The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to relocate 470-512 MHz (T-Band) incumbent users, mostly public safety entities in urban areas, out of the band to make room for flexible uses, including fixed and mobile wireless uses. This proceeding was required by Section 6103 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which mandated that the Commission begin a competitive bidding system to grant new licenses in the T-Band by February 22, 2021, and to relocate T-Band incumbents no later than two years after completion of the competitive bidding process. The NPRM seeks comment on the reallocation of the T-Band spectrum and proposes to permit broadcast operations in this band. Additionally, the NPRM proposes an auction framework and how to best address the non-public safety operations ongoing in the T-Band.
