10 GOP Senators Press FCC to Mitigate Spectrum Pipeline Effect on CBRS, 6 GHz Bands
Ten Senate Republicans want to mitigate parts of the GOP’s compromise on a spectrum pipeline framework, adopted in July via the budget reconciliation package, amid an ongoing push to excise language in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (S-2296) that would give the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman authority to veto commercial use of the 3.1-3.45, 7 and 8 GHz bands (see 2509100064).
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Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming and seven other GOP senators are urging FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to prevent disruption of incumbents on the 3.55-3.7 GHz citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) and 6 GHz bands as the commission begins implementing the reconciliation package’s mandate for an 800 MHz auction pipeline (see 2507070045).
“Congress was intentionally broad in its definitions” of what spectrum bands could be eligible for auction as part of the pipeline, Daines and the other Republicans said Wednesday in a letter to Carr that circulated Thursday. The FCC should still stand by “its previous spectrum decisions, commitments and allocations, and avoid disruption to existing uses of spectrum. In particular, the FCC should ensure that existing operations in the [CBRS band] and in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed uses, can continue operating without disruption.” The final spectrum language in the reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, omitted language from a House Commerce Committee proposal to exempt the CBRS and 6 GHz bands from potential reallocation.
The Republican senators told Carr that providing “protection for existing uses, including General Authorized Access (GAA) and Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in CBRS, and unlicensed use in the 6GHz band is critically important to provide rural broadband access, next generation Wi-Fi, and support small businesses.” Repurposing CBRS licenses “or changing the technical terms of existing licenses, would upend the significant investments made in CBRS to date and leave many rural communities who rely on CBRS for broadband connectivity in the dark,” the senators said. “Taking away existing uses and access to the 6 GHz band would undermine innovation and economic development in this emerging sector.”
Meanwhile, lobbyists said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was continuing Thursday with his push to remove the lower 3 and 7/8 GHz bands language from S-2296. Cruz formally filed an amendment to that effect but is also negotiating to remove it as part of a manager's amendment, lobbyists said. He argued that the provision would give military officials too much power in federal spectrum policymaking. The reconciliation package already exempts those bands from reallocation.
The House voted 231-196 Wednesday night to pass its NDAA version (HR-3838) without spectrum language similar to the S-2296 provision. Cruz also led amendments to attach his Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (S-28) and the Kids Off Social Media Act (S-278). S-28 and House-passed companion HR-859 would require manufacturers to inform consumers about cameras or microphones on internet-connected devices (see 2504300060).