Bid Winners in 3.45 GHz Band Auction Will Benefit Consumers with Fast 5G

On January 14, the FCC announced the close of its 3.45-3.55 GHz band auction. And it is reported that AT&T and DISH Networks were leading bid winners for spectrum licenses in the band, with T-Mobile and UScellular also submitting winning bids. According to the Commission's notice: "Auction 110 raised a total of $22,418,284,236 in net bids and $22,513,601,811 in gross bids, with 23 bidders winning a total of 4,041 licenses." 

The successfully completed 3.45 GHz band auction will put much needed mid-band spectrum resources into use for commercial wireless 5G services. But there is more that the FCC can do to help supply America's growing demand for spectrum. As explained in my February 2021 Perspectives from FSF Scholars, "Fast Action on the Lower 3 GHz Band Will Secure America's 5G Future." Also, Free State Foundation President Randolph May and I had addressed important guiding principles to guide Congress and the Commission in addressing this subject in our November 2021 Perspectives, "Constitutional Considerations for Proper Spectrum Policy: A Preference for Private Property Rights and Market Competition."