Proactively understanding 6G spectrum needs and planning for them is essential to U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies. The NGA's Spectrum Needs for 6G assesses 6G spectrum needs based on scenario-specific key performance indicators and application-specific technical performance requirements. The methodology used for estimating spectrum needs is based on the data rate requirements of 6G applications, with an emphasis on North American context and needs. Applications considered reflect the NGA’s collective efforts in establishing a comprehensive 6G roadmap.

How spectrum is accessed for next generation communications is critical to ensuring that North America has adequate spectrum resources. The NGA's Spectrum Access Mechanisms evaluates the range of spectrum management and access mechanisms, including sharing regimes, to maximize North American opportunities for the 6G future. Presented in the context of promoting the most effective use of spectrum, these opportunities cover licensed, unlicensed, and shared use by considering deployment and operational aspects of incumbent systems in-band or in adjacent bands.

As network infrastructure continues to transition from 4G to 5G, data center energy consumption has increased and is now the second largest consumer of energy in mobile networks. With growing demands from AI, cloud computing, and network virtualization, 6G will make the need for sustainability metrics across the ICT sector more urgent. These factors create an impetus to make sustainable operations of data centers a critical ICT industry priority. Evolution of Sustainability Indicators for Data Centers and Next Generation Core Networks provides an overview of key data center sustainability strategies critical for achieving net zero emissions across the entire ICT value chain.

To expand on the concepts presented in Evolution of Sustainability Indicators for Data Centers and Next Generation Core Networks, the Next G Alliance Green G Working Group held a webinar. Access the proceedings.

Video Codecs for 6G Machine-Type Communications

Providing the groundwork for improving the quality of critical applications in a 6G world.

By leveraging AI and improved data compression techniques, the integration of 6G and advanced video codecs promises to revolutionize machine-type communications, driving innovation across multiple sectors. A new NGA report provides the critical groundwork for achieving this, presenting an overview of machine-to-machine video communication, related use cases, technical requirements and more.

Video Codecs for 6G Machine-Type Communications: Improving the Quality of Critical Application Roles focuses on applications such as intelligent surveillance, connected vehicles, industrial automation, and intelligent agriculture specifically in exploring the need for efficient video transmission and AI-native environments to support the machine-type communications of the next-gen future.

To further showcase how the NGA's work shapes the 6G future, ATIS launched the NGA blog series. Recent topics include:

• How LPWAs and Short-Range Sensors are Transforming Rural North America
• Shaping a Greener Future: The Role of Environmental Sustainability in 6G Technology 
• From Everyday Living to Societal Goals: The Promise of 6G Applications

Access all blogs at https://nextgalliance.org/blog/.



ATIS remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing North American leadership in shaping the standards landscape worldwide. Here are some of our recent accomplishments to advance industry goals in the policy arena:

Earlier this year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a request for comments (RFC) inviting insights and perspectives from various stakeholders on how government policies can best support the development and deployment of next-generation technology. It presented a wide range of questions about how to enable 6G success; advance R&D; and address 6G safety, security and environmental concerns. ATIS’ policy team, together with Next G Alliance working group leaders, developed and filed a robust response to the RFC that identified critical priorities and recommendations that should be considered by this and future administrations. NTIA is expected to release a report by the end of the year that reflects the input received.

One priority area identified is the need for follow-through on funding commitments for R&D and standards work. Frequently, spending on important projects is promised in legislation, such as the CHIPS and Science Act which promised a significant increase in funding for the National Science Foundation’s Technology Innovation Program (NSF TIP). However, the actual funding appropriated by Congress has been significantly below the authorized levels. Driven by similar concerns about funding shortfalls for the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), ATIS signed on with over 20 other standards development organizations to a letter to Congressional appropriations committee leaders in support of full funding for NIST in the budget for fiscal year 2025.

Finally, this year’s election means that there will be changes in leadership across the U.S. federal government. ATIS will work over the coming months to build and strengthen relationships with the incoming administration as well as with new leaders in congress and relevant agencies to continue advancing priority policy issues for ATIS members.



Generative AI in Telecom



Assessing and prioritizing key use cases to advance AI implementation across networks.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology transforming telecommunications by enhancing the efficiency, personalization and security of network operations across domains such as radio access networks (RAN), core networks, devices, and network management. However, while generative AI shows great potential for our industry, the telecommunications sector lacks focused studies on its specific applications. To address this, ATIS developed Advancing AI Implementation Across Networks: A Study of Generative AI in Telecommunications. The report analyzes real-world use cases and offers recommendations to facilitate the integration of generative AI technologies into telecom networks and will be finalized in 4Q 2024

ATIS Hosts November 3GPP Working Group Meetings in Orlando

ATIS hosts the 3GPP Working Group (WG) Meetings in Orlando, Florida on November 18-22. Working Groups in SA (Service and System Aspects), CT (Core Network and Terminals), and RAN (Radio Access Network) will meet to address some of the most crucial areas in the ongoing development and standardization of mobile communication technologies. ATIS is proud to be the North American 3GPP Organizational Partner and to again host this important 3GPP event in North America. Between 1,800 and 2,000 participants from around the globe are expected to attend.

To help restore public trust in the U.S. telephone network, the industry-run Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA) launched a caller ID authentication ecosystem for the U.S. at the close of 2019, based on the ATIS STIR/SHAKEN standards. That ecosystem now has more than 1,300 participating providers and both FTC and FCC data evidence that consumer robocall complaints have been on the decline since 2021. 

As good as that news is, there is a great distance to travel in the fight against illegal robocalling. For much of 2024, the STI-GA has been focused on ensuring that both individual providers and the entire industry are signing calls correctly. In working cooperatively with the FCC and state Attorney’s General, the STI-GA has investigated numerous complaints against service providers that were found to be, for example, giving A-Level attestation to calls that were from illegally spoofed telephone numbers.

Although the STI-GA will remove these providers from the ecosystem if necessary, its goal is to ensure that the providers are signing calls correctly. And while the STI-GA has removed providers from the ecosystem in 2024, it has more commonly worked with them to improve their processes so they can continue to attest to calls and do so in a trustworthy manner.

This effort to work with providers has extended to larger forums as well. The STI-GA brought its message of how to properly attest to calls to industry forums, such as SIPNOC 2024. Even for providers that have implemented STIR/SHAKEN correctly, it is helpful to be reminded of the practices they should follow.

The STI-GA realizes that this work must continue. For this reason, it recently renewed the contract of iconectiv as the Secure Telephone Identity Policy Administrator (STI-PA), keeping them on-board through at least the end of 2029. The STI-GA Board also reiterated its trust in the guidance provided by ATIS by approving a new three-year agreement for ATIS to continue in its role of administration and management of the STI-GA’s duties. Continuity in the crew is one key to ensuring the ship continues in the right direction.

The STI-GA understands that the launch of the ship was just the beginning of the journey. Good stewardship of the STIR/SHAKEN ecosystem is key to the proper authentication of calls so that end users can regain trust in the overall telephone system. Learn more at https://sti-ga.atis.org/.

In addition to our 6G work, Strategic Initiatives, and many other priorities, ATIS Committees and Forums are also addressing issues critical to the ICT industry's transformation:

ACTA

ATIS is the administrator for the ACTA: Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments database. ACTA is the authoritative gateway for the approval and registration of telephone terminal equipment and customer premises equipment (CPE) used with Advanced Communications Services (ACS). This includes Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones and the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

The 2025 RPC Data Validation Discount Period began on October 2, 2024.

In late September, ACTA announced that the Responsible Parties may validate their Responsible Party Code (RPC) data for the 2025 calendar year. RPC data must be validated on an annual basis. Questions and comments about this notice should be submitted to the ACTA Secretariat at acta@atis.org.

The Emergency Services Interconnection Forum

The Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) has combined the Emergency Services & Methodologies (ESIF ESM) and Next Generation Emergency Services Subcommittee (ESIF NGES) Subcommittees into the Next Generation Emergency Services & Messaging (NGESM) Committee. The NGESM Committee is currently developing the PSAP Readiness Guidelines for NG9-1-1 Connectivity.

Industry Numbering Committee

INC is recognized as the industry’s only open forum for addressing and developing solutions for numbering issues. On October 28, 2024, the combined NANP Administration System (NAS) was implemented. It combines the previous Pooling Administration System (PAS), the Routing Number Administration System (RNAS), and NANP Administration System (NAS). INC has worked for the past three years to revise and update its guidelines in preparation for this implementation of the combined NAS. On October 28, 2024, 28 Issues were finalized. Ten ATIS INC guideline documents will be published with updates necessary for the CNAS. One of the ten documents, ATIS-0300119, Thousands Block (NPA-NXX-X) and Central Office Code (NPA-NXX) Administration Guidelines required extensive effort to create consistency and update procedures given its size and scope of topics.

IP-NNI Task Force

With ATIS' SHAKEN standards mitigating unwanted voice traffic, unwanted texts are a growing consumer concern. The IP-NNI Task Force is advancing the study of this topic. It is also discussing establishing a task force for the SMS unwanted message work. It recently reviewed the draft of proposed ATIS Standard, SMS Unwanted Message Mitigation Landscape (ATIS-1000101), and approved it for publication, including the following language from the recommendations section:



The ATIS/SIP Forum IP-NNI TF proposes the creation of an ATIS/SIP Forum joint task force under or in parallel with the IP-NNI TF to evaluate and, if necessary, develop new standards for verified identity transmission and validation in text messaging (i.e., authentication). The TF should first focus on educating participants in available mitigation tools, resources, and techniques prior to any consideration of new standards, as well as provide a venue for ongoing discussion. Participation should include experts in establishing trust frameworks or policies, vetting identity credentials, the secure transmission of identity information and mitigating fraudulent traffic.

Several other baselines were also progressed for SHAKEN delegate certificates and SHAKEN Calling Name and Rich Call Data (RCD) handling procedures. The IP-NNI TF, NIPCA TF and PTSC will resume in-person meetings in 2025.

Network Reliability Steering Committee

NRSC is home to a key set of industry advisors on the health and reliability of the nation’s communications networks and is actively involved in public policy input on leading issues in this area. Most recently, the committee has public policy filings in areas including:

• Petition for Clarification and/or Reconsideration of the FCC Second Report and Order on NORS and DIRS reporting obligations (filed May 10, 2024
• Comments in response to the FCC Second FNPRM related to NORS and DIRS reporting obligations (Filed May 13, 2024)
• Letter to Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau regarding NRSC support for CSRIC Best Practices (sent May 23, 2024)
• Reply to Opposition in response to the Opposition of APCO International submitted by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, International (APCO) in response to ATIS’ Petition for Clarification and/or Reconsideration. (filed July 3, 2024)

The Ordering and Billing Forum

The Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) released the Access Service Ordering Guidelines (ASOG) Version 70, a major industry operations support resource. ASOG Version 70 includes an expansion of the REMARKS field on the Clarification/Notification Request (C/NR) to 450 alphanumeric characters. (Learn more at ATIS: OBF Issue 3667, ASOG – Expand the Error Message field (Practice 10) an additional 60 characters).

OBF has also released ATIS Supplement B to Unified Ordering Model (UOM) Volume II – Analysis Wireless Intercarrier Communications Interface Specification (WICIS) for Local Number Portability Version 5.0.0. This supplement to WICIS 5.0.0. provides changes to the usage of the SSN TAX ID field and the NLSP and OLSP valid values. (Learn more at ATIS: OBF Issue 3665, Removal of SSN/TaxID field and ATIS: OBF Issue 3666, Modify the NLSP and OLSP Valid values).

Packet Technologies and Systems Committee Non-IP Call Authentication Task Force

Since its inception the PTSC TF has been working on three main documents to advance its mission on call authentication for TDM-based Originating Service Providers (OSP) and Terminating Service Providers (TSPs). Recently, the PTSC NIPCA TF has approved three documents for letter ballot. These provide methods for call authentication of non-IP calls.

A fourth document will assess the viability of Non-IP Call Authentication Standards. While the standards developed by the Non-IP Call Authentication Task Force may be technically feasible and implementable on a bilateral basis or under controlled conditions, none of the NIPCA approaches can be used ubiquitously in the network. The viability Technical Report does a deep dive on the viability of implementing specific NIPCA solution options that traverse TDM Network and coexistence with each other and integration with the SHAKEN solution in IP networks.

SMS/800 Number Administration Committee

• SNAC is currently working on an Issue 3443, to develop a standardized Letter of Authorization for the Texting and Smart Services Registry. It is SNAC’s intention to provide RespOrgs with the ability to verify information within a request for text-enablement, from an end-user subscriber
• Following the June NANC meeting, a Toll Free: Utilization of Numbers (T-FUN) Working Group recommendation and report on the “Assessment of Unassigned 800-Prefix Toll Free Numbers and Potential Methods for Number Assignment” was approved by the NANC. SNAC wrote a letter of support (https://cdn.atis.org/atis.org/2024/05/23152254/SNAC-letter-NANC-FINAL-VERSION.pdf) to acknowledge their initiation of this issue. SNAC initiated this issue and the Commission referred this issue to the NANC, which created the T-FUN Working Group to work on this Issue.

STEP: Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee

STEP is most recently engaged in work on Issue 0213, Review and Update ATIS Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Event Mitigation Best Practices. In response to the need to update EMP Best Practices based on global threats and technological advancements in shielding of communications building structures, STEP is developing a set of best practices. The work will look at EMP events of natural occurrence, such as sunspots, as well as man-made events.

The Synchronization Committee

ATIS' Synchronization Committee (SYNC) has opened a new Issue at the direction of the ATIS Board of Directors to develop best practices to address resilient timing plans for critical infrastructure operators with the goal of reducing or eliminating the reliance on GPS as a primary source of time and frequency reference for telecommunications networks. (Learn more at ATIS: SYNC Issue 0015, Resilient timing plans for critical infrastructure operators).

Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee

• The WTSC Independent Evaluation Group has completed the final draft of its report evaluating satellite component technology for the 3GPP submission to the ITU-R WP4B NTN IMT-2020 process. The plenary pre-approved this report for submission to ITU-R Working Party 4B
• The WTSC Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) submitted two new Issues for plenary approval. Issue 107 proposes updating ATIS-0700025, WEA International Roaming Specification, and Issue 108 addresses alert handling during international roaming. The target resolution date for Issue 101, Study on Satellite Support for WEA, has been pushed out to Q2 of 2025.

Explore the work of all of the ATIS Committees and Forums at: https://www.atis.org/committees-forums/