas that may be experiencing outages, the cause if known, and estimated restoration time if known,” said a filing this week in docket 21-346. Representatives “explained and demonstrated the features and functionality of the FirstNet Central platform” and how users “can visualize network outage data inclusive of towers, outage notifications, and various informative map layers and showed how users can subscribe to and customize alerts,” the authority said.

Comments are due Sept. 9, replies Sept. 23, on an FCC NPRM that proposes industry-wide handset unlocking rules, a notice for Thursday’s Federal Register said. Commissioners approved the NPRM 5-0 last month (see 2407180037). It proposes a requirement that all mobile wireless providers unlock handsets 60 days after they’re activated, unless a carrier determines the handset “was purchased through fraud.”

The neutral host market is likely to hit $8.7 billion in 2028, offering an opportunity “for those who can make both the technology and economics work,” 5G Americas said in a report released Wednesday. 5G Americas defines neutral hosts as “shared wireless infrastructures that allow multiple network providers to offer connectivity and coverage to different sectors and customers.” Potential “headwinds” include the decline of distributed antenna system equipment sales, security risks, energy costs and consumption, and potential regulatory barriers, the report said. “Tailwinds include the growth of private networks, the availability of shared spectrum, the demand for Bring Your Own Device and innovative partnership models.”

Gogo Business Aviation asked the FCC to move forward on a rulemaking proceeding that considers revised rules for the 800 MHz commercial air-ground service to enable more flexible use of the spectrum. In June, the Wireless Bureau sought comment on Gogo’s request for an NPRM. Only APCO filed initial comments, Gogo noted in reply comments posted Wednesday in docket 24-184. APCO urged independent technical analysis of the interference potential of the rule change and a requirement for real-world testing, among its requests. While Gogo “disagrees with APCO’s proposals, each can be addressed and more deeply explored in the context of an NPRM,” the company said. Gogo “is developing a next-generation network to deliver higher capacity, higher quality broadband connectivity to aircraft operating in the United States,” Gogo said: “These network upgrades expand capacity and help Gogo BA more efficiently use its spectrum to meet aircraft operators’ ever-increasing demand for broadband data and new types of broadband services.”

SpaceX filed a report at the FCC that found high-power mobile use of the 13 GHz band would cause harmful out-of-band interference to its customers in three metropolitan areas studied up to 83.2% of the time. It would cause harmful blocking interference up to 76.8% of the time, the study said. “Either type of interference would crush SpaceX’s service for these consumers and businesses, and they both occur simultaneously,” a filing posted Tuesday in docket 22-352 said. SpaceX has directed most of its wrath at the lower 12 GHz band, which is being studied for fixed-wireless use (see 2407030061). Carriers see the band's upper part as a candidate for 5G, and eventually 6G, based on comments in response to an FCC NPRM (see 2308140046). The record “shows that the upper 12 GHz band is not a priority for the mobile industry, which has asked the Commission to focus instead on frequency bands in the mobile spectrum pipeline,” SpaceX said: No carrier “has made an actual technical proposal” to use the band. “Any high-power mobile service in the upper 12 GHz band threatens to do as much damage to American satellite customers as [Dish Network’s] deeply flawed plea for terrestrial service in the lower 12 GHz band.”

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology and Wireless Bureau sought comment Tuesday on a NextNav proposal that the agency reconfigure the 902-928 MHz band “to enable a high-quality, terrestrial complement” to GPS for positioning, navigation and timing services (see 2404160043). Comments are due Sept. 5, replies Sept. 20, in docket 24-240. NextNav asked that the commission reconfigure the lower 900 MHz band by creating a 5-MHz uplink in the 902-907 MHz band paired with a 10-MHz downlink in the 918-928 MHz band, shifting remaining non-multilateration location and monitoring service (M-LMS) licensees to the 907-918 MHz part of the band, the notice said: “NextNav proposes a spectrum ‘swap’ to trade in its current M-LMS holdings for a single, nationwide 15-megahertz flexible use license pursuant to the new band plan.” The agency said some 1,500 active non-M-LMS licenses are in the band. The FCC seeks comment “on all aspects" of the NextNav petition, “including its associated costs and benefits,” the notice said. “We seek to develop a robust record and welcome comment on additional related issues that commenters may identify.” The notice is “an important next step in delivering an innovative spectrum solution in the Lower 900 MHz band,” NextNav CEO Mariam Sorond said. “Providing a complement and backup to GPS is critical for safeguarding things we need daily -- from location mapping and tracking services to serving as an important tool for locating emergency callers to addressing critical infrastructure and national security needs.”

Before the FCC takes further action on supplemental coverage from space (SCS) issues, the agency should consider seeking additional public comment, Apple said in docket 23-65 filing, posted Tuesday. Areas needing more input include carrier/satellite operators' interconnectivity, including plans that rely on industry standards and support legacy devices, the filing said. A further inquiry or rulemaking would help ensure that neither future SCS service deployments nor new regulations would negatively affect features or performance, it said. Additional proceedings wouldn't be an obstacle for parties providing satellite-enabled services under the current rules. In addition, Apple, in the filing, explained how iPhone 14 and 15 traffic gets routed in its emergency SOS messaging partnership with Globalstar.

UScellular remains focused on selling its wireless operations and about 30% of its spectrum to T-Mobile in a deal valued at about $4.4 billion, executives said during an earnings call Friday. The deal was unveiled in May (see 2405280047). UScellular reported results along with parent TDS. “We’ve launched the regulatory approval process, and we remain optimistic that this process will have a favorable outcome,” UScellular CEO Laurent Therivel said on a call with analysts: “We remain convinced that the transaction with T-Mobile is the best long-term option for our customers as they will have the long-term benefits of greater scale and a more competitive network.” Therivel noted UScellular plans on selling the remainder of its spectrum holdings. “That process is active and ongoing and given the nature of that process, we don’t expect to have updates until it is concluded,” he said. TDS reported total operating revenue of $1.238 billion in Q2, down from $1.267 billion a year earlier. TDS lost $14 million, compared with a $19 million loss the previous year. UScellular said it has 134,000 fixed wireless subscribers. It plans on retaining more than 4,300 towers.

AT&T CEO John Stankey met FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington concerning the 4.9 GHz band and FirstNet. He “highlighted the success of the public-private partnership between the FirstNet Authority and AT&T,” a filing Friday in docket 07-100 said. “Public safety users require a distinct level of network performance, reliability, and coverage ... AT&T is proud to have answered the call to help meet those needs.” A Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) proposal that would assign the GHz band to FirstNet has been hotly contested at the agency (see 2407230045). Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg opposed FirstNet control of the spectrum and warned commissioners in July of a potential windfall for AT&T (see 2407120025). Stankey disputed that claim. In filings posted Monday, the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs supported FirstNet control of the band, while Flint, Michigan, made clear its opposition.