The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and other groups supported Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications' asking for a rulemaking on expanding use of air-ground radiotelephone service (AGRAS) channels between 454.675-454.975 MHz and 459.675-459.975 MHz for voice and data communications, including by drones (see 2108250035). “The Alliance has previously noted that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum suitable for UAS, so it is critical that the FCC enable a full range of suitable and available communications technology,” CDA said in a filing posted Thursday in RM-11912. Aura's proposal “can play a critical role in making possible” long-range vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle operation, said Elroy Air. The University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site said the spectrum is needed to meet its goal of establishing a drone network throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. “Transmission of critical data to UAS via a highly reliable and secure network, as described in the Petition, will be critical if U.S. citizens, businesses, safety agencies and communities -- particularly rural communities -- are to benefit from expanded UAS,” the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said.

WiMax Forum representatives updated an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the group’s 2017 proposal on service rules for aeronautical mobile airport communications systems, the subject of a 2019 NPRM (see 1909040057). Representatives “summarized the Forum’s proactive efforts to engage with equipment vendors and representatives from the avionics, airframe, and airline operator industries, as well as the various civil aviation authorities,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-140. Under the forum’s channel manager proposal, it said, the manager “will ensure efficient and effective coordination among eligible non-Federal AeroMACS users, ensure nationwide consistency in the allocation and use of the available AeroMACS channels, and provide a single point of contact to facilitate coordination with other authorized users of this spectrum.”

Well-organized, well-funded cyber adversaries “are becoming harder to detect, as they take advantage of the latest technologies to hide in the shadows,” said Cognyte Software CEO Elad Sharon on a call Monday for fiscal Q2 ended July 31. The company markets an “open analytics” security platform. There’s a growing volume and diversity of “structured and unstructured data” for bad actors to attack, said Sharon. Data is being “augmented and spread across organizational silos, making investigations more difficult,” he said. “Many customers recognize that homegrown solutions can no longer keep pace with these evolving security challenges.” Cybercriminals are attacking more frequently, with methods “becoming more and more sophisticated, making verifying bad actors much more difficult,” said the CEO.

The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comment by Oct. 20, replies by Nov. 4, in docket 17-142 to refresh the record on broadband access in multiple tenant environment buildings, said Monday's Federal Register (see 2109070047).

The Wireless ISP Association asked the FCC to tweak its draft Further NPRM on the 4.9 GHz band (see 2109150055). Don't "simply seek comment, but" instead "‘tentatively conclude’ that it should allow non-public safety” uses, WISPA said Friday. Others should be required to “ensure that public safety licensees are protected from harmful interference with appropriate technical rules and coordination procedures that do not undercut the ability of WISPs and others to use the band,” the group said. WISPA said 5 GHz devices “can be easily adapted for operation” here.

Northwell telehealth services are accessible on the Walgreens Find Care platform in New York state under the digital component of a five-year “strategic affiliation” agreement announced Thursday between the national pharmacy chain and New York’s largest healthcare provider. The agreement also calls for expanding patients’ access to virtual emergency care services from board-certified doctors, they said.

Walmart’s first U.S. “multi-city autonomous delivery collaboration” will offer “last mile” service using Ford self-driving test vehicles equipped with the Argo AI self-driving system to deliver Walmart orders to consumers in Austin, Miami and Washington, said the companies Wednesday. The service will be available to Walmart customers “within defined service areas” of the three markets and will expand over time, they said. “Initial integration testing” will begin later this year, they said: “As consumer expectations continue to shift to next-day or same-day delivery -- especially in the urban core where there is a higher concentration of deliveries -- this collaboration will drive key learnings in how autonomous technology can enhance customer experiences, while also optimizing logistics and operations.”

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D) opened a probe into the T-Mobile data breach, her office said Tuesday. Healey is asking if the company had enough safeguards to protect consumer and mobile device information. T-Mobile said last month a hacker used brute force to hack into the carrier’s system and steal customer data (see 2108270043). T-Mobile didn’t comment by our deadline.

DOJ’s lawsuit against Google for “monopolizing search and search advertising markets remains a major priority,” Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said Tuesday. The No. 3 Justice official spoke at a Georgetown Law antitrust symposium. She said DOJ’s complaint focuses on how Google’s “anti-competitive conduct has harmed competition, similar to how Microsoft did decades ago in favoring Internet Explorer and locking out Netscape.” She referenced how Google’s “anti-competitive conduct has affected a huge range of consumer choices.” DOJ will continue scrutinizing acquisitions involving “dominant firms and would-be rivals,” she said, noting the control that few digital platforms have over communications. She welcomed congressional interest in “providing new tools and resources for antitrust enforcement.” Powerful companies too often “exploit consumers and tilt the playing field in favor of the already powerful,” she said. Google didn't comment.

Amazon pacts with wholesalers harm consumers by increasing prices and hurting competition on online marketplaces, said District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine (D), adding that charge about first-party sellers to his May antitrust lawsuit at D.C. Superior Court (case 2021 CA 001775 B). The original complaint alleged Amazon practiced “anticompetitive restraint” at least until two years ago by barring its third-party sellers through a “price parity provision” in its contracts from offering their products at lower prices on a competing online retail sales platform (see 2105250050). Monday’s amended complaint alleges it's anti-competitive to require first-party sellers to guarantee Amazon a certain minimum profit. That minimum margin agreement means if Amazon lowers its price to match or beat another online marketplace a wholesaler must compensate Amazon for the difference between the minimum and actual profit, said the AG's office: To avoid those payments, wholesalers increase prices on other online marketplaces. “Amazon has continued to use its dominant position as an online marketplace to rig the system,” said Racine. An Amazon spokesperson emailed that what the AG seeks “would result in higher prices to customers, whether offered directly by Amazon or by third parties in our store, oddly going against core objectives of antitrust law." The court plans an initial scheduling conference Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m.