Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

CHAIRMAN PAI REITERATES CALL FOR 
REPEAL OF T-BAND AUCTION MANDATE
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Circulated Today to Enable Commission to Meet Statutory Deadline for Auction, Should Congress Not Repeal Law
  -- 
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2020—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today reiterated his call for Congressional repeal of the T-band auction mandate, a requirement of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the Spectrum Act).  Earlier today, he circulated to his fellow Commissioners a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which would take the next statutorily required step to implement this mandate.  The Chairman issued the following statement: 

“An FCC auction of the T-band is a bad idea.  But as of today, the law mandates that we do it.  It’s unfortunate that Commission resources must be dedicated to laying the groundwork for an auction that will likely fail.  This is especially true at a time when we are making every effort to keep Americans safe and connected, including allowing expanded temporary use of this very spectrum to help first responders save lives.  

“Fortunately, there is bipartisan legislation in Congress to repeal this mandate, including bills that couple repeal with 911 fee diversion reform as reported out by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the U.S. Senate and the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives.  I hope legislation passes soon so first responders who rely on this spectrum no longer need to worry about a potential loss of or significant disruption to their mission-critical radio systems.  I remain committed to helping Congress in any way I can to ensure that such harms to public safety operations do not come to pass.”

Additional background: 
· In 2012, Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (Spectrum Act) requiring the FCC to reallocate T-band spectrum used by public safety licensees and “begin a system of competitive bidding” for reallocated spectrum by 2021 (the T-band mandate). 
· The FCC has compiled a record on the T-band that demonstrates that an auction is unlikely to yield sufficient revenue to cover the costs to move public safety users out of the band.  
· The Government Accountability Office reported to Congress that the T-band mandate is unworkable and could deprive first responders of their current ability to communicate by radio.  The report, Required Auction of Public Safety Spectrum Could Harm First Responder Capabilities, is available here.
· The NPRM circulated today would, if adopted, take the next steps to begin a system of competitive bidding for the T-band if Congress fails to repeal the T-band mandate.   

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Office of Chairman Pai: (202) 418-1000 / Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC / www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).