CBRS coalition sees growth—and need for more spectrum

2025 has been a year for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service ecosystem. It started off with CBRS users fending off a proposal by AT&T to upend the entire CBRS ecosystem and move it from its current home at 3.5 GHz down to the lower 3 GHz. Sprinkle in some maneuvers by the Department of Defense, the fact that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act didn’t expressly protect CBRS spectrum, and ongoing efforts to increase power levels, and you’ve got all the makings for One Heck Of A Year. Fortunately, a few pressures that were on CBRS earlier this year appear to be abating. Some conversations have shifted to the 4 GHz band as a source for future full-power, licensed spectrum. It also helps that other spectrum is being made available. EchoStar’s sale of spectrum helps to feed the spectrum pipeline via secondary markets, and the Federal Communications Commission  is teeing up more mid-band spectrum in the upper C-band for auction.