OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
Aprill5, 2014 
The Honorable Doris Matsui 
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Commission's intention to auction the A WS-3 
Band for flexible, commercial use on a shared basis with federal uses . I appreciate your desire 
for the Commission to adopt a band plan that encourages vigorous auction participation and 
robust competition. · 
On March 31,2014, the Commission unanimously adopted the AWS-3 Report and Order. 
The Order adopts allocation, service, licensing, and technical rules for 65 megahertz of 
spectrum, including 50 megahertz of paired spectrum at 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz. 
The upcoming auction will expand the workhorse A WS-1 commercial wireless band, which 
today is available for mobile broadband use. The Commission adopted a band plan that will 
promote competition by offering licenses comprised of different geographic license areas and 
block sizes. This band plan will serve the spectrum needs of a variety of applicants, and promote 
auction participation and robust competition. 
The Commission's action set the stage for an auction of the AWS-3 spectrum licenses 
later this year. While adopting the A WS-3 Report and Order is a big step toward making this 
spectrum available for commercial use, additional details must be resolved before this auction 
can take place. We will address these challenges so that all parties have certainty about their 
rights and obligations in A WS-3, and to ensure that the auction is robustly competitive and 
successful. 
Sincerely, 
~ Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O F FI C E OF 
TH E CHAIR MAN 
The Honorable Brett Guthrie 
U.S. House of Representatives 
308 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Guthrie: 
April15, 2014 
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Commission's intention to auction the A WS-3 
Band for flexible, commercial use on a shared basis with federal uses. I appreciate your desire 
for the Commission to adopt a band plan that encourages vigorous auction participation and 
robust competition. 
On March 31, 2014, the Commission unanimously adopted the AWS-3 Report and Order. 
The Order adopts allocation, service, licensing, and technical rules for 65 megahertz of 
spectrum, including 50 megahertz ofpaired spectrum at 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz. 
The upcoming auction will expand the workhorse A WS-1 commercial wireless band, which 
today is available for mobile broadband use. The Commission adopted a band plan that will 
promote competition by offering licenses comprised of different geographic license areas and 
block sizes. This band plan will serve the spectrum needs of a variety of applicants, and promote 
auction participation and robust competition. 
The Commission' s action set the stage for an auction of the A WS-3 spectrum licenses 
later this year. While adopting the A WS-3 Report and Order is a big step toward making this 
spectrum available for commercial use, additional details must be resolved before this auction 
can take place. We will address these challenges so that all parties have certainty about their 
rights and obligations in A WS-3, and to ensure that the auction is robustly competitive and 
successful.