On a character sum problem of Cohn (Q5960984)

For a nontrivial multiplicative character \(f(x)\) \((x,h\in \mathbb{F}_q\), \(q=p^s)\), \(\sum f(x) \overline{f(x+h)}= q-1\) for \(h=0\) and \(-1\) otherwise. The reviewer asked the converse. Does this sum property imply that \(f(x)\) is a multiplicative character? [See \textit{H. L. Montgomery}, Ten lectures on the interface between analytic number theory and harmonic analysis, Regional Conference Series in Mathematics 84, Providence, AMS (1994; Zbl 0814.11001)]. A natural restriction should have been added that \(f(0)=0\), \(f(1)=1\), \(|f(x)|=1\) otherwise. \textit{A. Biró} [J. Number Theory 77, 200-208 (1999; Zbl 0949.11039)] proved partial results for \(s=1\), \(p>2\), e.g., if \(f(x)= \pm 1\), \(x\neq 0\) then \(f(x)\) is a Legendre character. \textit{K.-K. Choi} and \textit{M.-K. Siu} [J. Number Theory 84, 40-48 (2000; Zbl 0970.11043)] disprove the extension for cases where \(s>1\) (except \(q=4\)), both by using counterexamples and by a generic counting argument on the functions \(f(x)\). The author shows the answer is positive if \(s=1\), \(p>2\) and \(f(x)\) \((\neq 0)\) is an \(m\)th root of unity. He uses a classical method, factoring \(p\) in the number field generated by the Gaussian sum \(\sum f(x)\exp 2\pi i/p\) and identifying \(f\) as a root of unity from actions of the Galois group.