FCC Adopts Rules To Auction Spectrum For 5G

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on Friday to adopt rules to auction a key band spectrum for wireless use that includes up to $9.7 billion in potential incentive payments to satellite companies, Reuters reports.

The C-band is a block of spectrum used by satellite company customers to deliver video and radio programming to 120 million U.S. households. The FCC says it is critical it free up spectrum for next-generation 5G networks, but Republican Senator John Kennedy and some Democrats have criticized the payments to the satellite firms to speed relocation to a different part of the spectrum block. Intelsat SA could receive up to $4.9 billion in incentive payments.

The FCC also would authorize up to $5.2 billion in payments to cover the costs of shifting the spectrum users on top of the incentive payments. The FCC has said new satellites will need to be launched, and filters placed on earth stations to shift spectrum.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the payments are needed to ensure the spectrum is freed up quickly.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC is forcing "C-band auction winners to pay nearly $10 billion to incumbent satellite operators over and above their relocation costs." She said the FCC analysis of the plan "looks a lot like an effort to justify backroom deals and promised payoffs."

Legislation is pending in Congress that would reduce the amount that satellite companies would receive. Kennedy said Friday that "shelling out billions for airwaves we already own is no way to handle taxpayer money—especially when taxpayers want those dollars to support rural broadband."

Verizon Communications Inc Chief Executive Hans Vestberg praised the vote, saying the FCC "clearly understands the need to move swiftly to ensure that critical wireless spectrum is quickly made available so that we can build the networks of the future."