The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will vote on July 22 on an order setting up a 2027 auction of mid-band wireless spectrum for 5G use. The FCC said the sale would cover 160 megahertz in the Upper C-Band and expected it to raise billions of dollars.
Last year’s legislation required the auction of at least 100 megahertz. The FCC said it aimed to clear significantly more spectrum than that minimum.
The Upper C-Band is already used by satellite transmissions and airplane safety devices called altimeters, so the rules need to cover coexistence or relocation. The FCC’s proposed rules include retrofit rebates for altimeter upgrades and financial compensation for satellite operators that are moved out of the reconfigured band.
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Frequently asked questions
How much Upper C-Band spectrum is the FCC proposing to auction?
The FCC said it will vote on July 22 on an order to hold an auction of 160 megahertz of Upper C-Band spectrum next year.
How does the proposal compare with the legal minimum?
U.S. law passed last year required an auction of at least 100 megahertz of spectrum, and the FCC said it aimed to clear significantly more than that minimum.
Who already uses the Upper C-Band?
The Upper C-Band is already used by satellite transmissions and airplane safety devices called altimeters.