Wireless providers harbor 'strong concerns' about 'Big Beautiful Bill' that just passed the House

Some good, some bad. That’s the short version of what the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) had to say about that so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that passed the House on May 22. The House-passed reconciliation bill includes provisions that would restore the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to conduct spectrum auctions and direct the FCC to auction off 600 megahertz of spectrum within a certain timeframe. President Trump endorsed the provision and promised to “free up plenty of spectrum.” Yet the bill doesn’t exclude the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz band from an auction, leaving it vulnerable to a sale or major disruption, according to WISPA. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, condemned the House Republicans’ spectrum auction plan, saying it could jeopardize U.S. national defense. Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), also voiced concerns about the consequences of the House auction plan.