FCC loses control over the US spectrum auctions

After politicians failed to renew Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority in a vote on 9 March, the FCC can no longer hold spectrum auctions. This has led industry experts to call for a resolution to the impasse.
FCC loses control over the US spectrum auctions

After politicians failed to renew Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority in a vote on 9 March, the FCC is no longer able to hold spectrum auctions. This has led industry experts to call for a resolution to the impasse.


The lack of agreement among politicians means the FCC has lost authority over auctions it was granted almost 30 years ago. To secure the nation’s economic and national security and maintain 5G leadership, Meredith Attwell Baker, President and CEO of CTIA, has urged Congress to act quickly to restore the FCC’s authority and schedule necessary future spectrum auctions.

Meanwhile, CCA President and CEO Tim Donovan have expressed disappointment that politicians did not back a plan to extend the FCC’s clearance to mid-May, stating that Congress must reinstate auction authority as quickly as possible and continue work on a long-term solution.

In February, the US House of Representatives approved legislation to extend the authority, but the Senate was unable to come to a consensus on how to implement it. Despite this setback, FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel highlighted the success of the FCC in conducting 100 auctions, raising over $233 billion in revenue and providing exceptional benefits to the American people. She expressed hope that the FCC’s auction authority would be restored promptly.

However, members of the US Communications and Technology Subcommittee have heavily criticized the lack of approval, pointing out that it could put the nation’s mobile market position at risk.


Recent Content

As utilities expand private LTE and 5G networks, strong partner ecosystems and managed services help balance performance, compliance, and cost. Explore how orchestration, governance frameworks, and co-managed models enable utilities to scale smarter and faster.
As utility private networks scale beyond pilot deployments, success depends on more than connectivity. This blog explores how utilities are applying orchestration frameworks, secure governance models, and lifecycle management strategies to build scalable, resilient, and future-ready private LTE and 5G infrastructures, ensuring long-term performance, compliance, and adaptability.
Utilities are unlocking real-time intelligence and predictive maintenance by combining edge computing and AI with private LTE/5G networks. This blog explores how utilities process critical data locally to automate decisions, detect anomalies, optimize asset performance, and improve operational resilience—laying the foundation for the autonomous grid.
Utilities are implementing private LTE and 5G networks across diverse environments—from turbine halls and substations to national grid systems. This blog outlines the key deployment architectures (site-specific, regional, wide-area, and indoor) and spectrum strategies utilities are using to deliver secure, scalable, and purpose-built connectivity for modern energy operations.
The shift to private LTE and 5G in utilities is being driven by a convergence of urgent trends, from climate mandates and cyber threats to legacy infrastructure and labor shortages. This blog explores six key forces accelerating private network adoption and highlights why resilient, intelligent, and secure communications have become essential to utility transformation.
Private LTE and 5G networks are transforming how utilities operate by enabling a wide range of mission-critical and emerging applications. From AMI and substation automation to drone inspections and edge AI, this post outlines 12 strategic use cases that demonstrate why utilities are investing in private cellular infrastructure to improve safety, performance, and operational agility across the grid.

It seems we can't find what you're looking for.

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top

Private Network Readiness Assessment

Run your readiness check now — for enterprises, operators, OEMs & SIs planning and delivering Private 5G solutions with confidence.