ABC's Jimmy Kimmel said he will be interviewing a Democratic candidate for Senate tonight, but the interview will be on YouTube only and not broadcast on TV because of threats made by the Federal Communications Commission.
Kimmel has been a prime target in the Trump FCC's attacks on ABC and its owner, Disney. In his monologue last night, Kimmel said he'll be interviewing Democrat James Talarico, a state representative who is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a seat in the US Senate.
In previous years, such an interview would have aired on the broadcast show via local stations throughout the country, Kimmel said. This time, it will only be on the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel in order to prevent further trouble for individual stations that hold FCC licenses, he said.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote later this month on two items intended to free up spectrum for next-generation connectivity, according to chair Brendan Carr (pictured).
The first is a satellite spectrum abundance order, which would allow the FCC to unlock more than 1,000 MHz of spectrum across the 12GHz and 42GHz bands. The FCC stated the freed-up airwaves could support a range of connectivity services, including faster satellite broadband.
The second item is a proposal to seek comment on modernising the FCC’s rules governing ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, an unlicensed spectrum category used across IoT, automotive and consumer devices. Carr noted the rules have not been comprehensively updated since their adoption in 2002.
“The FCC’s work to free up more spectrum continues apace this month,” Carr said. “Today, I shared two items with my colleagues that will push more commercial spectrum into the marketplace than ever before. By unlocking these bands, the FCC will give a big boost to American innovation and promote economic growth across a wide range of industries.”
On the satellite order, Carr said the move is designed to ensure consumers continue benefiting from competitive, high-speed internet delivered from next-generation satellite systems.
On the UWB proposal, he said the rule changes would unlock further opportunities for unlicensed devices across a wide swath of spectrum, pointing to UWB’s role in applications from vehicle safety systems to package tracking.
He stated the technology is so deeply embedded in everyday life that most people are unaware of its role, and that the proposal represents the FCC’s first comprehensive modernisation of the rules in over two decades.
Both items are scheduled for a vote at the FCC’s 30 September open meeting. The satellite spectrum move comes as regulators globally weigh how to balance growing demand for satellite broadband capacity, driven by operators including Amazon Leo, SpaceX’s Starlink and others, against existing terrestrial and federal spectrum users. The 12GHz band in particular has been the subject of a long-running dispute between satellite operators and terrestrial 5G proponents over interference risks and competing use cases.
The meeting items build on Carr’s broader push to release more spectrum since taking the chair, which has included restarting the agency’s first spectrum auction in four years. Auction 113, covering AWS-3 licences in the 1695-1710MHz, 1755-1780MHz and 2155-2180MHz bands, forms part of the FCC’s Build America Agenda, targeting 800MHz of new spectrum by 2034.
In a victory for Republican campaign committees, the Supreme Court issued an order on Friday that forces broadcast TV stations to cut the prices of election ads purchased by political parties and joint fundraising committees. The September 4 ruling came in response to a petition filed by the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The Supreme Court order was issued just in time for the start of a 60-day period before the election, in which broadcasters are required by US law to offer ad discounts to individual candidates. Because of the top court's order, TV stations must also give their lowest ad rates to political parties and joint fundraising committees, which face fewer limits on how much money they can raise and spend.
The legally required discount is known as the “lowest unit charge,” or LUC. A US law that applies to any licensed station that airs election ads requires that the lowest price be charged for “the use of any broadcasting station by any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office in connection with his campaign.” The main legal question is whether “use… by” a candidate can refer to ad time purchased on a candidate’s behalf by parties and joint fundraising committees.
The FCC is turning to Space Bureau deputy chief Jennifer Gilsenan to keep its satellite regulatory overhaul moving as Jay Schwarz prepares to retire as its chief later this month.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to explore ways to deliver direct satellite connectivity to unlicensed devices using 200MHz of related spectrum to advance services requiring handoff between terrestrial and non-terrestrial links.
It stated the move could give consumers an “additional option for reliable connectivity”, as investment in direct-to-device (D2D) services continues to grow.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) examines potential reforms to enable devices operating in certain part 15 bands communicate with FCC-authorised satellites.
Part 15 rules govern unlicensed wireless equipment widely used by businesses and consumers. The FCC stated the move is intended to expand opportunities for Wi-Fi and applications including IoT which “benefit from more robust wireless connectivity”.
It also proposed clarifying part 15-authorised equipment may be used within and between authorised spacecraft.
The FCC intends to explore further scenarios “in which part 15 devices might” safely and effectively operate in space,
Money maker FCC chair Brendan Carr said the move builds on 18-months of regulatory steps to enable D2D services, including freeing up spectrum, providing certainty around buildout milestones, and clarifying exclusivity and legal rights to encourage investment.
He said the measures had helped generate tens of billions of dollars in D2D deal flow.
“For the first time in FCC history, we are exploring whether D2D services are technically possible in more than 200 MHz of unlicensed spectrum,” he said.
“These frequencies could yield more capacity to complement D2D services and encourage experimentation.”
He added unlicensed spectrum already underpins a wide range of household devices and innovations, and the proposal would seek to ensure the bands continue to support existing services.
The proposal targets the 902MHz to 928MHz, 2400MHz to 2483.5MHz and 5725MHz to 5850MHz bands traditionally used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which already permit unlicensed devices to operate at the relatively higher power levels needed for satellite communication.
Along with seeking comments, the FCC is asking whether part 15 devices communicating with satellites should require an additional part 25 earth station certification.
It’s aimed at the radios inside modern inverters, not the power electronics. And it lands on a market where US factories are on track to supply just 40% of combined solar and battery demand next year, according to testing firm Intertek CEA.
Dois dias depois de Washington ter proibido a importação de novos modelos de robots humanoides e quadrúpedes, Pequim respondeu com uma declaração do Ministério do Comércio acusando os EUA de discriminação e prometendo contramedidas se a decisão não for revertida. O anúncio surge semanas antes de Trump receber Xi Jinping.
The Commerce Department is moving ahead with plans to implement a voluntary mission authorization system for novel space activities that are not regulated by other agencies.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted final rules for auctioning 160MHz of spectrum in the upper C-Band, setting the stage for an auction to close by July 2027 and creating what the regulator called a harmonised 5G super band spanning 440MHz when combined with existing holdings.
The rules apply to the 3.98GHz to 4.14GHz range, and build on the FCC’s lower C-Band auction conducted during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Combining the lower C-Band with the newly cleared upper C-Band will create a contiguous 3.70-4.14GHz block which the FCC described as a larger swath of licensed, 5G-grade mid-band spectrum than any other industrialised country holds.
“America’s wireless leadership is back,” FCC chair Brendan Carr stated. “Freeing up this spectrum drives down prices, raises speeds, and enhances competition. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, America will once again lead the world in wireless.”
The commission announced it will auction 60% more spectrum than the 100MHz minimum required by law, a move it stated would raise tens of billions of dollars in additional proceeds for the US Treasury to support deficit reduction and other national priorities.
The auction will offer 3,248 new flexible-use licences across the contiguous US.
Winning bidders will be able to launch wireless services in the top 75 US markets starting December 2030, with remaining markets following from July 2031, a timeline the FCC said is faster than originally expected.
The FCC estimated the spectrum release could generate at least $422 billion in GDP, 2.4 million new jobs and $621 billion in consumer surplus.
Aviation concerns In 2021, major airline industry players pressed the government and regulators to delay the launch of 5G in C-Band over interference fears.
To protect aviation safety systems operating in adjacent frequencies, the FCC worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration on rules governing coexistence between wireless operations and radio altimeters in the nearby 4.2GHz to 4.4GHz band.
The FAA said the FCC had incorporated key safeguards to protect the frequencies aircraft altimeters rely on, and the rules include rebates to help the aviation sector retrofit and upgrade altimeter equipment. The FCC said incentive payments to satellite operators being cleared from the band will be lower in aggregate than those paid following the lower C-Band auction, reflecting the smaller amount of spectrum involved, though roughly proportionate to it.
The rules follow a process that began last year under the FCC’s renewed auction authority as part of President Trump’s so called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, building on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted last November.
Commission staff are expected to seek comment on auction procedures in the coming days before finalising them ahead of the auction.
The order was adopted by a vote of FCC chairman Brendan Carr and commissioner Olivia Trusty in favour, with commissioner Anna Gomez approving in part and dissenting in part.
Space modernisation order Separately, the FCC voted to overhaul its space and earth station licensing process, replacing the legacy Part 25 rules in their entirety with a new Part 100 framework rebuilt from first principles. The commission said it completed the systematic, industry-wide regulatory overhaul in roughly 18 months, a pace it described as historically unprecedented for a federal agency.
The new rules are intended to speed up space and earth station licensing through a faster, more predictable process the FCC likened to a “licensing assembly line”, while also enhancing space safety and removing outdated regulations to support the country’s commercial space sector.
The FCC framed the reform as part of a broader push under the Trump administration to strengthen US leadership in space.
The FCC voted July 22 to push satellite operators out of more C-band spectrum for a 5G auction next year, while approving a licensing overhaul aimed at accelerating the commercial space economy.
The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera house in December were there to enjoy one of the nation’s most exclusive celebrations of the performing arts: the center’s annual honors gala.
The black-tie event, hosted by President Donald Trump, prioritized tickets to people who donated more than $75,000 to the center. This year, it feted Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone, the legendary glam rock band Kiss and the Grammy Award-winning disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor.
Among the attendees that evening were two lower-profile government officials whose regulatory decisions had been crucial to the future of the gala’s broadcast sponsor, CBS, and its parent company, Paramount.
Reflect Orbital staff shown standing by one of its large reflective surface components (Credit: Reflect Orbital)
Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… a controversy has erupted in recent days with the FCC’s approval of a proof-of-concept satellite that reflects daylight to Earth at night, in a move that has astronomers concerned. In our analysis, we’ll be looking at 1) the FCC’s approval of Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite, 2) what the company says about its sunlight mirror orbital technologies, 3) the sharp responses from the astronomical community, and 4) where things go from here as the demonstration satellite heads toward production.
Quote of the Week
“While we fully support American technical innovation in space, this innovation cannot come at the cost of imperiling scientific research, which has been at the forefront of American innovation and global leadership for decades.”
– American Astronomical Society statement
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FCC Approves Launch of Satellite Designed to Reflect Sunlight to Earth’s Nightside
This week, in a controversial ruling that has sky watchers (and others) concerned, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the launch of an experimental satellite crafted to reflect sunlight onto Earth after sunset.
The move has seen significant pushback from astronomers, who now warn that the technology would likely interfere with scientific observations and alter the natural appearance of the night sky.
Dubbed Eärendil 1, the satellite is being developed by the California-based Reflect Orbital as a proof-of-concept for the company’s larger, and potentially even more impactful vision: as many as 50,000 orbiting mirrors capable of directing sunlight to different regions on Earth.
While astronomers have expressed concern over the implementation of such orbital systems, the company says its satellites would offer the possibility for providing illumination after dark in select areas, which could be used to extend the operation hours for solar powered facilities.
Eärendil 1: A Case Study in Controversy
Branding itself as “the sunlight company,” Reflect Orbital says in a statement at its website that it aims to provide “clean, abundant energy available on demand,” because “reliable access to affordable energy is the foundation of human progress, economic growth, and a healthier planet.”
The satellite, which shares its name with Eärendil the Mariner, a character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythos, will carry an 18-by-18-meter (59-by-59-foot) reflective Mylar surface that unfolds in orbit after launch. Operating roughly 625 kilometers (390 miles) above Earth, the spacecraft is designed to redirect sunlight onto specific target areas of approximately five kilometers (three miles) in width.
Although many are sounding the alarm about the potential consequences of such technology, the Reflect Orbital says it maintains strict exclusion zones where astronomical operations or “sensitive areas” exist, and that its technology can be carefully deployed only to regions identified as target areas.
According to a FAQ page on the company’s website, the light produced by Eärendil 1 and future members of the company’s constellation will be “contained within the spot” among several other safety features it promotes. The company also says it can turn off the light quickly, and disable it at any time to prevent light from reaching Earth.
“The light is not bright enough to start fires or harm eyes,” the company’s FAQ page states, “even when viewed through a telescope, and cannot be concentrated past maximum natural sunlight irradiance.”
The company’s CEO, Ben Nowack, has argued the concept could improve the economics of solar power overall, allowing Earth-based power systems the ability to harvest additional sunlight before sunrise and after sunset.
Criticism Abounds
The proposal has drawn criticism from several groups, particularly the American Astronomical Society (AAS), which urged the FCC to reject the application.
“The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is dismayed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision on 9 July to grant a license to Reflect Orbital,” the organization said in a statement following the FCC ruling. “As the AAS expressed to the FCC, Reflect Orbital’s proposed satellite, which would reflect sunlight back to Earth at night, carries the potential for significant harm to our members and the broader community of those who depend on a dark night sky.”
“This harm could include damage to sensitive research telescope equipment, potential flash-blinding of pilots and drivers, and — as Reflect Orbital stated in its own FCC filings — potential permanent eye damage to anyone looking through a mid-sized telescope,” the AAS statement adds, noting what appears to be a sharp contrast between information contained in FCC filings, and that which appears on the company’s website.
Further, research cited by the AAS suggests that a full constellation of Reflect Orbital satellites could increase nighttime sky brightness by a factor of two to three, even at remote observatories, due to atmospheric scattering of the reflected light.
“While we fully support American technical innovation in space, this innovation cannot come at the cost of imperiling scientific research, which has been at the forefront of American innovation and global leadership for decades,” the AAS statement concludes.
Beyond FCC Authority
However, in the wording featured in the agency’s approval, the FCC concluded that such concerns fall outside its authority, which is primarily limited to regulating the use of radio-frequency spectrum, adding that it believes the overall likelihood of injury resulting from the launch of the proof-of-concept satellite to be low.
In the meantime, while the FCC’s approval marks an early win for Reflect Orbital, the company has said that it is planning to have independent research commissioned to help assess the technology’s environmental and scientific impacts. Additionally, the company says it plans to coordinate with the National Science Foundation to help ensure that its efforts align with those of the broader scientific community.
Fundamentally, the AAS’s disappointment—a view expressed by other members of the scientific community, argues that the ruling presents broader questions about who should oversee the environmental consequences of future space-based illumination projects, especially if such systems end up becoming more widespread in the years ahead.
“In the absence of another licensing agency that could take these considerations into account, we believe that it is critical for the FCC to consider all of the impacts of the satellite’s use case,” the AAS said in its statement this week.
The Federal Communications Commission will vote to repeal the National Television Ownership Rule that is supposed to prevent a single broadcast station owner from reaching more than 39 percent of all TV households in the US. The proposed change sets up a likely court battle over the FCC claim that it has authority to repeal a limit set by Congress.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has already treated the rule as more of a suggestion. In March, the Carr FCC granted a waiver allowing Nexstar Media Group to buy Tegna in a deal that let it reach over half of TV households. The Carr FCC argued that Congress gave it authority to modify or waive the rule.
Carr now plans to repeal the 39 percent limit and replace it with a "case-by-case review" of each proposed merger, the chairman announced today in an op-ed published on Breitbart. The change would make it easier for the FCC to pick and choose which station groups get to surpass the limit. Under Carr, this would likely benefit news companies that provide favorable coverage for President Trump.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed an AWS-3 re-auction with gross winning bids topping $3.5 billion in what was the agency’s first spectrum sale after a four-year lapse in activity.
Bidding concluded for Auction 113 yesterday (23 June) after 72 rounds for the 200 licences across the 1695-1710MHz, 1755-1780MHz and 2155-2180MHz bands.
All the licences received bids in the process, which had 17 qualified participants and began on 2 June.
The frequencies were originally auctioned to Dish Network, which is now part of EchoStar, in 2014 but never made it into service after a series of defaults and bid withdrawals left them sitting unused in the FCC’s inventory for more than a decade.
In 2015, Dish Network affiliates Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless surrendered a number of spectrum licences worth $3.5 billion after a dispute with the FCC over discounts.
In April, the FCC and EchoStar reached an agreement which included the latter dropping a lawsuit it filed in a US Court of Appeals over the defaults by Northstar and SNR.
The financial total carries significant regulatory implications. Up to $3.3 billion of the proceeds will be legally directed to cover funds borrowed for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, commonly known as the “rip and replace” initiative to swap out Huawei and ZTE gear from US networks.
Surpassing the $3.5 billion mark clears the $2.9 billion threshold required for EchoStar to avoid paying a potential shortfall payment to the regulator under a prior settlement framework.
While specific winning bidders remain anonymous under strict anti-collusion quiet period rules, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US and SpaceX are widely expected to have driven the demand.
The event marks a milestone for FCC chair Brendan Carr, representing the return of the agency’s auction power.
“After years on the sidelines, FCC auctions are finally back,” Carr stated. “Today’s successful auction generated billions of dollars in competitive bids to put spectrum to effective commercial use, and it bolsters competition in the wireless marketplace.”
The FCC plans to carry the momentum into its upcoming Upper C-Band auction, tracking on schedule to meet a congressional deadline to auction at least 100MHz of the spectrum by July 2027.
ABC is urging viewers to write to the Federal Communications Commission and tell it to stop trying to "control who is allowed to appear" on The View. An ABC commercial that started airing yesterday asked viewers to submit responses to the FCC's call for public comment on whether the talk show is a “bona fide news interview program.”
"The View has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 30 years," ABC's ad said. "Now, the FCC wants to control who is allowed on the show. Viewers, use your voice. Tell the FCC to let the viewers decide."
For decades, the FCC has classified late-night and daytime entertainment talk shows as bona fide news for the purposes of their interview segments. This makes the shows exempt from the equal-time rule, which requires equal opportunities for opposing political candidates on non-news programming.
California state regulators say AT&T lied to the Federal Communications Commission in an attempt to shut off its old copper phone network without providing an adequate replacement.
"AT&T asserts that California seeks to prohibit or hinder wireline carriers from discontinuing copper facilities and investing in fiber," said a June 15 filing by the state of California and the California Public Utilities Commission. "Indeed, AT&T has been making this argument for years. It is not and has never been true."
As we reported last month, AT&T sued California over the state’s refusal to let it stop providing phone service to all potential customers in its wireline network territory. AT&T also petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to declare that California cannot enforce its rules and to let AT&T stop providing service to about 199,000 phone customers.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) teamed with federal, state and local agencies to ensure secure communications across host cities as the FIFA World Cup 2026 football tournament kicked off.
FCC chair Brendan Carr welcomed the start of matches yesterday (11 June), stating the commission’s public safety, enforcement and radio engineering experts collaborated with the White House Task Force, private sector communications providers and stadium operators to support robust networks throughout the tournament.
“This event will be an incredible showcase of America’s strength and spirit as we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday,” Carr said, also thanking Task Force Executive Director Andrew Giuliani and the FCC’s own staff for their work on the effort.
On the public safety front, the FCC has been preparing for rapid interference detection and response during matches, helping ensure first responders and emergency communications systems operate without disruption.
The commission has also been working with federal, state and local partners to support lawful counter-drone operations under the Safer Skie Act and has issued 10 Special Temporary Authorizations for wireless devices and broadcast operations to aid global media coverage.
Wireless interference has been a central focus given the extraordinary demand placed on networks when large crowds converge in concentrated areas.
The FCC collaborated with industry partners to support high-capacity wireless and 5G connectivity in and around host venues, ensuring reliable operations for broadcasters, wireless carriers and media organisations.
To monitor the radio spectrum in real time, the FCC deployed a networked constellation of advanced spectrum sensors across all US venues, to enable remote monitoring and rapid identification of harmful interference.
The FCC is ensuring spectrum requirements for broadcast operations, public safety communications, event security and national security preparations are fully supported at the tournament locations.
It also conducted advance planning, testing and coordination activities with host cities ahead of the tournament.
The FCC noted these efforts lay the groundwork beyond the World Cup itself, strengthening national communications coordination frameworks in preparation for the 2028 Olympics and other future major events.
China Unicom’s US division warned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a Trump administration proposal to bar US operators from interconnecting with Chinese telecoms firms deemed national security risks could severely disrupt global communications.
In a filing, the subsidiary stated the FCC’s proposal will “harm US companies with significant business and supply chain interests in China”.
It explained global communications infrastructure is built on a complex web of interconnection agreements between carriers across national borders, and Chinese-funded operators collectivity serve as the primary gateways for traffic flowing between the world’s two largest economies, the US and China.
“A blanket prohibition on interconnection with these entities would fundamentally fracture a critical segment of the global communications network,” the filing read.
As a solution, the unit suggested taking a more narrowly tailored approach that addresses national security risks, “while preserving an open and dependable interconnected global network would better serve the public interest and support the US government’s economic policies”.
In April, FCC commissioners voted unanimously to advance a sweeping notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which would bar China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from operating data centres and PoPs in the US.
The NPRM also seeks to prohibit US operators from interconnecting with entities on the national security covered list, including facilities such as data centres, gateways and internet exchange points owned by those entities.
China Unicom filed right at the FCC’s comments deadline which were due 8 June, 2026, with reply comments due 60 days after on 7 July.
Amazon no longer faces a July 30 cutoff for deploying half its planned 3,232 broadband satellites, but the reprieve comes with a temporary loss of spectrum priority that could give SpaceX and other rivals more leverage in orbit.
Mobile World Live brings you our top three picks of the week as Anthropic widened access to its Claude Mythos model despite security concerns, the European Commission (EC) unveiled a fresh digital sovereignty push and the FCC commenced its first spectrum auction in four years.
Anthropic expands Mythos access to 150 new companies
What happened: Anthropic expanded access to its controversial Claude Mythos AI model under the Project Glasswing to 150 additional companies in sectors including power, healthcare and communications, after initially restricting it to a group of private technology players.
Why it matters: Anthropic said the latest cohort brings in sectors underrepresented in the first wave. In commentary to security publication CSO Online, experts noted the expansion could add to security concerns around the model. Carmi Levy, an independent technology analyst, questioned what Glasswing will be able to accomplish by adding 150 more participants, noting the initial point was to allow the AI player to work closely with a small, fully vetted group of vendors to develop stronger defences against cybersecurity risks. “Expanding access into the hundreds may very well bring in more minds to build better defensive measures, but it simultaneously introduces significant concerns around potential leaks.”
Research director for AI security at IDC, Grace Trinidad, added that Anthropic’s announcement pointed out that each of the 150 new participants “will need to meet our security requirements before they gain access”, which also did not build confidence. “Nobody knows what those security requirements are.”
Earlier this week, Anthropic also confidentially filed IPO paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ahead of rival OpenAI’s rumoured float.
What happened: The EC unveiled a fresh digital sovereignty package targeting semiconductors, AI, cloud, open source and energy infrastructure in a bid to accelerate Europe’s push for digital sovereignty.
Why it matters: The package includes a proposed a revamped Chips Act 2.0 and a Cloud and AI Development Act to streamline data centre deployment and introduced measures to expand open source use, support startups and digitalise the energy system. EC president Ursula von der Leyen said Europe “cannot afford to depend on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals running, our energy grids stable and our services secure”.
Jennifer Okafor, a UN and Global Health strategist and AI and data analyst, said the policies represent “a comprehensive approach to balancing growth, stability, and long-term resilience across the EU”. However, president of German digital industry group Bitkom Ralf Wintergerst told Reuters it is “crucial that these efforts do not stop at mere announcements”, while Keegan McBride, director of science and technology at non-profit think tank Tony Blair Institute argued Europe “can’t regulate its way to competitiveness, it must build”. He added, “there’s still much more to do if Europe wants to close the gap with the US and China”.
What happened: The FCC opened Auction 113, its first spectrum auction in four years, covering spectrum in the 1695MHz to 1710MHz, 1755MHz to 1780MHz and 2155MHz to 2180MHz bands.
Why it matters: AT&T, T-Mobile US, Verizon and potentially SpaceX are among likely bidders. The licences cover territory home to more than 100 million people across 48 states and two US territories. FCC chair Brendan Carr declared: “Finally! The FCC is back in the game,” adding spectrum auctions are “the lifeblood of licensed wireless service”. Carr argued “more spectrum means more building, lower prices and stronger competition”.
Proceeds from the auction will fund the FCC’s “rip and replace” programme targeting Huawei and ZTE equipment in US networks. Indeed, the auction also bolsters the regulator’s broader Build America Agenda, which targets 800MHz of spectrum by 2034.
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