CTIA presses for FCC auction authority, speedy execution on spectrum plans

The United States’ leadership in spectrum policy, 5G and reaping the economic benefits of the most advanced mobile networks are in jeopardy and have to get back on track, CTIA’s president and CEO says in a strongly worded new blog post. The biggest symptom of the problem? The fact that the Federal Communications Commission’s auction authority has still not yet been renewed by Congress, which has meant that no new auctions can be held and which also impacted previous auctions, including T-Mobile US’ ability to access the slew of 2.5 GHz licenses that it won in 2022. CEO Meredith Attwell Baker said that “America’s wireless future hinges on” four things:

1. Reestablishing the FCC’s auction authority along with a “forward-looking and comprehensive pipeline of future auctions.”
2. An implementation plan for the previously established National Spectrum Strategy with “clear targets for future full-power auctions, an expedited two-year study schedule, and clarification that NTIA will lead and manage the new studies.”
3. The federal government quickly providing licensed commercial access to the lower 3 GHz band. 
4. Focusing efforts on the upper midband at 7-8 GHz.