Spectrum

Electromagnetic frequencies used for wireless communications

Lumen is selling its CBRS spectrum

Amid a raging debate over the value of the 3.5GHz CBRS band, Lumen Technologies has apparently decided it's no longer interested in holding those spectrum licenses.

The Battle Over CBRS Spectrum

It’s becoming clear that there is going to a never-ending battle over mid-band spectrum. In late 2024, AT&T asked the Federal Communications Commission to allow for full-power use of CBRS spectrum.

25 Companies Urge FCC to Protect CBRS

Twenty-five organizations sent a letter this week to new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr in opposition to prospective changes to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) framework. The companies say that the changes would upend the goals for which CBRS was developed. The letter urges the FCC to not pursue proposals to increase power levels for CBRS devices and relax emissions limits.

New Coalition to Promote Policies that Foster Increased Home Broadband Competition

Spectrum for Broadband Competition officially launched, bringing together a coalition of industry leaders to advocate for spectrum policies that foster increased competition, consumer choice and innovation in the home broadband market. The coalition also launched its first campaign, ‘End the Cableopoly,’ highlighting the cable industry’s attempts to undermine competition from 5G home broadband by starving wireless providers of the spectrum needed to expand access and help close the digital divide. The coalition’s founding members include 5G Americas and CTIA.

Is this really wireless vs. Elon Musk?

The wireless industry, namely CTIA, recently cheered Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr’s move to launch a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) into the upper C-band—meaning more licensed spectrum being pumped into the pipeline for wireless carriers. But analysts say it’s too early to celebrate. That’s because Elon Musk’s SpaceX is eyeing the same spectrum for shared satellite use and it’s not at all clear where this will eventually land.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for February 2025 Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced the tentative agenda for the February Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2025:

FCC Proposes Increased Broadband Availability in the 900 MHz Band

On January 16, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed out Jessica Rosenworcel’s term as Chairwoman by releasing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to expand the use of the 896-901/935-940 MHz band for broadband use. The NPRM builds on the FCC's 2019 rulemaking, which created a 3/3 MHz broadband allocation at 897.5-900.5/936.5-939.5 MHz and established a process for clearing narrowband incumbents from the band. Of note, the FCC asks whether to lift or modify the ongoing narrowband licensing freeze for the 900 MHz band.

Prospects for lower 3 GHz look better than ever for 5G

What’s the likelihood of the wireless industry getting a piece of the lower 3 GHz band, currently occupied by the Department of Defense (DoD)? The prospects look a lot better since President Donald Trump took residence at the White House, as well as Sen Ted Cruz seizing (R-TX) control as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Wireless industry evangelists are downright giddy over the prospects of lower 3 GHz spectrum being made available for wireless operators.

Rep Allen Introduces the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025

Rep Rick Allen (R-GA) introduced the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025. This legislation extends the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) spectrum auction authority and seeks to ensure the efficient allocation of mid-band spectrum, a resource critical for the advancement of 5G and next-generation technologies. Specifically, the bill:

The Exit Interview: NTIA Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson

In early 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alan Davidson to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information—and to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress charged the NTIA with administering $48.2 billion in federal investments to close the digital divide—including the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment​ (BEAD) Program.