Kennedy: Additional C-Band Hearing With FCC Spectrum Auctions Staff 'Likely Next Week'

issue with President Donald Trump and FCC auction staff (see 1911010052). Kennedy grilled FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in October on whether he favors a private auction similar to what the C-Band Alliance proposes (see 1910170038). Pai's expected to propose a private auction plan for a vote at the commissioners' Dec. 12 meeting (see 1910100052). 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., was expected to write Pai in support of a public auction, lobbyists and officials said. A Bennet aide confirmed the senator's plans but didn't say when to expect the letter. Some other Hill Republicans and many Democrats publicly backed a public C-band auction, including during two recent hearings (see 1910290037). The additional subcommittee hearing will feature FCC auction staff, as expected, Kennedy said. “They're the ones who know how to do an auction,” he said. “I want the real workers” to testify. “When I suggested to [FCC staffers] that [CBA] contends it will take the FCC seven years to conduct an auction” of C-band spectrum, those staffers “were all ladies and gentlemen ... but I could tell they wanted to pass out black” at that claim, Kennedy said. “They said categorically, unequivocally that is not accurate.” Kennedy divulged little about his C-band conversation with Trump but said “I was very pleased and very encouraged” and Trump “gets it. He is aware of the issue.” CBA "fully" supports "the hard working members of the FCC, who recognized the complexities of clearing this spectrum -- and the timing considerations -- when they issued the NPRM," a spokesperson emailed in response to Kennedy's comments. "One of the greatest challenges in clearing this spectrum for 5G is ensuring" incumbents "continue to receive reliable C-band services." To protect the existing services and "quickly" clear spectrum for 5G requires supplemental satellite capacity placed into space, said the spokesperson. The build and launch of the required eight satellites "will take about 30 months to complete -- and the effort must be funded by auction proceeds before the work can commence." That "is why completing the auction quickly" via a private auction "overseen by the FCC at appropriate junctures" will "accelerate the clearing process," the CBA spokesperson said. The group "commits to 100 MHz of cleared spectrum within 18 months of a final order from the FCC, and 300 MHz of cleared spectrum within 36 months of an auction."