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

For Immediate Release

ACTING CHAIRWOMAN ROSENWORCEL PROPOSES FRAMEWORK TO FREE UP MID-BAND SPECTRUM FOR 5G
New Rules and Auctions Procedures Notice Would Put FCC on Track for Another Mid-Band 5G Auction This Year
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WASHINGTON, February 23, 2021—FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today shared with her colleagues a draft Order that would make much-needed mid-band spectrum available for 5G.  If adopted at the Commission’s March 17 Open Meeting, 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band would be made available for auction and 5G deployment across the contiguous United States.  The Acting Chairwoman also shared with her colleagues a proposed Public Notice seeking comment on procedures for this auction (Auction 110), in which bidding would begin in early October 2021.

“The promise of 5G means new and improved services and applications for consumers and businesses alike.  This means not only faster download speeds, but also enabling digital tools we can’t even imagine yet,” said Rosenworcel.  “We need to deliver the 5G that the American people were promised.  That means a 5G that is fast, secure, resilient, and—most importantly—available across the country.  This important auction is a crucial step toward making that a reality.  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this proposal.”

5G is the next generation of wireless services.  With speeds as much as 10 to 100 times faster than present networks and much lower latency, these networks will kickstart the next big digital transformation.  They will connect more things in more places.  5G will foster new economic activity, unlocking an estimated 4.5 million new jobs and adding $1.5 trillion in economic growth.  

The proposed new rules, if adopted, would allocate the 3.45-3.55 GHz spectrum band for flexible-use service.  It would establish a framework for coordination of non-federal and federal use and establish a band plan, as well as technical, licensing, and competitive bidding rules for the band.  Lastly, it would complete the relocation of non-federal radiolocation operators to the 2.9-3.0 GHz band and the sunset of amateur use in the 3.3-3.5 GHz band.

Last year’s Consolidated Appropriations Act included a provision, the Beat CHINA for 5G Act of 2020, which required the Commission to commence a system of competitive bidding for licenses in the 3.45 GHz band by the end of this year.  Today’s proposal positions the agency to meet this obligation.  In addition, this proposal would be an important step in fulfilling Congress’s directive in the MOBILE NOW Act for the FCC to work with NTIA to evaluate the feasibility of allowing commercial use in the 3.1-3.55 GHz band.  

The full agenda for the March Open Commission meeting will be outlined later today by Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel in her latest Notes from the Acting Chairwoman: https://go.usa.gov/xsZTB.  The formal agenda and public drafts of the agenda items will be available tomorrow at: https://go.usa.gov/xsZTk. 

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Office of the Acting Chairwoman: (202) 418-2400 / @JRosenworcelFCC / www.fcc.gov/jessica-rosenworcel

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).