Spectrum Auctions May Return to UHF Band

Recently, Congress reauthorized the FCC’s authority to conduct spectrum auctions.  It did not take long for companies seeking spectrum to ask the FCC to auction UHF spectrum now used by local television stations.  A company called Landover Saturn 5 LLC is asking the FCC to reassign channels 28 to 36.  The company just filed a new petition for rule making stating:

"This proceeding presents a timely opportunity for the FCC to address both realities.  Landover Saturn 5 LLC respectfully requests that the Commission initiate a rulemaking to permit the repurposing of UHF Channels 28–36 (554–608 MHz) into a contiguous nationwide block of low-band spectrum for flexible 5G and future 6G use.  Clearing these nine channels would create approximately 50 MHz of usable spectrum representing 17 billion MHz-POPs nationwide, providing a critical new coverage layer for next-generation wireless networks."

Of course, there is a long way to go before there are any TV spectrum auctions.  Moreover, the FCC can simply deny the petition.  However, now that the FCC is back in the spectrum auction business, there will be increasing pressure to take additional UHF channels away from television and reassign them for other uses.

You can see Landover Saturn 5 LLC’s petition here.