Tribal Groups Urge FCC to Add Licensing Window in Upper C-Band Auction

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2025 — Twenty-one tribal governments and broadband advocacy groups urged the Federal Communications Commission this week to open a special application period for Tribal nations before auctioning new wireless spectrum, saying the step would help close the broadband gap on native lands.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the coalition – including Public Knowledge, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and tribes includes the Bigfoot Communications of the Colville Tribes, Bishop Paiute Tribe, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and others – asked the agency to set aside what is called the tribal licensing window in the upcoming upper C-band auction

The band which covers the 3.98–4.2 GigaHertz (GHz) range. That mid-band spectrum is valued for its ability to carry large amounts of data over moderate distances, making it well-suited for fixed-wireless broadband in rural terrain where fiber is difficult to build.