Federal Communications Commission DA 26-438 DA 26-438 Released: May 4, 2026 BROADCAST AUXILIARY SERVICE FREQUENCY COORDINATOR DESIGNATED FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and the Media Bureau (MB) grant the request from FWC 2026 US, Inc. (FWC 2026) FWC 2026 is a subsidiary of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). On March 17, 2026, FWC 2026 requested that Louis Libin be designated as a special frequency coordinator and RF spectrum manager for the FIFA World Cup 2026. See Letter from Stefan Timmermans, Director of Event Technology & Operations, and Juan Morales, Spectrum & Radio Technology Manager, FWC 2026, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, INBOX-74.24 (filed March 17, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1031706338689/1 (FWC 2026 WC Request). to designate Mr. Louis Libin as the single point of contact for coordinating Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) operations during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 (WC26). In addition, to the extent necessary, we grant waivers requested by FWC 2026 to permit low-power auxiliary operators Low-power auxiliary operations are a subset of BAS operations. to operate within protected contours, as well as the related maximum power level, when operating within the designated areas during this event. BAS stations, which are licensed under Part 74 of the Commission’s rules, make it possible for television and radio stations and networks to transmit program material between various locations (e.g., from remote sites of breaking news stories or other live events to television studios, from studios to broadcasting transmitters for delivery to consumers, and between broadcast stations). See 47 CFR §§ 74.531(a), 74.631(a). In addition to licensed BAS stations, section 74.24 of the Commission’s rules allows eligible broadcasters to operate BAS stations on a short-term basis, not to exceed 720 hours annually, without prior Commission authorization. See id. § 74.24(d). In connection with major events such as national political conventions, Presidential inaugurations, the Olympic Games, and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC25), WTB and MB have designated a BAS frequency coordinator and required prior coordination of all BAS operations, including operations pursuant to section 74.24 of the Commission’s rules. See, e.g., Broadcast Auxiliary Service Frequency Coordinator Designated for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, 40 FCC Rcd 3932 (WTB & MB 2025) (CWC25 BAS Coordinator Public Notice); Broadcast Auxiliary Frequency Coordinator Designated for the 2024 National Political Conventions and the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, Public Notice, 39 FCC Rcd 6730 (WTB & MB 2024) (2024 BAS Coordinator Public Notice); Auxiliary Broadcast Frequency Coordinator Designated for the 2020 National Political Conventions and the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 6988 (WTB & MB 2020) (2020 BAS Coordinator Public Notice); Auxiliary Broadcast Frequency Coordinator Designated for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, UT, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 683 (WTB 2001) (2001 Olympic Games BAS Coordinator Public Notice). We took these actions pursuant to our authority under section 74.24(g)(2) “The Commission may designate a frequency coordinator as the single point of contact for short-term operation under section 74.24 for advance coordination of major national and international events. Once designated, all short-term auxiliary broadcast use under section 74.24 must be coordinated in advance through the designated coordinator.” 47 CFR § 74.24(g)(2). All coordination must be done on a non-discriminatory basis, and all licensees must abide by the decision of the coordinator. The Commission will be the final arbiter of any disputes. See, e.g., Auxiliary Broadcast Frequency Coordinator Designated for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Public Notice, 31 FCC Rcd 7305 (WTB & MB 2016) (2016 BAS Coordinator Public Notice). and in response to our concern that uncoordinated use of BAS stations on a special temporary authority basis could result in spectrum congestion and harmful interference. See 2016 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; see also 2020 BAS Coordinator Public Notice at 6989. We believe that the potential for a similar situation exists during WC26. As FWC 2026 notes, WC26 will bring together 48 soccer teams from across the globe for 104 matches across 11 venues, See FWC 2026 Request at 2. WC26 will take place across 11 venues in the United States from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Id. with 6 billion global viewers expected to watch through broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. As a result, FWC 2026 expects extensive video, audio, and data coverage of WC26—and consequently, extensive use of wireless equipment. See id. at 2, 5. For example, FWC 2026 anticipates that over 2,700 pieces of equipment, such as interruptible foldback systems for real time communication, wireless intercoms and talkbacks for production crews, and RF audio links for sound mixing and audio routing, will be utilized during WC26 to support over 300 media agencies. Id. FWC 2026 argues that successful coordination of these RF communications will minimize the potential for harmful interference and ensure the operational integrity of WC26. Id. This request aligns with the virtually identical relief we granted to FWC 2026 in advance of CWC25, which allowed FWC 2026 to address spectrum congestion and harmful interference concerns. See, e.g., CWC25 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; 2024 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; 2020 BAS Coordinator Public Notice. Accordingly, we find that appointing Louis Libin as the special frequency coordinator will facilitate WC26, and will serve the public interest. Mr. Libin has extensive experience in coordinating frequency use for a variety of national and international events. See CWC25 BAS Coordinator Public Notice at 2. Mr. Libin will be the single point of contact for coordinating all use of Part 74 frequencies within a five-kilometer radius of the coordinates listed in Attachment A during the specified dates. This coordination requirement applies to BAS operators, as well as to providers of other radio services that are permitted to use Part 74 frequencies that will be operating in the designated areas during the applicable time periods. The Commission’s rules permit providers of cable television relay service and fixed microwave service to use Part 74 frequencies for temporary fixed, mobile, and portable installations. See 47 CFR §§ 78.18, 101.803(b). We remind licensees to consult Federal Aviation Administration flight advisories for national special security events for airspace restrictions or other requirements. The designated frequency coordination period will start five days before each venue’s initial match and conclude one day after each venue’s last match so that FWC 2026 can prepare the RF environment to ensure spectrum readiness before matches begin and can oversee a controlled shutdown of the venues. See FWC 2026 Request at 3. This designation will also allow for advance coordination of auxiliary broadcast frequency usage in the designated areas. To minimize harmful interference, all Parts 74, 78 and 101 licensees sharing spectrum available under Part 74 of the Commission’s rules and operating in the designated areas are covered by this action. Mr. Libin can be reached for the purposes of frequency coordination by phone at (516) 374-6700 or by email at louislibin@broad-comm.com. Mr. Libin will provide assistance and database access to all local and non-local Part 74 licensees, as well as Part 78 and 101 licensees authorized to share spectrum available under Part 74 in the designated areas, for temporary fixed, mobile, and portable installations. In addition to the operations discussed above, we note the potential use of unlicensed next-generation devices operating in TV white spaces. In 2013, the Commission established a White Spaces (WS) database to provide licensed BAS, and other protected spectrum users, a means for registering their operations for protection from harmful interference caused by the operation of these unlicensed devices. The only WS Database Administrator currently operational is Red Technologies—https://usa.wavedb.com/. Registration in the WS database is only for protection from white space devices; the WS database does not provide coordination among BAS operations and is not a substitute for coordination through Mr. Libin. FWC 2026 also requests that, to the extent necessary, the Commission grant a waiver of the distance-separation requirement of section 74.802 of the Commission’s rules, to permit the use of low power auxiliary stations (LPAS), not to exceed 1 watt of power on channels allocated for TV broadcasting where the nearest operating television station transmitter is located at least 40 kilometers from the event venues listed in Attachment A. FWC 2026 Request at 3–5. Section 74.802 of the Commission’s rules limits operation of LPAS to locations at least four kilometers outside the protected contours of co-channel TV stations. 47 CFR § 74.802(b)(1). Similarly, FWC 2026 requests that the Commission grant a waiver of section 74.861, FWC 2026 Request at 4–5. which limits the power for LPAS operating in the 600 MHz duplex gap and the bands allocated for TV broadcasting. 47 CFR § 74.861(e)(1)(ii). Specifically, the power in the 470–608 MHz band may not exceed 250 mW conducted power. FWC 2026 requests these waivers to “accommodate specialized equipment required for reliable and robust operations in large, open-air stadium environments,” including equipment necessary to support international broadcast systems, in-stadium long-range coordination, wireless intercoms, and public safety communications. FWCC 2026 Request at 5. FWC 2026 states that detailed on-site spectrum analysis and related spectrum measurements have been completed “at each venue,” and commits to further detailed on-site analysis at all identified locations to ensure interference-free operations. Id. at 4. FWC 2026 further commits to coordinating all frequencies used for LPAS with existing authorized licenses, and to using frequency coordination and interference mitigation protocols to protect primary and co-channel users from harmful interference. Id. at 5. FWC 2026 states that LPAS devices operating below 941.5 MHz will not exceed 250 milliwatts (mW) of conducted power, and that LPAS devices operating in the 941.5–960 MHz band will not exceed 1 watt (W) of conducted power. Id. at 3–4. FWC 2026 confirms that LPAS operations will otherwise be in full compliance with the technical standards outlined in the Commission’s rules (including those relating to emissions masks, spurious emissions, and modulation protocols). Id. at 5. FWC 2026 further commits to field testing during the five days leading up to the first match at a venue, and one day prior to each match, confirming that emissions remain within safe and non-interfering parameters. Id. at 3, 5–6. FWC 2026’s request for relief is similar to requests that WTB and MB have previously granted for events such as national political conventions, presidential inaugurations, the Olympic Games, and the CWC25. See CWC25 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; 2024 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; 2020 BAS Coordinator Public Notice; 2001 Olympic Games BAS Coordinator Public Notice. Given the planning measures, coordination, and mitigation commitments that FWC 2026 has undertaken, we do not anticipate that granting the requested relief will result in harmful interference between low power auxiliary operations at the venues and TV broadcasting operations. The references in this Public Notice to the “requested relief” include waivers of section 74.802 and section 74.861. In addition, FWC 2026 will conduct additional spectrum measurements at each venue, both prior to, and during WC26, to help support interference-free performance and to enable the rapid identification and resolution of issues that may arise. FWC 2026 Request at 4. Accordingly, to facilitate public safety and the operational integrity of this major international event, we grant the requested relief. Action by Chiefs, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Video Division, Media Bureau. - FCC - ATTACHMENT A Location Venue Center Coordinates Dates Degrees N Degrees W Inglewood, CA SoFi Stadium 33.9535 118.3396 6/12/26–7/10/26 Boston, MA Gillette Stadium 42.0909 71.2643 6/13/26–7/9/26 Miami Gardens, FL Hard Rock Stadium 25.9583 80.2396 6/15/26–7/18/26 Dallas, TX AT&T Stadium 32.7477 97.0927 6/15/26–7/14/26 Houston, TX NRG Stadium 29.6848 95.4116 6/14/26–7/4/26 Atlanta, GA Mercedez Benz Stadium 33.7553 84.4006 6/15/26–7/15/26 East Rutherford, NJ Met Life Stadium 40.8135 74.0745 6/13/26–7/19/26 San Fransico, CA Levi’s Stadium 37.4032 121.9698 6/13/26–7/1/26 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field 39.9014 75.1676 6/14/26–7/4/26 Kansas City, MO Arrowhead Stadium 39.0448 94.4838 6/16/26–7/11/26 Seattle, WA Lumen Field 47.5952 122.3316 6/15/26–7/6/26 2