Trusty Expects 'Tremendous Interest' in Upper C-band Auction
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty said Wednesday that she's already talking with the wireless industry, federal agencies and other upper C-band incumbents on moves to auction that spectrum within two years, as required by the reconciliation act. Trusty spoke at NTIA’s spectrum policy symposium (see 2509100051). “I also think we can look at lessons learned from the previous C-band auction,” she said. “There’s going to be tremendous interest” in the band, she predicted. “The clock is ticking. Time is of the essence, and 2027 will be here before we know it.”
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The reconciliation act “clearly put a priority on making more licensed spectrum available,” Trusty said. “That will go a long way in supporting high-data throughput technologies like artificial intelligence and helping us recapture the lead when it comes to the next generation of wireless services.” Unlicensed spectrum “continues to play an important role” in connecting people, “fueling new and innovative technologies like Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8” and powering the IoT and autonomous systems, she said.