FCC Chairman Wheeler's Response to Rep. Guthrie and Rep. Matsui Regarding AWS-3 Auction

On March 25, Reps Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler encouraging the Commission to create a band plan that encourages a robust bidding process that maximizes revenue in the upcoming AWS-3 auction.

On April 15, Chairman Wheeler wrote back noting that the FCC unanimously adopted the AWS-3 Report and Order. The Order adopts allocation, service, licensing, and technical rules for 65 megahertz of spectrum, including 50 megahertz of paired spectrum at 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz. The upcoming auction will expand the workhorse A WS-1 commercial wireless band, which today is available for mobile broadband use.

The Commission adopted a band plan that will promote competition by offering licenses comprised of different geographic license areas and block sizes. This band plan will serve the spectrum needs of a variety of applicants, and promote auction participation and robust competition.

The Commission's action set the stage for an auction of the AWS-3 spectrum licenses later this year.

While adopting the A WS-3 Report and Order is a big step toward making this spectrum available for commercial use, additional details must be resolved before this auction can take place. We will address these challenges so that all parties have certainty about their rights and obligations in A WS-3, and to ensure that the auction is robustly competitive and successful.