A federal appeals court this week rejected a lawsuit challenging restored FCC rules regarding ultra-high frequency TV stations. The District of Columbia court reportedly dismissed the challenge on technical grounds, which leaves the policy known as the UHF discount in place. The FCC, during the Obama administration, implemented new standards that required broadcasters to count…
Lawmakers Leave ZTE Export Ban Out of Must-Pass Legislation
ZTE will continue to be able to use U.S.-made technology after congressional leaders abandoned an effort to reinstate a Commerce Department ban on the practice. The Washington Post reports that a compromise version of a must-pass defense bill would not include Senate language that would have restored the department’s “denial of export privileges” order —…
Report Finds US Download Speeds Increased but Still Lag Global Leaders
A recent report found that despite improvements over last year, the U.S. nonetheless ranked 43rd in mobile download speeds and 73rd in upload speeds during the first half of 2018. Internet testing firm Ookla compiled the report using the results from nearly 12.5 million tests, completed by more than 2.8 million unique mobile device users,…
T-Mobile Launches US NB-IoT Network
T-Mobile last week became the first operator to launch a narrowband Internet of Things network in the U.S., company officials said. The carrier also said it became the first worldwide to launch an NB-IoT network in “guard” spectrum bands, which prevents competition between IoT applications and other data traffic. “We’re always innovating to bring customers…
Study Says Easing Small Cell Regulations Would Help Generate $100B Over Three Years
A new industry-backed report suggests that curbing the current delays in installations of small cellular infrastructure could generate tens of billions in economic development. The analysis, compiled by Accenture and commissioned by CTIA, said a 12-month reduction in current timelines would translate to an additional $100 billion for the U.S. economy over the next three…
Tuesdays with Roger: New Millimeter Wave Spectrum Auctions
This week, Roger talks spectrum after the FCC begins crafting new rules for the C-Band and aims for auctions next year in the 37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands. Follow Roger on Twitter at @RogerEntner for more insights throughout the week, and stay up to date on the latest industry news by following Wireless Week at @WirelessWeek. You…
FCC Seeks Spectrum Build-Out Information from Dish
Federal Communications Commission officials pressed Dish Network for more details about its plans for its spectrum holdings after the company missed interim construction deadlines. FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale, in a letter to Dish attorney Jeffrey Blum, requested updates about the build-out of 53 MHz of low- and mid-band spectrum that is “apparently…
FCC to Begin Rule-Making Process for 3.7 GHz to 4.2 GHz Spectrum
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a measure that would eventually enable wireless companies to take advantage of mid-band spectrum between 3.7 GHz and 4.2 GHz. The vote initiates the rule-making process for opening up that 500 MHz of spectrum, also known as the C-Band, for wireless use. The band is currently used…
FCC Adopts C-Band Proposal Without ‘Onerous’ Reporting Requirement
A cable industry group praised the Federal Communications Commission for removing potentially “onerous” reporting requirements from a spectrum rule-making proposal. The commission on Thursday approved a measure to begin crafting rules to open the C-Band, or spectrum between 3.7 GHz and 4.2 GHz currently used by broadcasters for satellite transmissions, for wireless use. The proposal,…
Sprint Magic Box Joins Pittsburgh Energy Efficiency Project
Sprint on Tuesday announced plans to install its “Magic Box” small wireless sites as part of an energy efficiency project in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania city intends to award a contract to Pittsburgh-based IoT energy management firm BOSS Controls, which will collaborate with Sprint, city agencies and other companies to make Pittsburgh “a national model for…
FCC Chairman Plans 37 GHz, 39 GHz, 47 GHz Spectrum Auctions for 2019
The Federal Communications Commission intends to hold another auction of high-band spectrum next year, Chairman Ajit Pai announced Wednesday. Pai wrote in a blog post — following his remarks at a regulatory symposium in Switzerland — that a single auction in the second half of 2019 would make spectrum available in the 37 GHz, 39…
Analysts Say AT&T, American Tower Spat Won’t Impact Overall Relationship
A recent AT&T lawsuit against American Tower Corp. should not significantly impact the relationship between the carrier and infrastructure giant, according to industry analysts. Wells Fargo analysts wrote in a research note this week that the complaint, filed by the carrier earlier this month, essentially asks the court to interpret contract language. The dispute concerns…
Rosenworcel Offers San Jose Small Cell Agreements as National Model
An FCC commissioner hopes recent agreements to install thousands of small cells in San Jose, Calif., could help more cities strike similar partnerships. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel last month introduced model documents based on the agreements negotiated by San Jose officials with Verizon, AT&T and infrastructure company Mobilitie. Under those deals, the companies are expected to…
T-Mobile Announces Completed 600 MHz Spectrum Repack on Long Island
T-Mobile said Monday that the ahead-of-schedule repack of a New York television station’s spectrum will bring LTE service to the city more quickly on the carrier’s 600 MHz spectrum. The company and CBS Television Stations announced the completion of an “accelerated repack” of spectrum previously held by WLNY-TV on parts of Long Island, including portions…
Thune, Schatz Introduce Small Cell Siting Bill
Wireless industry groups this week hailed introduction of bipartisan legislation they said would enable faster deployments of small cellular infrastructure. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, on Thursday introduced the STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii and ranking member of its communications subcommittee. Text of…
FCC Fines AT&T $5.25M Over 911 Outages in 2017
AT&T will pay $5.25 million to settle a federal investigation into outages of 911 service in early 2017. The Federal Communications Commission added that the company, as a condition of the settlement, must take steps to ensure reliable 911 call completion, curb the likelihood and impact of outages, improve notifications of 911 call centers during…
Global Carriers Commit to Implement IoT Security Standards
A collection of wireless carriers from across the globe announced Wednesday they would adopt and implement standard procedures developed to secure the Internet of Things. GSMA officials said the industry group’s IoT Security Guidelines outline best practices for the end-to-end security of IoT solution design, development and deployment. The standards address the cybersecurity and data…
Senate Committee Advances Starks’ FCC Nomination
FCC Enforcement Bureau official Geoffrey Starks on Wednesday moved one step closer to confirmation as a commissioner. The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved Starks’ nomination on a voice vote; he must still be confirmed by the full Senate. Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., reportedly indicated that both Starks’ nomination and a second term for current…
Senate Committee Backs Starks’ Nomination to FCC
A Senate panel on Wednesday unanimously moved Geoffrey Starks closer to confirmation as the next commissioner at the FCC. The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved Starks’ nomination on a voice vote, and Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., reportedly indicated that the full Senate could take up both Starks’ confirmation and a second term for…
ATIS, CBRS Alliance Announce Solution for CBRS Deployment in Public Areas
A pair of industry groups on Tuesday announced a solution to help deploy 3.5 GHz spectrum commercially in stadiums, malls, apartment complexes and other large venues. The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions and the CBRS Alliance developed a new IMSI code — a 15-digit international identifier for network roaming — to be allocated to operators…
Korean Carrier Launches Telemedicine Pilot Project in Russia
South Korea’s leading wireless carrier on Tuesday announced a pilot project in Russia that aims to offer medical diagnoses and treatment even in remote areas of the world’s largest country. KT Corp. will partner with Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Russian Railways to connect rural clinics to doctors and hospitals in larger population centers.…
Nokia, Orange Test Cloud RAN Technology in Poland
Nokia this week announced a successful, weeks-long trial of a cloud Radio Access Network on infrastructure owned by French carrier Orange. The companies said the test, held in Poland between March and early May, included commercial traffic in the largest such configuration to date, and represented the first trial of its kind in Europe to…
AT&T to Launch NB-IoT in US, Mexico Next Year
AT&T on Wednesday announced plans to launch a narrowband Internet of Things network in the U.S. and Mexico in 2019. The technology will be deployed through software upgrades at the carrier’s cell sites in the U.S. early in the year, with upgrades in Mexico beginning by year’s end. Company officials said NB-IoT would complement its…
Tuesdays with Roger: What’s Next for Dish’s Spectrum Holdings?
This week, Recon Analytics’ Roger Entner on the first “phase” of Dish’s spectrum rollout — and where it could go from there. Follow Roger on Twitter at @RogerEntner for more insights throughout the week, and stay up to date on the latest industry news by following Wireless Week at @WirelessWeek. You can also keep pace with Wireless Week on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Verizon, AT&T to Install Thousands of Small Cells in San Jose
San Jose, Calif., on Friday announced the largest single-city deployment of small cellular sites in U.S. history under agreements with Verizon, AT&T and infrastructure company Mobilitie. As part of the three separate agreements, the city will see small cells installed on about 4,000 city-owned light poles. Small cells are a fraction of the size of…