The FCC has announced schedule changes for the CBRS Auction 105 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency.
Auction 105 is for some of the spectrum in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, which includes mid-band spectrum between 3550 and 3700 MHz. Auction 105 focuses on Priority Access Licenses for the 3550-3650 MHz band.
CBRS Auction 105 Schedule
The short-form application for the auction – FCC Form 175 – now has a filing window opening on April 23 at noon EDT. It will close at 6 PM EDT on May 7. Upfront payments will be due on June 19 and bidding will begin on July 23.
The FCC is facing the same issues as businesses in terms of what is practical and safe for employees and other interested parties. “Many Americans have had to make tough decisions on how they do business in this rapidly changing environment, and the FCC is no different,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a press release about the Auction 105 schedule changes. “After consulting agency staff within the relevant Bureaus and Offices, we determined that it was in everyone’s best interest to make these changes. But we remain committed to holding the 3.5 GHz auction this summer and look forward to beginning this important mid-band auction in July.”
Auction 105 can be tracked here. The public notice on the auction also is available.
Last week, the FCC extended the deadline for most fixed wireless providers to transition to the new CBRS rules in another adjustment made necessary by the pandemic. Now, all parties that have deployed fixed wireless in the portion of the band between 3650 and 3700 MHz have until October 17 to replace or upgrade equipment to support the new rules impacting the entire CBRS band, which is between 3550 and 3700 MHz. The rules being replaced would have required many providers to meet deadlines as early as April 17.
