The FCC Wireless Bureau approved a waiver that Saab TransponderTech sought concerning the commission’s part 80 rules to allow authorization of Saab’s R60 Automatic Identification System (AIS) Aids to Navigation (AtoN) station. An AtoN is “any device external to a vessel or aircraft intended to assist a navigator to determine position or safe course, or to warn of dangers or obstructions to navigation,” said an order posted in Wednesday’s Daily Digest. Though the commission’s part 80 rules “currently do not provide for the authorization of AIS AtoN equipment, we find that authorizing this AIS AtoN serves the paramount goal of part 80 by promoting maritime safety through the use of radio technology,” the bureau said.

The five biggest wireless carriers, -- AT&T, Dish Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular -- invested an average of $54 billion per year from 2020 to 2022, making wireless the second-highest investing industry after the tech/internet sector, according to a Tuesday report by Advanced Analytical Consulting Group. CTIA paid for the report. “This investment has provided infrastructure that has facilitated economic activity and investment throughout the US economy, including from other companies with sizable capital expenditures,” the report said: “Wireless companies’ substantial direct investment into networks and the U.S. economy at large allows for robust wireless service that supports the growth of every American industry, enhancing their competitiveness on the global stage.” CTIA President Meredith Baker said the report “underscores the need for Congress to provide a clear path to additional licensed spectrum to support one of the two biggest contributors to our economy.”

Broadcom, Wi-Fi Alliance Services and the Wireless Broadband Alliance offered the FCC an update on changes to power spectral density rules for automated frequency coordination systems in the 6 GHz band, which the three proposed in March (see 2404150050). The filing, posted Tuesday in docket 21-352, asks the Office of Engineering and Technology to “promptly approve the proposed code modification for our systems so that they can continue to perform as the Commission anticipated while accounting more accurately for the permitted PSD levels.”

Among other objections to an FCC proposal to expand the parts of the 6 GHz band where very-low power (VLP) devices can operate without coordination, and make other changes to the rules (see 2404290035), NAB stressed the importance of protecting broadcasters' use of the band for electronic news-gathering. “Allowing unrestrained VLP operation by millions -- or even billions -- of unlicensed devices amounts to letting the metaphorical ‘genie out of the bottle,’ potentially creating a radio frequency interference environment that cannot be controlled,” NAB said. Sirius XM said its satellite digital audio radio service business “cannot operate without reliable access to the 7.025-7.075 GHz band to uplink programming for delivery to listeners and control its spacecraft.” Proponents haven’t demonstrated a need to expand the bands where VLP devices can operate, Sirius XM said: “The public interest in protecting service to tens of millions of satellite radios -- both subscribed and unsubscribed -- far outweighs any speculative benefit from adding marginally to the spectrum that can be used for outdoor VLP devices.” The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition said the record “remains insufficient to move forward with the Commission’s proposals at this time.” Comments in favor of changing the rules “were either non-substantive or rehashed information previously submitted to the record,” the group said. The 5G Automotive Alliance said out-of-band emissions limits of -37 dBm/MH are needed to protect cellular vehicle-to-everything operations in the 5.9 GHz band. “The record in this proceeding demonstrates commenters’ well-founded concerns about VLP devices interfering with C-V2X operations and the possible dire consequences of such interference,” the alliance said. Comments were posted this week in docket 18-295.

CTIA told the FCC that U.S. networks are secure in comments on a notice from the FCC Public Safety Bureau on providers’ implementation of security counter-measures to prevent the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the Signaling System 7 (SS7) and Diameter protocols to track the locations of consumers through their mobile devices. Comments were due Friday in docket 18-99. Major carriers emphasized that their systems were updated to address risks. That was also the industry message when the agency asked about Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council recommendations on diameter protocol security four years ago (see 2003120030). “U.S. providers’ commitment to security has resulted in U.S. networks being relatively more secure from legacy SS7 and Diameter risks than networks in other regions,” CTIA said. CTIA explained that technology is evolving. Legacy SS7 signaling is used today only in legacy 2G and 3G networks and Diameter in 4G and non-stand-alone 5G networks and “was deployed to help reduce risks associated with SS7 and is less susceptible to attacks,” the group said. Stand-alone 5G networks use HTTP/2 for signaling. Verizon said it knows of no successful attempts to access network user location data on its network using weaknesses in the SS7 or Diameter protocols since CSRIC’s adoption of best practices in 2018. “As Verizon explained in response to previous public notices relating to SS7 and Diameter security, in interviews with Commission staff, and in its responses to the Letter of Inquiry received from the Bureau” in October 2022 “we have implemented the relevant recommendations issued by the CSRIC and GSMA on signaling security,” the carrier said. As noted in previous filings, “AT&T has employed an aggressive, multifaceted approach to SS7 and Diameter security” and “continues to take significant, aggressive steps to protect the SS7 and Diameter networks including implementation of CSRIC’s working group recommendation,” the carrier said.

CTIA and member company representatives spoke with aides to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, asking that a 5G Fund auction occur only after funding is released for the broadband access, equity and deployment program. This has been a recurring concern for wireless companies (see 2403260052). “Although the wireless industry is making record investments to deploy 5G nationwide, there are some areas where difficult geography or sparse population mean that subsidies will be necessary to support mobile broadband,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 20-32. "While the BEAD program will not directly fund mobile broadband deployment, it is likely to result in the deployment of fiber broadband backhaul facilities and fixed wireless services that will facilitate the expansion of unsubsidized 5G coverage in rural areas."

NTIA “is hard at work” implementing the national spectrum strategy, the agency said as it offered details on its progress. Derek Khlopin, deputy associate administrator-spectrum planning and policy in the Office of Spectrum Management, is now in charge of implementing the plan for NTIA, the agency said: “First up: initiating technical studies of spectrum bands -- including a process to streamline funding to federal agencies -- and kicking off the exploration and demonstration of advanced spectrum management techniques including Dynamic Spectrum Sharing.” NTIA is working with other federal agencies on “streamlining” the process for receiving money from the spectrum relocation fund (SRF) and anticipates distributing funds in October. “We expect that more than 10 federal agencies will seek funding, and our hope is this streamlined process will make the application process easier and quicker for these agencies,” it said. Under a three-step process, each agency must submit an application for funding, which is reviewed by a Technical Panel, chaired by NTIA, with representatives from the Office of Management and Budget and the FCC, which considers the request. “If approved by the Technical Panel, OMB notifies Congress and, after a mandatory 60-day waiting period, disperses the funds to each requesting agency,” NTIA said. It noted the presentation DOD made at CTIA this month on dynamic spectrum sharing (see 2404080063) but said it was “separate and apart” from a study that’s getting underway on the lower 3 GHz band's future. NTIA released the implementation plan for the strategy in March (see 2403120056).

CTIA representatives met with FCC Public Safety Bureau staff to express general support for commission efforts that will make IoT products more secure through the Cyber Mark program. “CTIA also discussed administration of the Program, including the roles and responsibilities of the Lead Administrator, Cybersecurity Label Administrators, CyberLABs, and the Commission,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-239. Commissioners approved the program in March (see 2403140034).

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).

Comments are due May 29, replies June 28 on a Further NPRM on 70/80/90 GHz spectrum that commissioners adopted in January (see 2401290032), said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. A second notice says parts of an order on the spectrum are effective May 29, while others are delayed. The FNPRM asks about the potential inclusion of ship-to-aerostat transmissions as part of maritime operations and whether to include fixed satellite service earth stations in the light-licensing regime for the 70/80 GHz bands. The Office of Management and Budget must examine the order to determine if the rule is “major” or “non-major” under the Congressional Review Act.