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The FCC is seeking comment on a number of options to auction additional spectrum in the C-band to make it available for next-generation wireless services. The FCC announced Wednesday that Chairman Carr is circulating a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which will be voted on at the November meeting. 

According to the FCC, the notice seeks comment on options for reconfiguring the upper C-band in the contiguous United States ranging from 180 megahertz to 100 megahertz. Congress has directed the FCC to auction at least 100 megahertz in the upper C-band by July of 2027 in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

The FCC said the commission “will consider all options within that range, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the amount of spectrum to be repurposed as generational aviation safety upgrades occur in the adjacent band.” 

This is in addition to the proceeding Carr launched in February of this year to seek input into how to free up more spectrum in the upper C-band. 

It’s been just a few years since the massive undertaking by the satellite industry that launched in 2020 to clear a portion of the C-band. The clearing saw satellite operators — mainly SES and Intelsat — receive relocation costs and a total of $9.7 billion to clear the spectrum, while the resulting spectrum auction grossed $80.9 billion, setting a record as the highest-grossing FCC auction. SES and Intelsat finished clearing the spectrum in August of 2023. 

“My proposal aims to maximize the amount of spectrum available for 5G and 6G services,” Carr said in a release. “Restoring America’s leadership position is important. After all, freeing up spectrum drives down prices for consumers, creates jobs, and increases competition. It also plays a vital role in promoting our national security and geopolitical interests. We’ve seen how the Lower C-band powers in-home and high-speed mobile broadband across the country.” 

Last week, SES executives met with Carr and senior FCC counsel to talk about the upper C-band proceeding, as detailed in an ex parte filing. 

SES said it is committed to working collaboratively with the commission, and encouraged using a similar process for the previous C-band clearing. SES executives also told Carr that a second clearing could be more difficult. 

“As it clears more spectrum, the technical complexity, timeline, cost and customer impact increases,” SES said in the filing. “While clearing the Upper C-band will be more complicated than the prior round, SES believes that using a similar process with appropriate relocation costs and accelerated clearing payments would expedite and ensure a successful process.”