Cruz Hails Carr Support for Spectrum Pipeline with FCC Auction Renewal
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday night that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is “exactly right” in urging Congress to mandate a pipeline of reallocated spectrum in conjunction with a restoration of the commission's lapsed auction authority. Carr said in a letter to Cruz and other leaders of the House and Senate Commerce committees that enacting “legislation that establishes a new pipeline of mid-band spectrum is vital to our economy and national security.” The FCC, Carr said, “will make any and all of the spectrum allocations and license changes necessary to comply” with any new statute.
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Cruz responded on X that “freeing up spectrum to beat China in the race for 6G is critical to our national security and to our economic prosperity.” He's pushing for GOP leaders to pattern an airwaves title in a budget reconciliation package on his 2024 Spectrum Pipeline Act, which would require that NTIA identify at least 2,500 MHz of midband spectrum to reallocate within the next five years (see 2503120068). He continues facing resistance from Senate Communications Subcommittee Chair Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and other DOD backers (see 2502190068).