Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin worked closely with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on forced technology transfers in China, and Huawei is discussed on an interagency basis, Mnuchin told the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday. He responded to Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., asking why the government hasn't placed sanctions on Huawei. Sasse acknowledged that “Lighthizer has been a little bit of a pit bull,” saying “this is an increasingly bipartisan issue that Republicans and Democrats believe it's important to hold these faux private companies to account.” For other news in this issue on Huawei, see 2005200039.

The FCC's Ligado order (see 2004200011) leans heavily on so-called "co-existence agreements" between the company and GPS manufacturers, but Garmin never signed such an agreement, just a technical agreement in 2015 to settle litigation brought by Ligado, Garmin said in a docket 11-109 posting Monday. That settlement doesn't endorse Ligado's proposal, and Garmin doesn't endorse Ligado's license modification applications, it said. "The FCC’s apparent peremptory dismissal of ... well-documented concerns [such as possible interference to certified aviation devices] is troubling," as is rejection of the 1 dB noise floor standard for gauging harmful interference, Garmin said. Ligado emailed that “over two years ago, the FAA established the parameters to protect certified aviation; those exact parameters were adopted in the FCC’s order. Ligado trusts that the FCC and the FAA got it right, and stands ready to implement pursuant to the conditions of the Order. This appears to be another attempt to persuade anyone that’s still listening that 1 dB is an internationally accepted standard -- it’s not -- and it is not the way anyone has ever measured harmful interference from operations in spectrum that is 23 MHz away. Just because they keep saying it, does not make it a fact.”

Vizio hired Adam Townsend, ex-Showtime, as chief financial officer, part of the TV maker's pivot "from a sole focus on hardware to a new vision for a complete media offering," it said. (See also personals section.) CEO William Wang cited Townsend's financial operational experience with content, advertising and streaming-based businesses. Townsend said Vizio will capitalize on the shift toward digital video consumption through hardware, software and data analytics.

Apple scheduled its Worldwide Developers Conference, for the first time virtually, starting June 22, it said Tuesday. It's expected to reach 23 million developers. In March, the company made the change due to COVID-19.

Arlo CEO Matt McRae announced plans to extend the SmartCloud platform to partners “beyond our own camera ecosystem,” as the company looks to boost revenue. It also announced Wednesday evening management changes from within the company to “streamline operations” (see personals section). On its Q4 call in February (see 2002260009), the wireless camera maker lowered revenue projections for Q1 by 5-10% to $60 million-$70 million and said it expected a 20-25% hit in Q2 due to component supply shortages related to coronavirus plant shutdowns in China. It reports Q1 earnings May 11. Chief Financial Officer Christine Gorjanc, retiring effective June 15, will be succeeded by Gordon Mattingly, finance vice president. Dennis Aldover was promoted to vice president-engineering, effective May 8, replacing Marcus Apitz who's leaving the company. Aldover will focus on driving recurring revenue with a deeper focus on software and services via Arlo Smart and SmartCloud, said the company. The management change “effectively flattens the organization,” it said, citing efforts to cut operating expenses. Shares closed 6.5% lower Thursday at $2.74.

The Wireless Bureau sought comment Tuesday on Garmin's request for declaratory ruling or waiver for a handheld device with a low-power, terrestrial Part 95 transmitter and an emergency satellite communications module. FCC rules otherwise prohibit such dual devices, the bureau said. Comments are due May 28, replies June 13 in docket 20-115.

Satellite broadband startup AST wants U.S. market access for its planned 243-satellite constellation licensed by Papua New Guinea, with operations expected to begin in 2023, it said in an FCC International Bureau petition Monday. It asked for authorization to use the V band for gateway communications and to use some LTE frequencies. It said its low earth orbit constellation can provide broadband access to any handset and any LTE or 5G enabled device without modifications or use of special chipsets, and that it plans to partner with carriers, allowing them to provide nationwide 5G coverage even in places without terrestrial infrastructure. It said it has partnership agreements with multiple global mobile network operators. AST said it has raised $128 million, enough to fund its next test satellite, a buildout of its Texas satellite manufacturing facility and launch of the first tranche of 18 of its SpaceMobile satellites in 2021. It said investors include American Tower, Rakuten and Vodafone.

The National Spectrum Management Association wants a more comprehensive survey of how 6 GHz is used before opening the swath for sharing with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users, it told the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff. Commissioners vote April 23 (see 2004100047). “Especially during this time when the nation is heavily reliant on these exact mission-critical networks … it is a requirement that well-known, actual-deployment, spectrum management tests be conducted well prior to confirming rules,” the group said in a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. Comcast said the FCC is too conservative here, with the record showing low-power indoor use at radiated power spectral density of 8 dBm/MHz won't cause harmful interference. But it said “the Draft Order imposes a lower 5 dBm/MHz PSD limit based solely on an unsupported assertion that an 8 dBm/MHz limit would result in a ‘materially higher risk of harmful interference.’” The cable provider spoke with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. AT&T said the agency goes too far and should require automated frequency control for all unlicensed devices. Allowing “low power indoor devices to operate without such a capability would be reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful,” AT&T told aides to O’Rielly and Starks (see here and here). Tech companies sought clarity. “Clarify that client device and subordinate access point power limits are based on the regulatory limits of the access point to which they are associated to align them with the text of the order and avoid creating an incentive to increase the power of access point transmissions,” they said: “Limiting client device power based on the actual transmit power of the associated access point would encourage access points to use maximum power.” Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Facebook and Google were among filing signers. Broadcom separately sought additional OET clarity.

Summit Wireless Technologies shares hit a 52-week low Wednesday before rebounding following the midday announcement of a 1-for-20 reverse stock split. Shares of Summit, developer of Wireless Speaker and Audio technology, closed 7.2% higher Wednesday at 25 cents.

Summit Wireless Technologies raised $1.7 million in a private placement of a secured convertible security in March, said CEO Brett Moyer Thursday. The company is continuing to evaluate additional funding options, including financial alternatives, investment options with partners and COVID-19 government loans, Moyer said. Summit hasn't had “major impact” to project timelines or securing retail placement of customers’ products beyond four to eight weeks, but it initiated expense and temporary salary reductions expected to result in savings of up to $1 million in Q2 vs. Q4, said the executive.