The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Monday sought comments, due July 29, on a C3Spectra proposal to join the list of companies operating an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system to manage access to the 6 GHz band. OET conditionally approved C3Spectra’s application, subject to a testing process, “which may begin immediately.” In February, OET approved AFC operations by seven companies and sought initial comments on C3Spectra’s proposal, in docket 21-352 (see 2402230050).

The FCC on Monday approved a waiver of rules that require environmental sensing capability systems to protect federal incumbents in the citizens broadband radio service band from harmful interference for markets in Texas hit by Hurricane Beryl. Federated sought a waiver Friday. The Wireless Bureau said the waiver is similar to those granted for similar storms and applies only to areas affected by power outages.

The Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association told the FCC the FirstNet Authority can best utilize the 4.9 GHz band. The 4.9 GHz band is “mid-band spectrum that can be used to support FirstNet 5G services while protecting incumbent uses in the band,” the chiefs said in a filing posted Monday in docket 07-100: “For the fire and emergency service," the band "presents an opportunity to develop technology to track firefighters in buildings; support Unmanned Aerial Systems and robots; and improve the data available to an incident commander on the scene in a major incident.”

Public Knowledge became the first group to note meetings on a draft FCC notice seeking comment on uniform, industrywide handset unlocking requirements, teed up for a July 18 commissioner vote (see 2406260058). Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld spoke with aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, according to filings last week in docket 24-186. The group “enthusiastically supports” the proposed notice, PK said. “Consumers have benefited from the Verizon unlocking condition and the overall agreement by carriers to unlock cell phones that are fully paid for.” But PK also asked that the FCC seek comment on whether carrier practices on number porting “either accidentally or by intent -- create barriers to switching.” The group noted the agency hasn’t “systemically examined” number porting practices for 15 years: “Despite the establishment of basic standards, we have heard anecdotal evidence that different carriers require different types of documentation or pin numbers for security purposes, and may have inconsistent practices regarding wait times for assistance that discourage subscribers from transferring their phone contracts.”

Competitive Carriers Association representatives, including President Tim Donovan, met with aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Anna Gomez on the group’s concerns about a proposed 5G Fund. Issues still exist within the broadband data collection mobile challenge process “that make it difficult for smaller providers to submit challenges,” a filing posted Friday in docket 19-195 said. The BDC “requires mobile challenges to be based on outdoor stationary measurements, rather than in-vehicle measurements” and members have reported “the significant burden and potential impossibility” of comprehensive outdoor stationary measurements of mobile service areas compared with drive testing, which “more realistically reflects the mobile nature of mobile service,” CCA said. The exclusive use of outdoor stationary data “would significantly overstate covered areas” leaving “many areas in need excluded from the program,” CCA said. The group said the low proposed funding level is “a significant issue threatening the overall success of the program” and stressed the importance of coordination with the broadband equity, access and deployment program. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated in March an order that would launch a 5G Fund Phase I multi-round reverse auction, making $9 billion available to target 14 million homes and businesses lacking mobile 5G coverage (see 2403200071).

The FCC on Wednesday authorized Federated Wireless, Google, Key Bridge, Red Technologies and Sony to change the aggregate interference model that protects federal operations in the citizens broadband radio service band. In June, the agency approved the changes (see 2406120027). "Each of these five [spectrum access system] administrators has demonstrated the ability to successfully implement the modified aggregate interference model, including system testing in a non-operational environment,” a Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology notice said. Meanwhile, Nokia filed a spectrum controller certification test report at the FCC as it seeks permission to make those changes. In addition, Nokia asked for confidential treatment of the report. The report “provides details of the self-certification testing Nokia conducted to demonstrate the capability of Nokia’s Spectrum Access System to support new methodologies for protecting federal operations in the 3.5 GHz band,” a filing this week in docket 15-319 said. Nokia asked for prompt FCC action.

An EchoStar representative urged that the FCC approve Dish Network’s proposed transfer of spectrum licenses and other assets, including customers, to Liberty Latin America (see 2402230063). Meeting with a Wireless Bureau staffer, EchoStar discussed “the competitive benefits of the transaction, consistent with the Public Interest Statement" the parties filed, according to a filing posted Wednesday in docket 24-55. As the pleading cycle concluded March 26 without other parties filing comments, EchoStar urged expeditious FCC approval.

Summit Ridge, the 3.45 GHz Clearinghouse, said it needs to “extend operations several months longer than planned” as it waits for NBCUniversal to complete its “relocation activity” and submit final invoices. Summit Ridge updated the FCC in a Wednesday status progress report posted in docket 19-348, its first since May (see 2405130022). While costs are “running very close” to estimates, the longer the Clearinghouse operates, “the less likely” it will stay within its initial $3.6 million budget, the filing said.

Representatives of the Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) raised legal concerns with staff from the FCC Office of General Counsel about the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance's support for giving the FirstNet Authority (FNA) control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2401190067). “The legal merits of the PSSA’s plan are not a close call,” a filing posted Wednesday in docket 07-100 said. The FCC “clearly lacks authority to assign" the FNA the 4.9 GHz band and the FNA “clearly lacks authority to receive it,” CERCI said.

Comments are due Sept. 3, replies Oct. 3, on an FCC NPRM barring test labs from entities on the agency’s “covered list” of unsecure companies from participating in the equipment authorization process, a notice for Friday’s Federal Register said. Commissioners approved the NPRM 5-0 in May (see 2405230033). Filings should be made in docket 24-136.