Verizon is reopening many of the company stores shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Financial Officer Matt Ellis said at a MoffettNathanson virtual conference Monday. The carrier was down to 30% of stores open, which increased to 40% last week and is expected to hit 50% in June, he said. T-Mobile executives also said more stores are coming online in some locations based on state guidelines. While 80% of T-Mobile and 70% of Sprint stores closed, business as usual will return at a different rate in different parts of the country, said CFO Braxton Carter. The two companies combined earlier this year.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and three other committee leaders Friday filed a companion version of the Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act (S-3189). The bill would require the FCC to direct at least $750 million, or up to 5 percent of annual spectrum auction proceeds, to create an NTIA-managed open radio access network R&D fund to spur movement to open-architecture, software-based wireless technologies. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders filed S-3189 in January (see 2001140067). Congress “took strong action to protect our communications networks against foreign interference from dangerous companies like Huawei and ZTE” last month via the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998), said Pallone and the other three leaders: House Commerce Oversight Subcommittee ranking member Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.; House Commerce ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore.; and House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif. “Now, we must follow that up by promoting equipment and technologies that can ensure a more diverse, sustainable, and competitive supply chain for America’s 5G networks.” HR-4998 allocates at least $1 billion to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 2003040056). Mavenir CEO Pardeep Kohli praised the USA Telecommunications Act, saying in a statement that “advancing the deployment of OpenRAN technology is key to ensuring American leadership in building next-generation networks and creating a more competitive and innovative wireless marketplace.” Dish Network Senior Vice President-Public Policy and Government Affairs Jeff Blum said the bill's proposed grants "will enhance mobile access, spur job creation, and boost American efforts to lead the global race to 5G.”
Commissioners approved an NPRM Thursday on the proposed 5G Fund over partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2004200063). Both said the NPRM offers a false choice and the FCC can’t rely on bad maps or wait until 2023 or later to start offering support. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly supported the NPRM, but also had concerns. Members met via teleconference, for the second month during COVID-19.
It took White House proxy support and concerns about commercial spectrum being essentially claimed by federal agencies to break the years-old logjam of Ligado's proposed terrestrial use of L-band spectrum with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's decision to circulate a draft approval order (see 2004160019), we were told Thursday. Swift action could be next, with multiple commissioners' offices expecting to vote on it this week. An array of primarily aerospace interests urged the FCC to close and dismiss the proceeding.
Carriers will lead the bidding in the July citizens broadband radio service band auction, but questions remain about the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on credit markets, said Joe Madden, chief analyst at Mobile Experts. The FCC delayed the auction for a month to July 23 (see 2003250052). Speakers Tuesday said another delay isn’t likely.
The FCC will allow indoor operations over the full 1,200 megahertz of 6 GHz, without automated frequency control and at power levels lower than what the cable industry and others sought, said a draft order released Thursday. As expected, the FCC will regulate indoor use on a power-spectral density (PSD) basis (see 2004010065). The draft proposed these devices be limited to 5 dBm/MHz radiated PSD, lower than the 8 dBm/MHz sought by cable and others (see 2003260049). Industry officials said that means less throughput for devices using the wide channels. The draft proposes higher limits for outdoor devices using AFC.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday he will seek a vote at the April 23 commissioners' meeting on opening the 6 GHz band to sharing with Wi-Fi unlicensed (see [Ref2004010053]). Some consider it a capstone to his legacy. A few key details remain unclear. More will be revealed Thursday when the draft is released.
Nokia representatives told FCC officials C-band auction winners should be allowed to deploy 5G services in contiguous blocks of spectrum. That general "desirability" is "well-understood" and support came in this proceeding, said Nokia in a filing for docket 18-122. It cited "technical benefit" The company spoke with Wireless Bureau, Office of Engineering and Technology and Office of Economic Affairs staffers.
The FCC provided relief Thursday on additional filing deadlines, as industry and government groups face COVID-19. On Wednesday, as some expected (see 2003230058), the FCC extended the deadline on a net neutrality partial refresh (see 2003250041). Industry officials said in interviews more extensions are likely, though not with the amounts of time being sought in most cases.
The FCC Wednesday postponed the first mid-band auction of citizens broadband radio service licenses for about a month because of COVID-19. The FCC postponed indefinitely an auction of FM construction permits. Analysts disagreed Wednesday whether the C-band auction could get pushed to next year.