STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER GEOFFREY STARKS Re: Auction of Priority Access Licenses for the 3550-3650 Band; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 105, Bidding in Auction 105 Scheduled to Begin June 25, 2020, AU Docket No. 19-244 Today we take another step forward towards making critical mid-band spectrum available for advanced broadband services. Just last month, the Commission authorized full commercial operations in the 3.5 GHz band by four Spectrum Access System operators. This summer’s auction sets the stage for consumers to begin to realize the benefits of this spectrum. In fact, consumers already have smartphones from Apple, Google, and Samsung with the capability to use 3.5 GHz spectrum. I want to note one significant change in the item from last year’s initial Public Notice on proposed auction procedures. In my statement accompanying that decision, I raised concerns about the proposal to allow bidding at the CMA-level. I was concerned that this auction was already complicated enough, given that it involves the largest number of license areas offered by the FCC to date – about 3,200 counties. I worried about unintended consequences, particularly in terms of discouraging or disadvantaging competition by smaller bidders. Across the board, commenters shared my concern and I’m glad that we are not adopting the CMA-level approach. Thank you to the Office of Economic Analysis for your work on this item.