As expected, T-Mobile was the biggest bidder by a huge margin in the Federal Communications Commission’s just-concluded 2.5-GHz auction.

The carrier’s gross winning bids totaled $304,325,290 for the vast majority of licenses — 7,156 of the 8,017 up for bid, with the other licenses drawing no bids.

The licenses can be used for any terrestrial fixed or mobile service and have buildout requirements of signal coverage of 50% of the license area within four years and 80% within eight years.

T-Mobile was expected to be the primary major player in the auction since the spectrum fits with holes it has in its coverage areas. One veteran spectrum watcher said likely the only reason most other carriers would be bidding was to bid up how much their competitor, T-Mobile, would have to pay to fill those holes.

There were no other big-name winners, with the second-most licenses won (107) by the North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation and the second gross bid total recorded by PTI Pacifica Inc.

The auction's gross bid total of $427 million will be reduced by quite a bit, as more than three-quarters of the winning bidders qualified for millions of dollars in small business bidding credits applied to their winning prices.

There are 63 winning bidders, 77% of which qualified as small businesses or as entities serving rural ares that will support the introduction of innovative new wireless services in their local communities. In addition, Auction 108 raised gross proceeds exceeding $427 million. 

The FCC voted back in 2019 to free up the band reserved for Educational Broadband Service (EBS) service for 5G, the most likely flexible use. Educational users with the licenses can continue to use it or lease it to others (as many have already been doing), transfer it to someone else, or use it for something else. ▪️

The FCC's latest 5G spectrum auction ended Monday (August 29) after 73 rounds and $427,789,670 in gross bids.

That total, which in part reflects the fact the FCC gave out free spectrum to Tribal entities in a priority window before the auction, will be decreased by small business, rural and tribal land bidding credits of up to a 25% discount.

The flexible use licenses are for 10 years but are renewable.

T-Mobile was expected to be the major player in the auction since the spectrum fits with holes it has in its coverage areas. One veteran spectrum watcher said likely the only reason most other carriers would be bidding was to bid up how much their competitor, T-Mobile, would have to pay to fill those holes.

Also: Tribal Window Closes

The FCC opened an early Tribal window for 2.5 GHz spectrum and got more than 400 applications for the free spectrum in advance of the auction. The FCC said Monday: "Any winning bidder awarded a license in Auction 108 will not be allowed to operate within the license area of a successful Rural Tribal Priority Window applicant, even if that application remains pending at the time of issuance of the license [to the winning bidder]."

"Due to these encumbrances, a substantial number of licenses in the inventory for Auction 108 have a very small amount of unassigned area or spectrum," the organization pointed out.

The licenses can be used for any terrestrial fixed or mobile service. The licenses have buildout requirements of signal coverage of 50% of the license area within four years and 80% within eight years.

Of the over 8,000 licenses in play, 7,872 drew winning bids, while 145 drew no bids.

The auction began July 29.

The FCC voted back in 2019 to free up the band for 5G, the most likely flexible use. Educational users with the licenses can continue to use it or lease it to others (as many have already been doing), transfer it to someone else, or use it for something else.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband. ■

It looks like the FCC's 2.5 GHz midband spectrum auction is drawing to a close. At press time Friday, as of round 69, for all but two licenses with bids demand was equal to supply, with 145 licenses with no bidders.

When there is no demand that exceeds supply, the auction closes. 

The FCC was speeding the process along having moved to a six-round Schedule on Friday (Aug. 26) and shortening the rounds to one-half hour.

Also: FCC Auction Nears $400 Million in Bids

Gross proceeds as of round 69 were $426,086,670. The total was nothing like the eye-popping totals for some of the FCC's past auctions.

T-Mobile was expected to be the primary major player in the auction since the spectrum fits with holes it has in its coverage areas. One veteran spectrum watcher said likely the only reason most other carriers would be bidding was to bid up how much their competitor, T-Mobile, would have to pay to fill those holes.

It will certainly be news if T-Mobile is not the big license winner in this auction.

The FCC is auctioning about 8,000 county-based, flexible-use licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, which had previously been reserved for educational broadband services (EBS) that flexible use likely to be for 5G but will now be shared.

FCC to Free up 2.5 GHZ

The FCC voted back in 2019 to free up the band for 5G. Educational users with the licenses can continue to use it or lease it to others (as many have already been doing), transfer it to someone else, or use it for something else. 

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

The FCC has been under pressure to get moving on more midband--5G sweet-spot spectrum because of its propagation characteristics--a box the 2.5 GHz auction item checks off.

With 51 rounds completed, the FCC's latest midband spectrum auction has raised just under $400 million (specifically, $391,156,630) for the treasury, with only a relative handful of licenses currently with more than one bided and Guam drawing the highest bid at $4,640,000, followed by L.A. at $3,834,000.

As of Tuesday morning, 7,679 licenses had only one bidder while only 193 had more than one and 145 had none at all. When there are no more licenses with demand exceeding supply (currently those 193) the auction will close.

Currently the FCC is holding four, one-hour rounds, but could increase the frequency and decrease the duration in a last push to prod bidders to make their best final offer.

Also: FCC to Free up 2.5 GHz for 5G

The FCC is auctioning about 8,000 county-based, flexible-use licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, which had previously been reserved for educational broadband services (EBS) that flexible use likely to be for 5G but will now be shared.

The FCC voted back in 2019 to free up the band for 5G. Educational users with the licenses can continue to use it or lease it to others (as many have already been doing), transfer it to someone else, or use it for something else.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

The FCC has been under pressure to get moving on more midband--5G sweet-spot spectrum because of its propagation characteristics--a box the 2.5 GHz auction item checks off. ■

Looking to goose its 2.5 GHz midband spectrum auction, the Federal Communications Commission said Monday (August 8) that it will be moving from two, two-hour rounds per day to four, one-hour rounds starting Wednesday, August 10.

The auction bid total has been increasing by only a few million dollars per round for over 8,000 flexible-use licenses.

In its first, six-hour round Friday, July 29, the auction bidding topped $100 million, but has only increased by about half that in the ensuing week-plus.

As of the end of round 13 Monday, the total was $159,899,600. There was more than one bidder for only 1,947 licenses, with demand not exceeding supply for the vast majority of licenses -- 5,908 -- and 162 with no bids. After round 10, bidders had ponied up $146,551,500.

There are 82 qualified bidders in the auction, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

The 2.5 GHz spectrum band has been used for educational broadband services (EBS), but in 2017, with the explosion of 5G and the search for more sweet-spot midband spectrum, particularly for rural service, the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai, concluding the band was being underused, agreed to free up some of that spectrum.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband. ■

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Friday (August 5) that she is not worried about the impact on the ongoing 2.5 GHz auction if Congress fails to extend the FCC's auction authority by the end of September, when it expires.

There is bipartisan support in Congress to extend that authority, but the bill has not made it out of Congress yet and legislators are on their August break, after which they will be primarily focused on getting themselves re-elected, though there is certainly time to extend the authority before the Sept. 30 deadline.

The House has already voted to extend the FCC's spectrum auction authority. The legislation, H.R. 7624, the “Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022,” now must pass the Senate and be signed by the President or the FCC's spectrum auction authority will expire.

At her post-public meeting press conference, Rosenworcel was asked what impact the sunset of FCC auction authority might have on an ongoing auction, given that some have suggested it could cause problems.

Rosenworcel did not sound worried. "I am not concerned at all."

"I am confident the auction can proceed under statute. The only limitation is on the ultimate issuance of the license," which she said could take some time given that the auctions can and do go on for weeks or even months and then the FCC has to review the winning bidders. "That activity typically takes several months."

But she did urge Congress to extend the authority for a long period of time, and to use the proceeds from future auctions under re-authorized FCC authority towards an upgrade to next gen 911, something she has long pushed for. "Using the auction of public airwaves to support public safety makes a lot of sense," she said.

Legislation reauthorizing the FCC would do just that, as well as provide more money for the FCC's rip-and-replace program targeting unsecure network equipment from suppliers considered a risk to national security.

After round 10 of the 2.5 GHz auction, the bidders have ponied up $146,551,500 for almost 8,000 flexible use midband spectrum licenses (165 licenses currently have no bidders). ■

After a half-dozen rounds, the Federal Communications Commission's 2.5-GHz spectrum auction has not set the spectrum world on fire as of yet, at least in terms of big bidding.

After starting out of blocks Friday (July 29) with a little more than $100 million in bids, as of round six midday Wednesday, the total was $132,177,910, or only a few million more in new bids per round.

The FCC is auctioning approximately 8,000 flexible-use, county-based geographic overlay licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. Flexible use means it can be used for things other than 5G, but probably won't be.

Also: FCC Spectrum Auction Chugs Along

T-Mobile is expected to be the big beneficiary since it can use the auction to fill in gaps in the 2.5 GHz spectrum it got in the Sprint deal. But that could mean that there is not as much bidding from others for whom the spectrum is not as specifically useful.

As of round six, there were 2,226 licenses with more than one bidder, 5,587 licenses with only one bidder and 164 with no bidders.

The FCC is holding two, two-hour rounds per day, but look for the frequency to increase and the duration to decrease if bidding continues on a slow roll.

There are 82 qualified bidders in the auction, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

The 2.5 GHz spectrum band has been used for educational broadband services (EBS), but in 2017, with the explosion of 5G and the search for more sweet-spot midband spectrum, particularly for rural service, the FCC under chairman Ajit Pai, concluding the band was being underused, agreed to free up some of that spectrum.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions. It was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband. ￭

Day two of the Federal Communications Commission’s latest spectrum auction was pretty much a low-gear affair, with the second round, which was shortened to two hours, drawing bids of $108,464,260 on August 1. That figure was a little less than $5 million more than the $103,467,300 generated after the first, six-hour round on Friday (July 29). The third round, and last on August 1, only bumped that up another $6.8 million to $115,266,210.

The rounds moved to two-hour sessions, twice a day, on Monday (August 1), and those rounds will likely increase in frequency and ultimately be shortened again at some point to goose the bidding.

After the first round Friday (July 29), of the approximately 8,000 available flexible-use, county-based geographic overlay licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, there were 3,454 licenses with more than one bidder, 4,395 with one bidder, and 168 with no bidders.

After round two, there were fewer licenses with more than one bidder (3,392), a few more with only one bidder (4,459) and several fewer with no bids (166).

After round three, the numbers were 3,339 licenses with more than one bidder, 4,513 with only one bidder and 165 with no bidders.

There are 82 qualified bidders in the auction, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

The 2.5-GHz spectrum band has been used for educational broadband services (EBS), but in 2017, with the explosion of 5G and the search for more sweet-spot midband spectrum, particularly for rural service, the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai, concluding the band was being underused, agreed to free up some of that spectrum.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband. ■

The FCC drew over $100 million ($103,467,300 to be exact) in the first round of its 2.5 GHz auction, its latest effort to free up midband spectrum for 5G.

There was only one, six-hour round on Friday, the first day of the auction. Qualified bidders include AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

The L.A. market drew the highest bid at $2.9 million.

The 2.5 GHz spectrum had been used, the FCC says underused, by educational broadband services (EBS), but the FCC voted to open it up to commercial 5G operations.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

Also: FCC Closes Tribal Window for 12 GHz

The FCC has eliminated use requirements and leasing restrictions on the band. ■

Bidding has begun in the Federal Communications Commission’s latest midband spectrum auction, with over 8,000 flexible-use licenses available in the 2.5-GHz band.

Qualified bidders include AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular.

“We all know there are gaps in 5G coverage, especially in rural America, and this auction is a unique opportunity to fill them in,” FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said following the Friday morning (July 29), 10 a.m. launch. “I am grateful to the teams that have worked so hard to both stand up this auction and ensure the success of our efforts to make these airwaves available to tribes to support wireless service in their communities.”

Also: FCC Closes Tribal Window for 12 GHz

Congress appears poised to pass legislation reauthorizing the FCC's spectrum auction authority. Without that reauthorization, the agency could run into logistical issues if the auction extends beyond September 30, when the current authorization expires.

There is only a single, six-hour round to start with, then the auction moves to two, two-hour rounds per day until further notice.

The FCC is opening up midband spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band for 5G. It is currently used -- or underused, the FCC says -- by educational broadband services (EBS).

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions. It was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

The FCC has eliminated use requirements and leasing restrictions on the band.

It also created an early local priority window for tribal nations that drew more than 400 applications. ■

The Federal Communications Commission said 82 applicants have qualified to bid on new midband spectrum in the upcoming 2.5-GHz auction scheduled to begin July 29. The FCC said 11 applicants had not qualified.

Qualified bidders include AT&T, Verizon Communications, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

Bidders can get early access to the bidding system July 22 and the FCC will hold a mock auction July 26 and 27.

The real auction will begin with a single, six-hour, bidding round July 29 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), and move to two, two-hour rounds on August 1 (10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4 p.m.) going forward, with the pace of the auction changing depending on the progress of the bidding. The FCC increases the number of rounds and decreases the length to goose the auction when bidding slows.

The FCC is opening up midband spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band for 5G. It is currently used, the FCC says underused, by educational broadband services (EBS).

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

Also: FCC Closes Tribal Window for 12 GHz

The FCC has eliminated use requirements and leasing restrictions on the band.

It also created an early local priority window for tribal nations that drew over 400 applications. ■

The FCC has proposed $47 million in fines on 10 entities it alleges failed to provide the educational service required for the EBS spectrum (2.5 GHz) they had FCC licenses to use for that purpose.

They also allegedly did not create the local program committees they were required to use to advise them on use of their licenses.

Under their licenses, the entities were also required to set aside "a minimum of 5% of their capacity for educational use [and] provide at least 20 hours of educational programing per channel per week."

Also Read: FCC Seeks Input on New Telehealth Funding

The FCC said that they failed to meet those "fundamental" standards, sub-leasing the spectrum but not making sure those obligations were met to "support the education of students in their communities of license."

“Our actions underline the Commission’s ongoing expectation that all FCC licensees must meet their commitments to the American public,” said Enforcement Bureau chief Rosemary Harold. “These parties apparently profited from their licenses without also providing measurable and verifiable support for the educational goals that EBS licenses were designed to serve.  Disregard for license obligations is unacceptable.”

The FCC has since changed the 2.5 GHz obligations as it makes the band available for 5G, but all the companies got their licenses under the old rules.

The fines are only proposed and the entities have a chance to challenge them.

Those entities, and the proposed fines for each, are:

• Clarendon Foundation, Inc. – $3,346,000 (NAL)
• Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network – $14,013,000 (NAL)
• National Conference on Citizenship – $1,590,000 (NAL)
• North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation – $8,268,000 (NAL)
• Northern Arizona University Foundation – $5,485,000 (NAL)
• Rockne Educational Television, Inc. and The Learning Paradigm, Inc. – $3,975,000 (NAL)
• Shekinah Network – $6,377,500 (NAL)
• Views on Learning, Inc. – $2,745,000 (NAL)
• Voqal USA – $1,749,000 (NAL)

The FCC's Wireless Bureau has handed out 22 more grants in its tribal priority window for 2.5 GHz spectrum licenses.

That makes 179 such grants the FCC has made since opening the priority window Feb. 3-Sept. 2.

Also Read: FCC Releases More Tribal 2.5 GHz Applications

A politically divided FCC voted last July to convert the 2.5 GHz band from one reserved for educational (EBS) licenses to flexible licenses that can be used for 5G, and to auction current unassigned spectrum (white spaces) in the band. But before that auction, the FCC gave tribes a first-of-its-kind priority window to get spectrum for free to help close the rural digital divide on Native American land.

The FCC received over 400 applications for up to 117.5 MHz of spectrum, with the rest to be auctioned.

Also Read: New Bill Would Open Second Tribal Window For Free 5G Spectrum

The Democrats on the FCC saw the sunsetting of the EBS-controlled band as an abdication of an important educational mission, and strongly dissented on that part of the item. The Republicans said they were putting dramatically underused spectrum to its highest, best use--5G--and reforming "arcane" rules.

One thing the Democrats did support was giving the tribal communities a priority window to obtain unassigned spectrum to serve tribal lands--the only part they approved.

The FCC said 57 more Tribal applications for 2.5 GHz spectrum have passed initial muster, meaning they are complete and have sufficient information to process for further review, including providing time for public comment. 

The commission is auctioning spectrum in the band but before that gave Tribes a first-of-its-kind priority window to get spectrum for free to help close the rural digital divide in Indian Country.

The FCC announced its first group of 157 applications that passed their initial reviews in September, then approved 154 of those last month and granted them licenses.

The FCC received over 400 applications for up to 117.5 MHz of spectrum, with the rest to be auctioned.

Senate Democrats, joined by at least two Republican House members, have been trying to force the FCC to open a new window for Tribal groups to file for 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum.

Related: New Bill Would Open Second Tribal Window For Free 5G Spectrum

A politically divided FCC voted last July to convert the 2.5 GHz band from one reserved for educational (EBS) licenses to flexible licenses that can be used for 5G, and to auction current unassigned spectrum (white spaces) in the band.

The Democrats on the FCC saw the sunsetting of the EBS-controlled band as an abdication of an important educational mission, and strongly dissented on that part of the item. The Republicans said they were putting dramatically underused spectrum to its highest, best use--5G--and reforming "arcane" rules.

One thing the Democrats did support was giving the tribal communities a priority window to obtain unassigned spectrum to serve tribal lands--the only part they approved. 

The FCC said that 157 Tribal applications for 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum have passed their initial reviews.

The commission is auctioning spectrum in the band but before that gave Tribes a first-of-its-kind priority window to get spectrum for free to help close the digital divide in Indian Country.

Related: FCC 2.5 GHz Tribal Window Closes

The 157 applications have not been approved, but they have been deemed complete and will now be put out for public comment before final action.

Successful applicants will get up to 117.5 MHz of spectrum, with the rest of the spectrum to be auctioned next year.

“This FCC has taken aggressive action to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, and the 2.5 GHz Tribal Priority Window has been perhaps the most significant yet,” said FCC chairman Ajit Pai. “Tribal entities showed a strong interest in obtaining this spectrum, with over 400 applications received."

The FCC said more than 400 Tribal Entities applied for 2.5 GHz spectrum in the FCC's first-ever priority window for rural Tribes, which closed Sept. 2.

“Tribes showed tremendous interest in the 2.5 GHz band over the past several months, and I am pleased by the large number of applications the Commission has received. We are now a step closer to enabling Tribal entities to obtain this spectrum for free and quickly put it to use to bring service to rural Tribal lands,” said FCC chairman Ajit Pai. 

The FCC's staff will now review the applications, seek more info where necessary and put them out for public comment.

Related: House Dems Push Six-Month 2.5 GHZ Tribal Window Extension

The FCC is auctioning the 2.5 GHz spectrum for 5G but gave Tribes a chance at free midband spectrum covering Tribal lands to help close the digital divide in Indian country.

The window opened Feb. 3. The FCC did provide a 30-day extension for filing--from Aug. 3 until Sept. 2. But some Tribes had requested a six-month extension, citing difficulties in filing particularly given the pandemic. The FCC denied that request. Pai at the time said a longer extension "would substantially delay our award of licenses to Tribal entities and thus delay their ability to use this spectrum to connect those consumers living on Tribal lands."

“Tribes showed tremendous interest in the 2.5 GHz band over the past several months, and I am pleased by the large number of applications the Commission has received," Pai said Thursday. "We are now a step closer to enabling Tribal entities to obtain this spectrum for free and quickly put it to use to bring service to rural Tribal lands."

House Democrats are urging the FCC to give Tribal communities more time to apply for free 2.5 GHz spectrum for 5G.

The FCC is auctioning the spectrum, but is giving tribal communities an early window to apply for spectrum. That window opening Feb. 3 and the FCC it has over 200 applications for the spectrum.

Last month, the FCC did provide a 30-day extension--from Aug. 3 until Sept. 2--of the priority window for rural Tribes to file for free 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum before the FCC auctions it to the highest bidder. But some Tribal entities had sought an extension to the beginning of 2021, citing the challenge of filing while dealing with a pandemic that is hitting Tribal areas particularly hard.

But FCC chairman Ajit Pai said a longer extension would substantially delay our award of licenses to Tribal entities and thus delay their ability to use this spectrum to connect those consumers living on Tribal lands.

Energy and Commerce chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee chairman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) sent a letter to Pai Wednesday (Aug. 19) asking for the 180-day extension.

“We are concerned that the FCC’s failure to provide adequate time for tribes to take full advantage of the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window means fewer tribes will be connected to lifesaving internet service,” they wrote. “The coronavirus has underscored that the digital divide is a deadly chasm, but the FCC can help address this issue. Tribes have been hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, and high-speed internet service helps governments better succeed when it comes to public health interventions. The Rural Tribal Priority Window is one important remedy to the digital divide for Indian Country, but without more time, it will not succeed.”

Pallone and Doyle asked for a response by Aug. 28.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is not happy with the FCC's decision Friday to give Tribal communities an extra 30 days to apply for free 2.5 GHz spectrum before the FCC auctions it. 

The Tribal Priority Window (TPW) was to have closed Aug. 3, but FCC chair Ajit Pai, citing the pandemic, said it would be extended to Sept. 2, but no more, saying that was unnecessary and would delay the process of getting the spectrum to the folks who had already applied by that date. 

In response the NCAI, which had sought a 180-day stay, said the FCC had created "needless and harmful division between tribal nations." 

It said the Tribal Nations that had already applied would not be harmed by the longer extension because the FCC could grant special temporary authorities to use the spectrum, as it already has for several Tribal Nations. 

"The FCC must uphold its trust responsibility to Indian Country, especially during this unique time of need," NCAI said. "Failure to do so is unacceptable. NCAI will continue to advocate for an extension of the TPW – to enable all tribal nations the ability to access this critical resource – and calls upon Congress to pass legislation to ensure Indian Country has access to spectrum on tribal lands. 

The FCC has provided a 30-day extension of the priority window for rural Tribes to file for free 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum before the FCC auctions it. 

That window opened Feb. 3 and the FCC said it has over 200 applications for the spectrum already. The window was supposed to close Aug. 3, but will now remain open until Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. 

Related: FCC Grants Navajo Nation Special Access to 2.5 GHz Spectrum

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that it is appropriate to extend the application deadline by 30 days," said FCC chairman Ajit Pai in announcing the extension. 

Some Tribal entities and others had sought a six-month extension, citing the challenge of filing while dealing with a pandemic that is hitting Tribal areas particularly hard. But Pai explained the 30-day decision: "A much longer extension would substantially delay our award of licenses to Tribal entities and thus delay their ability to use this spectrum to connect those consumers living on Tribal lands."  

It could also delay the auction of the remaining spectrum, an auction the FCC said will "facilitate the rapid deployment of wireless networks across rural America.  

Pai said a longer delay is also unnecessary, as evidenced by the large number of applications the FCC has already received.  

The FCC was under pressure to extend the window, including from some in Congress, and groups including Common Cause, Common Sense, Public Knowledge, INCOMPAS, New America’s Open Technology Institute, The National Tribal Telecommunications Association, and the United Methodist Church. 

The FCC is under pressure from some legislators and a host of groups to extend the Aug. 3 window for Native Americans to apply for free 2.5 GHz spectrum for mobile wireless before the FCC auctions it off to the highest bidder. 

They want a six-month extension. 

In a letter to the FCC Thursday (July 23) the groups said that "[b]y refusing to extend the Rural Tribal Priority Window, the FCC will prevent the vast majority of eligible Tribes from accessing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity--due to circumstances wholly outside of Tribal control."  

That would be the pandemic. The FCC has already granted the Navajo Nation temporary access to 2.5 GHz spectrum, but says that will not affect the eventual availability of that spectrum for the window/auction. 

The FCC has declined comment on whether or not it will extend the window, so it has not yet said definitively "no." 

Among those signing on to the letter, dated July 23, were Common Cause, Common Sense, Public Knowledge, INCOMPAS, New America’s Open Technology Institute, The National Tribal Telecommunications Association, and the United Methodist Church. 

The FCC is declining to comment on whether or not it will move the Aug. 3 priority window deadline for the 2.5 GHz auction, which is allowing tribal communities early and free access to spectrum. 

The commission has already granted the Navajo Nation special temporary authority (STA) to access the 2.5 GHz during the pandemic, though it said that would not impact the auction. 

Back in February, The FCC opened a first-of-its-kind six-month priority filing window for tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Those tribes and villages can get free spectrum before any commercial auction of the remaining spectrum for 5G wireless.  

But that priority window, set before the pandemic changes the world, is scheduled to close Aug. 3. 

Related: FCC to Free Up 2.5GHz for 5G 

During a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing on spectrum policy, more than one legislator pointed out that applicants had asked for an extension, pointing to the pandemic and the difficulty of filing while at the same time dealing with the coronavirus impact on their communities. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pointed out she and other senators back in May had asked the FCC to extend the window so they could "complete their applications for spectrum for wireless broadband and increased mobile coverage. She asked witness Michael Calabrese from New America's Open Technology Institute to weigh in on why extending the deadline was important. 

Related: OTI to Hill: FCC, NTIA Need to Become 'Dynamic' Duo

He said that because of the crisis, tribal areas have not had the opportunity to complete the applications so would not have a fair opportunity to apply if the deadline were not moved. He said their coverage is "terrible" and they need a lower-cost way to build out wireless. 

Following up on Klobuchar, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) read into the record a letter from the National Congress of American Indians, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and others seeking the extension. "With tribes dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, extending this window gives tribes time and opportunity to access unused spectrum to connect to the internet." 

When the FCC granted the STA to the Navajos, FCC chairman Ajit Pai said: “Tribal communities are having to adjust to the challenges of the pandemic while already facing some of the greatest challenges caused by the digital divide that we see anywhere in the nation," so he clearly understands the challenges. 

When asked whether the Aug. 3 deadline would be extended, a spokesperson for the chairman declined comment. 

The FCC has opened the priority filing window to tribes and Alaska Native Villages, the first of its kind, for spectrum in the 5G band, and it will last six months. Those tribes and villages can get free spectrum before any commercial auction of the spectrum for wireless. 

The window closes Aug. 3. 

Related: FCC to Free Up 2.5GHz for 5G 

"This is the first time in the FCC’s history that we have ever given Tribal entities a priority window to obtain spectrum licenses for wireless broadband. I hope that they will take advantage of it," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

A politically divided FCC voted last July to convert the 2.5 GHz band from one reserved for educational (EBS) licenses to flexible licenses that can be used for 5G, and to auction current unassigned spectrum (white spaces) in the band. 

The Democrats on the FCC saw the sunsetting of the EBS-controlled band as an abdication of an important educational mission, and strongly dissented on that part of the item. The Republicans said they were putting dramatically underused spectrum to its highest, best use--5G--and reforming "arcane" rules. 

One thing the Democrats did support was giving the tribal communities a priority window to obtain unassigned spectrum to serve tribal lands--the only part they approved. House Democrats had been concerned that an initial 60-day window was not enough time and made that concern known.

The FCC had said in the Report and Order that several tribal entities had suggested that 60-day application window, but did not declare it a done deal, saying instead it would leave that call to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. 

Some top House Democrats have told FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that the FCC has not provided enough time for tribes and tribal nations to take advantage of a priority filing window for securing valuable spectrum. 

Related: FCC to Free Up 2.5 GHz for 5G

A politically divided FCC voted last July to convert the 2.5 GHz band from one reserved for educational (EBS) licenses to flexible licenses that can be used for 5G, and to auction current unassigned spectrum (white spaces) in the band. 

The Democrats saw the sunsetting of the EBS-controlled band as an abdication of an important educational mission, and strongly dissented on that part of the item. The Republicans said they were putting dramatically underused spectrum to its highest, best use--5G--and reforms "arcane" rules. One thing the Democrats did support was giving tribal communities a priority window to obtain unassigned spectrum to serve tribal lands--the only part they approved.  

But in a letter to Pai Tuesday (Nov. 19) the chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Communications subcommittee, Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), joined by three other members, told the FCC its 90-day notice and 60-day window for applications was not enough time given that "tribal governments have collaborative processes for decisionmaking that often take longer than the period the FCC has allocated." 

They praised the creation of the priority window, but said that if the FCC "sincerely" wants to give tribes this priority spectrum opportunity, they need a meaningful opportunity to participate. 

It is rush hour on the spectrum auction info highway over at the FCC these days. 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has circulated a report and order for a vote at the July public meeting that will open up midband spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band for 5G. It is currently used, the FCC says underused, by educational broadband services (EBS).

"At long last, we’re going to put more of this critical mid-band spectrum to work for the American people," Pai blogged about the item. "This is the single largest band of contiguous spectrum below 3 GHz, but much of this public resource has been unused for decades."  

The item will provide opportunities for rural areas to get access to unused midband spectrum for mobile broadband.

Related: Cities Tell FCC to Stop Scapegoating Them on 5G

The order will give incumbents more flexibility for use and for additional entities to access the spectrum.

It eliminates eligibility, use requirements and leasing restrictions on the band, creates a local priority filing window for tribal nations for early access to unfettered spectrum before any commercial entity gets access, and would establish a competitive bidding window and auction for commercial entities, with aggressive buildout requirements. 

Educational users with the licenses can continue to use it, transfer it to someone else, or use it for something else. It is entirely up to them, said the officials

Removing restrictions on who may use the spectrum for what, freeing up the current unused spectrum in the band--about half the geographic area of the country--with tribes getting first dibs, then auctioning off the remaining "white spaces" of spectrum is the plan

The report and order will establish county-size licenses (rather than modify each existing license to include all census tracts in a covered geographic area), and there will be no priority window for educational institutions because making them flexible-use licenses is the fastest way to get spectrum freed up for 5G, said the officials

Tribal nations will likely not be bidding against each other because they will be applying for spectrum in their tribal lands.

The FCC last year approved a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) looking into opening up the 2.5-GHz band for wireless broadband, but not without pushback from some educational broadband services (EBS) that use the band

The item was billed as creating "more efficient and effective use of 2.5-GHz spectrum by increasing flexibility for existing EBS licensees and providing new opportunities for educational entities, rural Tribal Nations, and commercial entities to access unused portions of the band.

EBS, formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service, or ITFS, was used in the 1960s for closed-circuit broadcasts to educational institutions, but was rebooted in the early 2000s and pointed toward broadband.

The FCC has midband, lowband and unlicensed spectrum plans in the works, but most of the action has been in the high band, where the FCC has auctioned 28 GHz band spectrum and 24 GHz spectrum this year and will auction the upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands beginning in December, all totalled releasing almost 5 GHz of spectrum into the market, or more than all other flexible-use bands put together, the FCC points out

But the FCC has been under pressure to get moving on midband, a box the 2.5 GHz auction item checks off.

The draft report and order will be released June 19 for consideration at the July 10 meeting.