Federal Communications Commission DA 21-1225 DA 21-1225 Released: September 30, 2021 ESTIMATE OF SYSTEMS OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 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, 2021. 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 110. Auction 110 will offer 4,060 new flexible-use licenses for spectrum in the 3.45–3.55 GHz band throughout the contiguous United States. Auction of Flexible-Use Service Licenses in the 3.45–3.55 GHz Band for Next-Generation Wireless Services; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 110; Bidding in Auction 110 Scheduled to Begin October 5, 2021, AU Docket No. 21-62, Public Notice, DA 21-655, at 5, para. 7 (OEA/WTB 2021). The 3.45–3.55 GHz band is used by the Department of Defense for high- and low-powered radar systems on fixed, mobile, shipborne, and airborne platforms. This auction will offer 100 megahertz of spectrum licensed on an unpaired basis and divided into ten 10-megahertz blocks in partial economic area-based geographic areas located in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Id. The 3.45–3.55 GHz band will operate using a cooperative sharing framework under which non-federal operators will coordinate with existing federal users in locations where current incumbent federal systems will remain indefinitely in the band. Id. at 39, para. 115. The deadline for filing applications to participate in the auction was July 21, 2021. Id. at 7, para. 13. Bidding in Auction 110 is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2021. Id. Auction 111. Auction 111 will resolve groups of pending and mutually exclusive engineering proposals for up to 17 construction permits for new or modified low power television (LPTV) and TV translator stations. Auction of Construction Permits for Low Power Television and TV Translator Stations; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 111, AU Docket No. 21-284, Public Notice, DA 21-801, at 2, para. 2 (OEA/MB 2021) (Auction 111 Comment Public Notice). This will be a closed auction, which means that only certain specified individuals or entities with still-pending mutually exclusive applications for LPTV/translator station permits will be eligible to file applications to participate in Auction 111 and to complete the remaining steps to become qualified to bid. Id. at 2-3, paras. 2-5. Attachment A to the Auction 111 Comment Public Notice describes the groups of mutually exclusive applications, as well as the applicants within each group. The filing deadline for short-form applications to participate in Auction 111 will be announced in a forthcoming public notice. Id. at 4, para. 6. Bidding in Auction 111 is scheduled to begin on February 23, 2022.Auction of Construction Permits for Low Power Television and TV Translator Stations; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 111; Bidding Scheduled to Begin February 23, 2022, AU Docket No. 21-284, Public Notice, DA 21-1176, at 3, para. 1 (OEA/MB 2021). Auction 108. Auction 108 will offer approximately 8,300 geographic overlay licenses for unassigned spectrum in the 2496–2690 MHz of the 2.5 GHz band. Auction of Flexible-Use Service Licenses in the 2.5 GHz Band for Next-Generation Wireless Services; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 108; AU Docket No. 20-429, Public Notice, FCC 21-14, at 2, para. 1 (Jan. 13, 2021) (Auction 108 Comment Public Notice). This auction will offer up to three blocks of 2.5 GHz spectrum licensed on a county basis. Id. at 2, para. 2. The final inventory of licenses available in Auction 108 will be determined after completion of the review of applications submitted during the Rural Tribal Priority Window. The Window opened on February 3, 2020, and closed on September 2, 2020. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Procedures for 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window, WT Docket No. 18-120, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 308 (WTB 2020) (establishing filing procedures and deadlines for the Rural Tribal Priority Window). Commission staff has to date granted 270 licenses in the 2.5 GHz band to help address rural Tribal connectivity needs and continues to review and process additional applications that were filed in the Window. See Press Release, FCC, FCC Grants Additional 2.5 GHz Spectrum Licenses for Wireless Services in Alaska Native Communities (August 23, 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-grants-licenses-wireless-services-alaska-native-communities. The Commission opened that Tribal priority window to provide Tribal nations with an opportunity to obtain new 2.5 GHz licenses to serve rural Tribal lands, and significant progress has been made this year in granting these licenses. Id. OEA and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will together release a public notice announcing the final inventory available in Auction 108 well in advance of the deadline for submission of short-form applications to bid in the auction. Auction 108 Comment Public Notice at 2-3, para. 3. – FCC – 2