FCC Commissioner O'Rielly Remarks at MWC Americas 2019 Everything Policy Track

In the C-Band, the satellite licensees are willing to relinquish a good portion of the 500 megahertz between 3.7 to 4.2 GHz, while accommodating their customers receiving video and audio content in the remaining satellite spectrum. The Federal Communications Commission is close to completing its review of the C-Band, and an item should be voted in the next month or two to repurpose part of the band. As I set out early in my discussion of this band, we need a sufficient amount of spectrum, around 300 megahertz makes the most sense; a fair and transparent assignment process, which I believe can be accomplished quickly; and safeguards to ensure that current spectrum users – mostly broadcasters and cable providers – continue to get service. While not my priority, it is also possible that an auction can generate money for the U.S. Treasury. To be clear, our primary objective should be to ensure that the spectrum gets into the hands of those who can put it to use as quickly as possible in order to compete not just domestically but internationally as well.

C-Band, along with 3.5 GHz, will provide a solid anchor in the mid bands, but even more is needed. So, I have turned my attention to the bands right below 3.5 GHz: the 3.1 to 3.55 GHz band. I emphatically argue that the top 100 megahertz should be reallocated immediately, and while the lower portion of this band may present challenges, the requisite study needs to get done quickly, not years from now, so that we know what is there and what protections will be needed.