The FCC has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes rules to reauction AWS-3 spectrum licenses in its inventory. The AWS-3 spectrum refers to the following spectrum bands: 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz. The Commission had initially auctioned this spectrum in Auction 97, but certain winning bidders affiliated with DISH later defaulted due to a bidding credit issue. The FCC is required by statute to initiate this auction by June 23, 2026 and the proceeds from this auction will fund $3.08 billion for the FCC’s Secure Networks Act Reimbursement Program.
