FCC Must Prioritize Public Interest in Future Spectrum Auctions, Senators Say
Sen. Schumer and colleagues push FCC to put consumer protections first in upcoming allocations
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2025 – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and 13 other senators urged the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to prioritize public interests, like affordability, consumer protections, and competition, in upcoming spectrum auctions.
“We believe that spectrum licenses must be conditioned on winning bidders providing measurable benefits to the American people,” senators said in a letter sent to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “Spectrum is a public resource. When companies buy licenses to use it, the FCC must ensure that consumers, not just corporations, see real benefits.”
The senators outlined what they believe should be the minimum conditions the FCC prepares to auction 800 megahertz of spectrum, including 500 megahertz for exclusive licensed use, sold through competitive bidding to carriers and other licensees, under direction of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in July.
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