American Action Forum’s Jeffrey Westling urged Capitol Hill on Thursday not to abandon hopes of mandating reallocation of some federal agencies’ spectrum as part of a budget reconciliation package. His argument came as DOD backers' lingering objections to reapportioning any military-controlled bands still threaten to derail that push (see 2502180058). Meanwhile, Spectrum for the Future pushed back Wednesday night against what it called “misleading claims” during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing (see 2502190068) that an FCC auction of DOD-controlled midband frequencies could generate $100 billion in revenue.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, seemed during and after a Wednesday panel hearing to be eyeing an escalation of his long-simmering battle with DOD and its most vociferous congressional supporters, who oppose legislation mandating reallocation of spectrum bands for 5G use, which they say could impact military incumbents. Cruz touted his 2024 Spectrum Pipeline Act during the hearing as the preferred language for an airwaves title in a budget reconciliation package, as expected (see 2502180058). Some witnesses strongly praised Cruz's proposal. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and many panel Democrats criticized it.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us last week he is pessimistic about the chances that talks aimed at easing DOD supporters’ objections to repurposing the 3.1-3.45 GHz band and other military-controlled frequencies will lead to a deal in time to allow congressional leaders to include expansive spectrum legislative language in a budget reconciliation package. Other congressional leaders in the spectrum talks noted ongoing efforts to assuage DOD backers. Lobbyists expect the DOD factor to come up repeatedly during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee hearing on spectrum legislative issues (see 2502130041).
The Senate Commerce Committee said Wednesday night it plans a Feb. 19 hearing on spectrum legislative issues. Lobbyists expect panel Republicans will focus on party leaders’ proposals to move spectrum legislation as part of an upcoming budget reconciliation package (see 2501070069). House Communications Subcommittee Democrats said during a January hearing that they strongly object to using reconciliation as a spectrum vehicle because it would allocate future license sales revenue to fund tax cuts instead of telecom priorities (see 2501230064). “As our adversaries wage a war to control global communication networks, America’s spectrum leadership has become both an economic and national security imperative,” said Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “This hearing will expose how the ongoing lapse in [the FCC's] auction authority and the lack of a clear commercial spectrum strategy have cost America jobs and weakened our global standing.” Cruz indicated that he's tiring of DOD backers’ objections to repurposing portions of military-controlled bands, which was a major factor in stalled legislative talks during the last Congress. “We can no longer allow Pentagon bureaucratic inertia to hold back innovation and economic growth,” he said: “Restoring American leadership in spectrum policy means unlocking billions for job creation, domestic investment, and the federal resources needed to pay for a secure border and stronger military.” The hearing will begin at 10:15 a.m. ET in 253 Russell.
A notice of inquiry about use of the upper C band for 5G may prove controversial given the implications for radio altimeters, industry experts said. The NOI proposes a study of 3.98-4.2 GHz spectrum, just above the spectrum sold in the record-breaking C-band auction, which ended in early 2021 (see 2102180041). FCC Chairman Brendan Carr initiated the NOI last week for a vote at the Feb. 27 open meeting. A radio altimeter is a device that measures the distance between an aircraft and the ground.
Supporters of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act told us they see the Senate Commerce Committee’s strong vote Wednesday to advance its revised version of the measure (S-315) as a positive early step. But they acknowledged the Capitol Hill dynamics that led congressional leaders to scuttle a December bid to pass an earlier version of the measure via a year-end package remains an obstacle. Senate Commerce advanced S-315 on a voice vote, with Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, asking the panel to record him as opposed (see 2502050052).
As of the end of 2024, the C-band relocation payment clearinghouse (RPC) has finished reviewing lump sum and non-lump sum claims and satellite operator claims, and it has moved to claims reconciliation, the RPC said in a docket 18-122 status report posted Friday. It said it reviewed $83.8 million worth of claims in Q4, and that reconciliation work will result in determinations of what adjustments might be needed to amounts reimbursed to satellite operators. Once reconciliation is done, the RPC will start work on the final accounting and audit, with the goal of finishing its C-band work by June.
The White House OMB rescinded its stayed memo that called for a freeze on most federal grants and loans, bowing to mounting criticism of the plan’s breadth even after it partially walked it back Tuesday (see 2501280051). The now-rescinded freeze would have paused NTIA’s disbursal of $42.5 billion from the BEAD program and other Commerce Department initiatives, commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick acknowledged during his Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other leaders acknowledged in recent interviews that long-standing DOD objections to repurposing the 3.1-3.45 GHz band and other military-controlled frequencies remain an impediment to GOP hopes of using an upcoming budget reconciliation package to move on spectrum legislation (see 2501070069). Lawmakers and lobbyists said DOD concerns could prevent Congress from including anything beyond a simple restoration of the FCC’s lapsed auction authority in a reconciliation package, an outcome that would fall short of wireless industry wishes for a refilled spectrum pipeline.
House Commerce Committee leaders drew battle lines during and after a Thursday Communications Subcommittee hearing over GOP proposals to move spectrum legislation as part of an upcoming budget reconciliation package (see 2501070069). House Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone of New Jersey and other Democrats strongly objected to using reconciliation as a spectrum vehicle because it would allocate future license sales revenue to fund tax cuts instead of telecom priorities. Lawmakers from both parties again cited long-standing DOD objections to repurposing the 3.1-3.45 GHz band and other military-controlled frequencies as a continued flashpoint in spectrum legislative talks in this Congress (see 2501070069).