Sen. Tom Cotton R-Ark., is among those set to testify Tuesday before the U.K. Parliament’s Defense Select Committee on 5G security. Cotton said Monday his testimony, which he will do via webcam, will focus on Chinese telecom manufacturer Huawei. Cotton was one of several lawmakers who in January criticized the U.K.’s National Security Council to allow equipment from Huawei on “non-core” parts of the country’s communications infrastructure but bar it from “sensitive locations” like military bases (see 2001280074). Recent media reports claim the U.K. government may be planning to reverse course. Also testifying will be 5G Action Now Chairman Mike Rogers and the Hudson Institute's Robert Spalding, the Defense Committee said. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

5G rollout showed how quickly China caught up with the U.S. in telecom network equipment, and satellite broadband could be next, FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks told the Commercial Spaceflight Federation Thursday, per prepared remarks released Friday. China says its government-backed providers are interested in just the domestic market, but the U.S. can't be complacent and the FCC needs to pursue policies that will encourage American leadership, he said. Expected megaconstellations might necessitate a new regulatory approach, and April's orbital debris rules update and NPRM approval (see 2004230040) "strike the right balance," he said.

The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) Project Office awarded $2.7 million to DOD for 5G research at a Salt Lake City testbed. The tests will demonstrate how two carriers can use spectrum in the same citizens broadband radio service channel “autonomously with the help of a decision engine designed to coordinate spectrum usage at a highly granular level,” PAWR said Wednesday.

Industry and public interest groups asked the FCC Tuesday to reallocate 500 MHz at 12.2-12.7 GHz for 5G. The Competitive Carriers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked the agency to act on a longstanding petition by the MVDDS 5G Coalition (see 1802070045). “Technical rules for 12.2-12.7 GHz are obsolete and burdensome, preventing use of this spectrum for 5G,” said the letter in RM-11768: “Given the changes in technology since these rules were first set by the Commission in 2002, maintaining these restrictions appears to be unwarranted.” If the FCC allows two-way, 5G wireless broadband, “initial use cases” would include fixed broadband, mobile 5G and the IoT, the groups said. “There is broad support for the FCC to move forward with conversations on the 12 GHz band, which will benefit consumers and the economy and help close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steve Berry. "It’s time for the FCC to kick start the 12 GHz conversation, get every argument out in the open," said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.

Comments are due June 25, replies July 27 in docket 20-32 on the FCC NPRM on the proposed 5G Fund (see 2004230046), said Tuesday's Federal Register.

Comments are due June 18 on a March White House 5G security report (see 2003250047), says a notice expected in Thursday's Federal Register.

The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council will consider a final report by its Managing Security Risk in the Transition to 5G Working Group during a June 10 teleconference meeting, the FCC said Tuesday. Members will vote on a “Report on Risks to 5G From Legacy Vulnerabilities and Best Practices for Mitigation,” the FCC said. The call starts at 1 p.m. EDT.

ATIS urged policymakers to start focusing on 6G. “Today's investments in 5G networks, devices and applications already point toward the future opportunities,” ATIS said Wednesday: “The world is exploring opportunities that will light the path to 6G.” COVID-19 “has also shone a spotlight on the critical role of communications networks in our daily lives," said ATIS President Susan Miller.

Verizon is launching a virtual lab to speed the development of “new 5G solutions and applications,” adding to its seven, the carrier said Wednesday: San Diego will be the 35th U.S. city with its 5G ultra wideband.

T-Mobile is launching the 5G Open Innovation Lab, partnering with Intel and NASA and working with Amazon Web Services, Google and other companies, T-Mobile President-Technology Neville Ray blogged Tuesday. The lab will focus on “emerging applications for edge computing, artificial intelligence and more, developing groundbreaking applications and services that unleash the potential of 5G networks,” he said.