Summer 2022
From ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller
6G's impact on the economy is anticipated to surpass the achievements of prior generations of wireless. ATIS' Next G Alliance is the industry-led group building the foundation for North American leadership in 6G and beyond, and is making pivotal decisions that will shape the 6G future for our region -- and the world. This issue of the ATIS Update informs you about this work. You also will learn how our many strategic initiatives are advancing our industry's transformation — as well as member business priorities. Stay updated at www.atis.org.
Advancing 6G and Beyond in North America
The Next G Alliance Report: 6G Applications and Use Cases examines the future applications drivers that have the potential to shape development of next generation mobile communication technologies and North American innovation. The report shows how new applications, many of which are still being envisioned, will impact virtually all aspects of society and industry to improve the way we live and work as well as expand global markets.
Advancing 6G Technologies
The Next G Alliance will soon release recommendations forecasting the technologies needed to advance the 6G future. The report defines the specific technologies needed to fulfill the vision in the National 6G Roadmap also created by the Next G Alliance. The report overviews forty-seven key 6G candidate technologies and high impact research areas as identified by Next G Alliance members.

It covers five areas: component technology and radio technology; system and network architecture; network operations, administration, and maintenance (OA&M) and service enablement; and trustworthiness. Component technologies, including semiconductor technologies most importantly, underpin advances in future "must-win" technologies for next generation wireless systems and have strategic importance across multiple industries and sectors.
The Next G Alliance submitted proposed edits to the IMT Vision 2030 and Beyond, the vision recommendation for the next generation of radio interface at the global level. This input addresses the pillars for the new radio mobile generation and directly represents Next G Alliance focus areas including Trust, Security & Resilience; Enhanced Digital World Experience; Efficient Solutions; Distributed Cloud and Communication Systems; AI-Wireless Networks; and Sustainability. 
The Next G Alliance and Japan’s Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium (B5GPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mutually cooperate on Next G Alliance and B5GPC activities related to 6G and beyond wireless networks. A similar strategic agreement was signed with Korea's 5G Forum in 2021.
Strategic Initiatives
As 5G capabilities expand rapidly in North America, securing the 5G information and communications technology supply chain is critical. At the request of the Department of Defense, ATIS brought together leading industry and government partners to develop the ATIS Standard: 5G Network Assured Supply Chain, a new publication presenting a standard to secure 5G infrastructure from cybersecurity threats. It provides entities operating networks and their suppliers a flexible approach to assuring the 5G supply chain at any level of component integration or product type.
Although quantum computing is still in the early stages of development, a new ATIS report helps network operators understand the security implications on current communications and data management, and guides them in assessing the risks quantum presents to their organization.

Preparing Communications Networks for the Quantum Future looks ahead at how network operators should assess the risks and plan for changes across multiple business areas to make them quantum-resistant into the future. Findings will also contribute to Next G Alliance work to examine anticipated advances in quantum computing to proactively prepare 6G systems.
Why Now is the Time for Industry to Start Assessing the Future of Voice Services
Voice capabilities are an increasingly vital part of communications. Consider, for example, voice assistants, smart devices, gaming and other machine-driven applications. Our Voice Architecture initiative will explore how operators can deliver a high-quality voice experience across a range of new applications. To join contact ATIS Director – Strategic Initiatives Nicole Butler.
In the pre-5G era, 3GPP networks were developed primarily for public communication services by commercial service providers. 3GPP Release 16 expands 5G by adding support for non-public wireless networks intended for use in many private settings and vertical sectors. In a new report, Deployment and Operational Requirements of 5G Non-Public Networks, ATIS examines the vertical sectors capabilities applicable to non-public networks (NPNs) that are hallmarks of worldwide mobile communication services. The report presents an analysis of the NPN use cases as well as an assessment of technical solutions based on 3GPP specifications. Findings will help operators address opportunities inherent in the addition of the non-public networks (NPNs) to 5G in 3GPP Release 16.
ATIS Solutions Come in Many Different Forms -- and Fora
To learn about the industry's future, learn about the work coming out of our:
Robocalling Mitigation

Implementation of the STIR/SHAKEN robocall mitigation solution remains a top industry priority in the fight against illegal caller ID spoofing used by robocalling scammers to defraud consumers of millions of dollars annually. STIR/SHAKEN provides a start-to-finish chain of authority so that consumers can be certain the phone number calling them is being legitimately used. ATIS, which helps to manage the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA), is at the forefront of STIR/SHAKEN, as the work to develop the protocol took place at ATIS. As a solution, STIR/SHAKEN grows more effective as more service providers participate.

As we near the one-year anniversary of the FCC’s mandate to implement STIR/SHAKEN, the STI-GA SHAKEN ecosystem has registered 500 service providers. This growth is expected to continue as prompted by more FCC action. In May 2022, the FCC adopted its Gateway Provider order which mandates that US-based companies that accept traffic from foreign providers that use U.S. numbers, affix STIR/SHAKEN signatures to those calls.

Beyond U.S. borders, where a substantial portion of illegal robocalling traffic originates, other countries are stepping up to mitigate illegal robocalls. Canada implemented STIR/SHAKEN last November. An agreement for formal coordination between the STI-GA and Canada’s governance authority is expected soon. A number of other countries, such as France, while at earlier stages, look to be moving in the direction of STIR/SHAKEN implementation. As STIR/SHAKEN acceptance and use expands, the industry’s ability to successfully fight the battle against illegal robocalling will only increase.
Advancing SHAKEN Implementation
ATIS' technical committees are working to refine SHAKEN for broader efficacy.

Non-IP Call Authentication
The Non-IP Call Authentication Task Force has letter balloted revisions to two of the standards it published last summer. These standards add several updates addressing usage of the .pem extension, clarifications for URL Shortener use, PASSporT replay attacks, and various security concerns.
  • Extending STIR/SHAKEN over TDM
  • Technical Report on Alternatives for Call Authentication for Non-IP Traffic

Technical Report on SHAKEN API
The IP-NNI Task Force recently published a revised standard: ATIS-1000082.v002, Technical Report on SHAKEN API for a Centralized Signing and Signature Validation Server. IP-NNI is currently working on topics including governance model and certificate management, SHAKEN delegate certificates, and robocall call-blocking notifications.
Standards and Solutions
Ensuring Network Preparedness
Among its many contributions to the industry, ATIS' Network Reliability Steering Committee has continued to update its Emergency Preparedness and Response Checklist. This living document's forthcoming revision will include new Best Practices addressing fuel, water, and cybersecurity concerns.
Wireless Emergency Alerts Innovation
The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system is a critical tool for federal, state and local officials to warn the public about imminent threats. ATIS' Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee (WTSC) is advancing standards in this space to refine discretionary parameters to further improve enhanced WEA geotargeting.

WEA enhancements not only require standards changes, but development, testing, and deployment of updates in the impacted elements. To support WEA's continued evolution, a feasibility study is being undertaken to identify the requirements and standards impacts to support a well-managed WEA application that resides on the mobile device and supports FCC rules as they evolve to address WEA's developing needs. This transport path aims to allow Alert Originators to add WEA-related information applicable to a WEA alert, without requiring changes to network elements or to WEA-supporting mobile devices.
Other Critical Standards Work
  • The Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection (STEP) Committee is developing a Technical Report on Barriers and Interlocks for Limiting Access to Energized Conductors and Terminations via Contact Preclusion as part of a forthcoming suite of Fault Managed Power Distribution Technologies documents, which began with the initial release of the Technical Report on Human Contact Fault Analysis.
  • The Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) released the Access Services Ordering Guidelines (ASOG) Version 65, a major industry operations support resource, which is scheduled for implementation on September 17, 2022. ASOG Version 65 includes a new field for internal identification of Next Generation 911 (NG911) circuits.
  • Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) released a Technical Report that analyzes non-Internet Protocol (IP) call authentication mechanisms to determine their applicability to the handling of 9-1-1 calls in the context of Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) and transitional Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) architectures.
  • The Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC) has approved a new standard for letter ballot: ATIS-1000103, Invocation/Revocation of the National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Data Transport Service for the 5G System (5GS). PTSC also recently closed an Issue regarding incorrect call routing to Poison Control Centers.

Learn more about how ATIS Committees are advancing ICT industry transformation.
Other News
Brian Daly of ATIS' Next G Alliance Steering Group Named AT&T Fellow
Brian Daly, a long-term ATIS contributor and now co-chair of the Next G Alliance Steering Group, was recently named an AT&T Fellow. This honor is bestowed upon individuals in AT&T's technical community who have made sustained and notable contributions through scientific and technical achievements that have significant impact to AT&T's business. Brian received this honor in recognition of vision and leadership toward the invention of lifesaving and life-enhancing technology. Congratulations to Brian on this high honor!
Ernie Gallo, Director - Network Infrastructure Solutions Ericsson, Vice Chair of ATIS' Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee and a member of the advisory board of the ATIS Protection Engineers Group Conference, has received a Committee Service Award from the Standards Council of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Gallo received the award expressly for the committee work that he does to support ATIS and his contribution to NFPA’s Codes and Standards Making System. Congratulations Ernie for being recognized for your many contributions!
Events
ATIS Holds North America’s Leading Timing and Sync Conference
ATIS’ Workshop on Synchronization and Timing Systems celebrated its 30th year on May 9-12 in Denver, CO. Held in-person for the first time since 2019, the event was attended by more than 150 participants. Expert speakers representing industry verticals including Telecom, Financial Services, Electric Grid/Power, Transportation/Automotive, Industrial Internet and Broadcasting/Multi-Media covered the latest advances timing and sync innovation makes possible in multiple industries. Learn more at wsts.atis.org.
Collaborative Industry Reports
A report by ATIS, CTIA, NCTA, TIA and USTelecom urges renewed U.S. participation in global standards-setting bodies. Learn about the implications for cybersecurity and North American competitiveness.
White Papers
Upcoming Industry Events
ATIS Members Educate to Transform Fixed and Mobile Networks for the Future
ISE EXPO 2022 showcases the next wave of innovative solutions and education for essential networks and services in fixed and mobile environments. Members of ATIS PEG will cover Exothermic Welding and Mechanical Connections for Grounding-Best Practices on Wednesday, August 24, at 8:00 a.m. MT. Register at ISE EXPO.
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