‘Oh, Say Can You C’

At the Federal Communications Commission, we’re celebrating 250 years of American independence by charting a course to ensure America’s leadership well into the future. With a packed agenda for our July 22 Open Meeting, we’re announcing a big new spectrum auction, supercharging our Space Bureau efforts, protecting consumers, and strengthening our national security. First up, we will vote on an order that adopts rules for the auction of 160 MHz of prime, mid-band spectrum in the Upper C-Band. Next, we will be considering an order that modernizes the FCC’s satellite and earth station licensing processes. These reforms will create a faster, more predictable “licensing assembly line,” enhance space safety, and remove outdated regulations to support America’s growing commercial space economy. Then, we will be considering an order that refocuses the FCC’s broadband nutrition labels to ensure consumers have access to the clear, accurate, and concise information about broadband plans that they want—making the labels a more useful shopping tool. Next, we will be considering a further notice of proposed rulemaking that strengthens the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database by enhancing the protections that prevent bad actors from gaining access to the RMD and transmitting illegal calls on the U.S. voice network. Finally, we will be considering an order and further notice to bolster our Covered List rules to protect Americans from electronic devices that have been determined to pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States. 

1. Upper C-Band Auction Rules – To maintain U.S. spectrum leadership, create a robust spectrum pipeline, and fulfill Congress’ direction in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Commission will consider a Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration that makes 160 megahertz of the Upper C-band available in the contiguous United States for flexibleuse, next-generation terrestrial wireless services via a system of competitive bidding.  The introduction of new wireless services may begin in December 2030, following the first tranche of adjacent band radio altimeter retrofits to be required by FAA.  Among other steps, the item also adopts measures designed to ensure successful co-existence with adjacent band radio altimeters, creates a transition process to fairly and expeditiously relocate incumbent satellite operations, establishes rebates to support the FAA’s radio altimeter retrofit requirements, and resolves various pending petitions for reconsideration related to the 2020 Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification reconfiguring the Lower C-band. (GN Docket No. 25-59, 18-122)
2. Space Modernization for the 21st Century – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would overhaul the Commission’s rules for licensing space and earth stations to increase speed, predictability, and flexibility in order to support the American space economy.  The Order would replace part 25 with a new rule part—part 100— that would create a “licensing assembly line” to process applications.  The FNPRM would seek comment on and propose additional changes which build upon the new part 100. (SB Docket No. 25-306)  
3. Improving Broadband Labels – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would modify the broadband label rules to make labels easier to read and understand and more useful for consumers, while reducing compliance burdens on providers. (CG Docket No. 22-2; GN Docket No. 25-133)
4. Improving the Effectiveness of the Robocall Mitigation Database – The Commission will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that aims to materially strengthen the integrity of the United States voice ecosystem and further deter illegal calls by proposing measures to ensure that only legitimate, transparent, and accountable providers gain or maintain access to the Robocall Mitigation Database.  (WC Docket Nos. 24-213, 17-97; CG Docket No. 17-59)
5. Strengthening Rules Governing Dangerous Gear – The Commission will consider a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at further strengthening national security in the equipment authorization program by closing component-level and supply-chain loopholes in the Commission’s Covered List rules.  The item would close the “component part loophole” by prohibiting authorization of devices that incorporate logic-bearing hardware components produced by Covered List entities; clarify that the marketing rules reach online marketplaces that list, distribute, or offer unauthorized equipment and require those marketplaces to display the FCC ID at the online point of sale; require full certification for any modification or permissive change made by a Covered List entity; and adopt a narrowed, statutorily-grounded definition of “critical infrastructure” in response to the D.C. Circuit’s partial remand.  The accompanying Further Notice would seek comment on bifurcating the Covered List into producer/provider-based and production location-based categories, enhancing supply-chain transparency through hardware and software bills of materials, and strengthening enforcement.  (ET Docket No. 21-232)