WASHINGTON -- It’s been nearly four months since Congress let the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction spectrum lapse, potentially hindering the deployment of broadband or expanding 5G capabilities.
Spectrum auctions enable commercial providers to expand their broadcast television, mobile phone and broadband coverage. But in the current situation, the FCC can’t issue spectrum licenses won in previous auctions and the lapse jeopardizes funding to replace Chinese communications equipment.
“We’re in a situation where spectrum policy is effectively at a standstill because auction authority has lapsed,” said Nick Ludlum, senior vice president for communications at CTIA, a trade group representing the wireless communications industry. “There is no clear path at this point. There’s lots of discussions going on, but there’s no expectation that that’s going to be resolved imminently.”
