Federal Communications Commission DA 19-977 DA 19-977 Released: September 30, 2019 ESTIMATE OF SYSTEMS OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) provides this estimate regarding upcoming systems of competitive bidding, pursuant to Section 309(j)(18) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Section 309(j)(18) provides as follows: (A) Not later than September 30, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall make publicly available an estimate of what systems of competitive bidding authorized under this subsection may be initiated during the upcoming 12-month period. (B) The estimate under subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent possible, identify the bands of frequencies the Commission expects to be included in each such system of competitive bidding. 47 U.S.C. § 309(j)(18). This provision was added by the RAY BAUM’S Act. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-141, Division P, the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act (RAY BAUM’S Act). OEA estimates that the systems of competitive bidding listed below may be initiated during the 12-month period following September 30, 2019. More detailed information concerning each of these matters has been and/or will be provided through orders and public notices. This estimate should not be viewed as a substitute for information provided about these matters in Commission releases establishing rules, procedures, dates, and deadlines, along with other pertinent information, which can be found on the Commission’s website and through the Electronic Document Management System database. Auction 103. Auction 103 will offer Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service licenses for all 3400 megahertz of spectrum in the Upper 37 GHz (37.6-38.6 GHz), 39 GHz (38.6-40 GHz), and 47 GHz (47.2-48.2 GHz) bands as unpaired 100 megahertz blocks of spectrum licensed by Partial Economic Area service area. Incentive Auction of Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service Licenses in the Upper 37, 39, and 47 GHz Bands for Next-Generation Wireless Services; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 103; Bidding in Auction 103 Scheduled to Begin December 10, 2019, Public Notice, 34 FCC Rcd 5532, 5536, para. 6 (2019). Auction 103 is the Commission’s third auction of high-band spectrum to be offered as flexible use licenses and the largest amount of spectrum ever to be offered by the Commission at auction. The Upper 37 GHz and the 39 GHz bands offer a total of 2,400 megahertz and the 47 GHz band comprises an additional 1,000 megahertz of millimeter wave spectrum. Id. The assignment of these licenses is intended to further the deployment of fifth-generation (5G) wireless, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other advanced spectrum-based services. Id. at 5534, para. 1. The bidding for new licenses in Auction 103 is scheduled to commence on December 10, 2019. Id. at 5537, para. 10. Auction 105. Auction 105 will offer seven 10 megahertz unpaired channels within the 3550-3650 MHz band in each county-based license area. 47 CFR § 96.13; Auction of Priority Access Licenses for the 3550-3650 MHz Band; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 105; Bidding in Auction 105 Scheduled to Begin June 30, 2020; Public Notice, FCC 19-96, at 1, para. 2 (Sept. 27, 2019) (Auction 105 Comment Public Notice); see also Promoting Investment in the 3550-3700 MHz Band, Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd 10598, 10643, para. 82 (2018) (2018 3.5 GHz Order). Thus, the auction will offer a total of 22,631 Priority Access Licenses, each of which will be a 10-year renewable license. 47 CFR § 96.25; 2018 3.5 GHz Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 10623, para. 46. Bidding in Auction 105 is scheduled to commence on June 25, 2020. Auction 105 Comment Public Notice, FCC 19-96, at 1, para. 1. System of Competitive Bidding for the 2.5 GHz Band. The Commission recently adopted proposals to transform the rules previously governing the Educational Broadband Service (EBS), Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd 5446 (2019) (2.5 GHz Report and Order). which extends from 2502 to 2690 MHz and is comprised of 20 channels designated for EBS, Id. at 5447-48, para. 4. and a number of small guard band channels. Id. The Commission will hold a Tribal priority window to enable Tribal nations an opportunity to obtain EBS licenses to provide service on rural Tribal lands. Id. at 5450, para. 13. This window will be followed by a system of competitive bidding to assign geographic area licenses for the remaining unused portions of the band for commercial use. Id. The Chairman has indicated that this 2.5 GHz band auction will occur during 2020. See id. at 5520 (Statement of Chairman Ajit Pai (“Following the Tribal priority window, the remaining unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum will be made available for commercial use through a spectrum auction. The 2.5 GHz auction, which the FCC intends to hold next year, will put this spectrum to its most valuable use for the American people.”)). – FCC – 2