Congress orders FCC to auction more wireless spectrum and open 125 MHz for unlicensed use

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Introduced in House

NTIA and the FCC deliver the first progress report on which frequencies might be shifted

This is the first public sign of which federal systems could be moved or shared, and it can signal which bands might later support new wireless services.

NTIA identifies at least 1,250 megahertz of spectrum for reallocation

This starts the real pipeline for new wireless use; once specific bands are picked, agencies and companies can plan moves, sharing, and deployments.

The FCC opens at least 125 megahertz for unlicensed use

Wi‑Fi-like uses and other low-cost devices can expand into new frequencies, which can improve local connectivity in homes, schools, and small businesses.

The FCC completes auctions totaling at least 600 megahertz for full-power commercial licenses

Wireless carriers and other bidders gain rights to build higher-power, wide-area networks, which can lead to service upgrades after buildout.

NTIA identifies the remaining spectrum needed to reach at least 2,500 megahertz total

More frequencies get queued up for sharing, unlicensed use, or future auctions, widening the set of bands that could support new services.

The FCC completes auctions for the remaining required licensed spectrum (to reach at least 1,250 megahertz total)

More licensed spectrum becomes available for commercial networks, which can increase capacity and competition if multiple firms win licenses.

Any remaining identified spectrum is made available for licensed or unlicensed use

Leftover bands that weren’t auctioned or already opened for unlicensed use become usable, which can unlock additional services and devices.