FCC to vote March 17 on plan to auction new spectrum block for 5G

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on March 17 on a plan to make a key block of mid-band spectrum available for auction and deployment in next-generation wireless 5G networks. Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Tuesday that under the plan bidding would begin in early October 2021 for the 100 megahertz block in the 3.45-3.55 GHz spectrum band.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on March 17 on a plan to make a key block of mid-band spectrum available for auction and deployment in next-generation wireless 5G networks.

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Tuesday that under the plan bidding would begin in early October 2021 for the 100 megahertz block in the 3.45-3.55 GHz spectrum band. The FCC would complete the relocation of non-federal radiolocation operators to the 2.9-3.0 GHz band and sunset amateur use in the 3.3-3.5 GHz band. The FCC said last month that an auction in another nearby spectrum block generated gross proceeds exceeding $80.9 billion.