Auction of the Upper C-Band Frequencies

[KJ6EO]

Hello and thanks for reading my post. So, the Big Beautiful Bill has mandated that the FCC auction at least 100Mhz of the Upper C-Band. Isn't it interesting that 100Mhz has turned into 180Mhz (the whole band). These types of decisions should be made for the greater good of all (The Telecoms, and the incumbent C-Band Broadcasters). The intelligent thing to do is to compromise. Let the Telecoms have their 100Mhz, but let the Broadcasters have their 80Mhz and make the 80Mhz untouchable. I don't work in the industry, so I don't even really know if 80Mhz is enough spectrum to accomodate C-Band Broadcasters. Taking all of C-Band is Bad Business and it's totally wrong. This is my opinion and I'd like to hear yours.

 

[comfortably_numb]

When did they say they're taking the whole band?

 

[kofi123]

When did they say they're taking the whole band?

When the FCC approved and published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the matter last month.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-78A1.pdf

From Paragraph 1

We propose today to further expand the ecosystem for next generation wireless services in the 3.7–4.2 GHz band (C-band) by making as much as 180, and at least 100, megahertz of the 3.98–4.2 GHz band (Upper C-band) available for terrestrial wireless flexible use via a system of competitive bidding.

180 MHz wouldn't be the whole band, though. They propose keeping 20 MHz (per polarity) for satellite use. There would also be a guard band of no transmissions between 4160 and 4180 MHz, similar to how there is now one between 3980 and 4000 MHz.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Well, my take is, it's a hobby for most of the members of this site. If the broadcasters feel it's important enough and in their best interests to protect the spectrum, they'll lobby and plead their case. Nothing the rest of us can do.

I guess the silver lining (if any) is they don't want KU, so maybe more of the occasional feeds will migrate there.