Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC BEGINS MID-BAND SPECTRUM AUCTION
Auction 110 Seeks Bids for Licenses in the 3.45 GHz Band
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WASHINGTON, October 5, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission today kicked off a mid-band spectrum auction to support next generation wireless services – including 5G – in the 3.45 GHz band.  Auction 110 will make available 100 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum for commercial use this year.  

“We are moving with record speed and collaboration to free up more mid-band spectrum for 5G,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “These airwaves are a critical part of unlocking the 5G promise everywhere in the country.  I want to thank the FCC staff who have worked so hard to start this auction this year.  And I want to thank our partners at NTIA and the Department of Defense for working with us to free up this spectrum for 5G.”

Bidding in the first phase of the auction, the clock phase, will kick off at 10 a.m. ET.  As required by law, auction proceeds must cover 110% of the expected sharing and relocation costs for federal users currently operating in the band – in this case $14,775,354,330, based on a January 14, 2021 estimate from NTIA.

The 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act required the Commission to begin this auction this year.  The FCC adopted flexible use service rules for the 3.45 GHz band in March 2021 and established procedures for Auction 110 in June.  License winners will operate within a cooperative sharing framework that will enable commercial use by an array of service providers, while also ensuring that federal incumbents are still protected from harmful interference where and when they require continued access to the band.  For more information on Auction 110, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/auction/110.

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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).