Federal Register #FCC 26-46

FCC Auction of 160 MHz Upper C-Band Spectrum Licenses for Terrestrial Wireless Use

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching an auction for licenses to use 160 megahertz of Upper C-Band spectrum (3.98-4.14 GHz) for terrestrial wireless services in the contiguous United States. - Government Buyer: - Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Wireless Telecommunications Bureau - OEMs and Vendors: - Incumbent Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) operators: SES, Eutelsat, Telesat (as spectrum incumbents to be reimbursed) - Products/Services Requested: - 160 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum licenses, issued as unpaired 20 MHz blocks in Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) - Transition cost reimbursement and incentive payments for SES, Eutelsat, and Telesat to clear the spectrum - Rebates for aircraft owners/operators to retrofit radio altimeters for coexistence with new wireless operations - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Licensees must reimburse incumbent FSS operators for spectrum clearing costs and pay incentives for timely transition - Licensees must provide rebates to support FAA-mandated radio altimeter retrofits - Enhanced technical rules for power limits, antenna height, and coexistence with adjacent band radio altimeters - Licenses are valid for 15 years and awarded via competitive bidding, with credits for small businesses and rural providers - Geographic-area licensing based on PEAs, with open eligibility and a unified 3.7 GHz Service across the Lower and Upper C-Band

Description

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order to expand next-generation wireless services in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band by making 160 megahertz of the 3.98-4.2 GHz band available for terrestrial wireless flexible use. The Order creates a single 3.7 GHz Service spanning 3.7-4.14 GHz and establishes competitive bidding procedures for an auction. It applies current Lower C-band licensing and operating rules to the Upper C-band with enhanced performance requirements and technical rules to ensure coexistence with adjacent band radio altimeters. New licensees must reimburse incumbent Fixed Satellite Service licensees for migration costs and provide rebates to aircraft owners/operators to support FAA radio altimeter retrofit requirements.

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