Sen Blackburn Wants More Spectrum in Reconciliation

Sen Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is looking for a larger pipeline of licensed spectrum as the Senate takes up a sweeping budget bill. The bill, officially dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and narrowly passed by the House, would reinstate the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to auction off spectrum, which expired in March 2023. With the reauthorization would come a mandate to sell 600 megahertz of exclusive-use spectrum for mobile or fixed broadband, a pipeline the wireless carriers have been pushing to get included. It’s expected to raise about $88 billion to help pay for tax cuts. Sen Blackburn wants 1200 megahertz. Opponents to any sort of pipeline signalled they want to see the House language changed. Lawmakers aligned with the Defense Department have been concerned that a large quota could lead to military spectrum being vacated, which they say would be time-consuming and costly.