The Federal Communications Commission announced it will vote in July on a plan to auction 160 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum (3.98–4.14 GHz) next year. In a release, the FCC said the plan maximizes repurposed spectrum while establishing a fast and fair transition for incumbent satellite services. “We have coordinated with aviation and satellite stakeholders so wireless providers can light up the Upper C-Band and provide service to most Americans by the end of 2030 — ahead of many expectations,” Chairman Brendan Carr said. The commission billed the move as a way to harmonize terrestrial wireless operations across the C-Band, creating a 440 MHz “super band” spanning from 3.70–4.14 GHz. As we’ve previously reported, Congress required the FCC to auction at least 100 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum by no later than July 2027. While the FCC originally proposed auctioning up to 180 MHz, wireless carriers and satellite incumbents pushed for vastly different outcomes. The National Association of Broadcasters urged the commission to limit the auction to 100 MHz, warning even that amount would disrupt incumbent users. Radio and TV stations that use satellites to pick up programming remain wary of further changes after navigating the Lower C-Band migration in 2020. Radio World has reached out to NAB for further comment. But wireless carriers, driven by the need for mid-band spectrum to support 5G and future 6G services, lobbied for the maximum amount of spectrum. AT&T, for instance, cited historic growth in consumer data usage. The 160 MHz limit was suggested by satellite operator SES, a major provider of C-band services to broadcasters in the U.S., in its January filing with the commission. SES said in a June 18 ex parte filing with the FCC that it will cost approximately $3.6 billion to clear 160 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum, plus another $150 million “allowed for contingencies.” Orderly transition The proposed rules, the commission said, set forth a framework that will “fairly and expeditiously” transition incumbent satellite operations out of the reconfigured portion of the Upper C-Band. Total incentives to satellite operators will be “less in aggregate than those paid after the Lower C-Band auction,” the commission said, but it will be “roughly commensurate” given the lower amount of spectrum being cleared. In particular, the commission said that this effort has been closely coordinated with the FAA, which is undertaking a parallel rulemaking to “greatly enhance the robustness and signal… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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