Stakeholders Urge Hill to Address 3.45 GHz Relocation Costs

Google, NCTA and 20 others urged leaders of the House and Senate Commerce committees Wednesday to address “current estimated costs to clear the 3.45 GHz band of federal users,” which “could jeopardize” FCC “ability to conduct a successful auction and meet its obligation to ensure that a wide variety of applicants have access to spectrum.” Commissioners vote March 17 on beginning an auction for early October (see 2102230065). NTIA in January estimated relocation costs “at more than $13.4 billion, meaning that the auction reserve price that bidders would have to meet in order for a successful auction would be nearly $15 billion, likely putting licenses out of reach for all but the three largest nationwide wireless operators,” stakeholders also including Comcast, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Public Knowledge, the Rural Wireless Association and Wireless ISP Association said in a letter to Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J.; and ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “Wireless providers’ large financial commitments in the recent C-band auction and related build-out obligations make it all the more appropriate to encourage other sources of capital in a second mid-band spectrum auction in the same year.” Congress “should encourage the FCC to consider licensing policies akin to those adopted in the [citizens broadband radio service] CBRS band that could increase competition, lower costs for prospective new entrants, and better ensure that the benefits of 5G are enjoyed by all consumers,” the entities said. They want lawmakers to “work closely with NTIA, affected federal spectrum users, and the FCC to consider ways to refine and reduce the federal government’s relocation cost estimate.”