At its meeting on Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to advance its proposal to reallocate spectrum in the upper C-band (3.98 GHz to 4.2 GHz) in the U.S.
During its meeting today, the commission considered a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that explores options for reconfiguring the upper C-band. That NPRM has since been opened, and the FCC now seeks comment on how to accommodate incumbent satellite users, as well as broadcasters using that swath of spectrum for their earth station operations.
In a press release, the FCC said the proposed rules in the NPRM align with the demands laid out in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” That legislation requires the commission to complete a system of competitive bidding for at least 100 MHz in the upper C-band no later than July 2027. The FCC is proposing to auction up to 180 MHz (from 3.98 to 4.16 GHz).
In his comments to the public, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said: “Completing a rulemaking and finishing an auction in less than two years would be a tall order under the best of circumstances. Here, though, the task is made even harder by the need to accommodate satellite users in the upper C-band and certain radio altimeters onboard aircraft in the adjacent band.
“But our team at the FCC is up to the challenge,” said Carr. “Today’s item was finished at breakneck speed — only a few months after Congress restored our auction authority.”
The NPRM seeks comment on a range of issues associated with repurposing some portion of the upper C-band, including: reallocation of the 4.0–4.2 GHz band; competitive bidding procedures for an eventual auction; licensing, operating and technical rules for any new wireless services; transitioning incumbent FSS operations: and promoting co-existence with adjacent band radio altimeters.
[Related: “Battle Over the Upper C-Band Takes Shape This Week“]
Looking ahead, Carr said federal agencies and industry stakeholders must stay focused so consumers can benefit from the upper C-band’s reconfiguration as soon as possible.
“That means delivering on a timely auction and a timely transition,” said Carr in his comments. “We must also continue to focus on efficiency and execution. That includes accommodating relevant incumbent users within a reasonable budget and completing a generational upgrade of radio altimeters through new standards that are fully resilient to 5G services for years to come. We cannot expect anything less.”
The National Association of Broadcasters has expressed concern over the proposed reallocation of the upper C-band. In a meeting with FCC commissioners during the government shutdown, the NAB emphasized the critical role satellite operations in the upper C-band play for program distribution and delivery of radio and TV programming. It urged that the commission account for this when determining whether to exceed the statutorily-mandated 100 MHz clearing target.
Broadcasters are very familiar with the commission’s hunger for spectrum to roll out additional 5G and other wireless services. The FCC reallocated the bottom half of the C-band for wireless use and moved broadcasters’ satellite services to the upper half just five years ago.
However, as Radio World previously reported, the NAB is now emphasizing that incumbent relocations out of the C-band a second time will be dramatically more expensive and lengthier than was required following Auction 107 — a process that took nearly three years.
“The commission previously committed to preserve the content distribution system in the C-band,” the NAB said in its recent filing, and “[we] respectfully asks the commission to honor that commitment by ensuring that incumbent broadcasters in the upper C-band are provided comparable facilities and kept whole.”
In its own press release, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association celebrated the FCC’s efforts to expand access to mid-band spectrum.
NATE President and CEO Todd Schlekeway said in the release: “This proceeding represents another major step toward restoring American leadership in next-generation wireless networks.”
Schlekeway continued: “NATE member companies are on the front lines of deployment and the association looks forward to collaborating with the FCC, Congress and industry partners to build and maintain the infrastructure required to put this spectrum to work for the American people.”
