FCC Keeps C-Band Auction on Track with Today's Public Notice Adoption

Today the FCC continued its steady march toward a December 8 auction of high-value, mid-band spectrum for 5G and other advanced uses. The Free State Foundation offers its congratulations on the timely achievement, under challenging circumstances, of this important milestone.

At this morning's Open Meeting, the Commission adopted a Public Notice detailing application and bidding procedures for the upcoming Auction 107 of 280 MHz of spectrum in the C-Band (3.7-4.2 GHz). Chairman Pai and Commissioners O'Rielly and Carr voted to approve, Commissioners Rosenworcel and Starks approved in part and dissented in part.

Reallocation of the lower C-Band is a major component of Chairman Pai's 5G FAST plan to ensure American leadership in the deployment of 5G networks.

At the end of February, the agency adopted a Report & Order establishing rules that:

• Repack current C-Band satellite users into the upper portion of the band (4.0 - 4.2 GHz);
• Create a 20 MHz guard band (3.98 - 4.0 GHz);
• Reallocate to licensed, flexible use and set for auction the lower 280 MHz (3.7 - 3.98 GHz); and, critically,
• Incentivize existing licensees to vacate that spectrum more quickly than they otherwise would have to through the establishment of accelerated relocation payments.

The Public Notice approved today accomplishes the following:

• Specifies bidding procedures;
• Establishes an assignment phase during which winning bidders for spectrum that will be cleared first (that is, by December 2021) will receive interim and final frequency allocations; and
• Defines certain bidding thresholds, including minimum opening bids and bidding credit caps for small businesses.

The Public Notice has not been released yet, but the News Release can be found here.