I’m very pleased by the policies the FCC is adopting on the C-Band. To whit, this is good news:

…the FCC will vote at the next Commission meeting on an order that tees up a large swath of prime, mid-band spectrum for auction. Specifically, the FCC will vote on July 22 to hold an auction of 160 megahertz of spectrum in the Upper C-Band (3.98-4.14 GHz) next year. The rules would also effectively harmonize terrestrial wireless operations across the entire C-Band to create a single “super-band” spanning 440 megahertz (3.70-4.14 GHz). This sets America up to lead the world in next-gen connectivity.

The C-Band is vital spectrum for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), the service that provides competitive alternatives to the former cable monopoly and to newly emerging fiber and LEO satellite broadband. Auctioning off more spectrum in this band will make FWA faster, cheaper, and more available than it is now.

This is a win for competition. The FCC issued this order very quickly, while managing to migrate existing services and to protect adjacent aviation services, preventing the uncertainty and delay that followed the last C-Band order.

The Commission will vote on this proposed action on July 22nd and it will certainly pass. This is good work on the part of the agency.