Carr Welcomes FCC’s Mid-Band Spectrum Win
Court Upholds Landmark, 2020 Decision to Increase Mid-Band Spectrum for Wi-Fi by 5X
 
WASHINGTON, DC, December 28, 2021—Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion upholding the FCC’s 2020 decision to free up 1,200 MHz of mid-band spectrum for Wi-Fi and 5G innovations while remanding on one issue.  Commissioner Carr, who voted in favor of the FCC’s 2020 decision, issued the following statement: 

“Today’s D.C. Circuit opinion upholds the FCC’s landmark, 2020 decision to increase the amount of mid-band spectrum for Wi-Fi and 5G innovations by a factor of five.  The agency decision was part of the prior FCC’s unprecedented push to free up spectrum—the oxygen needed to power 5G.  All told, those efforts opened up more than six gigahertz of spectrum for licensed 5G services in addition to thousands of megahertz for unlicensed or Wi-Fi operations.  The FCC’s bold spectrum actions fueled America’s 5G leadership.  It is critical that this FCC match the pace and cadence of those decisions.  That is why I put forward a spectrum calendar at the beginning of this year.

“Today’s opinion also underscores the FCC’s role as the nation’s lead spectrum regulator.  It does so by once again affirming the FCC’s assessment of the risks of harmful interference to existing operations.  U.S. leadership in wireless depends on stakeholders continuing to abide by Congress’s long-standing decision to place these determinations squarely within the FCC’s expertise.”
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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Greg Watson 
(202) 418-0658 or greg.watson@fcc.gov