The government and industry stakeholders have identified up to 2,485 MHz of mid-band spectrum that could be studied for commercial use. The National Spectrum Strategy has identified the Lower 3 GHz (3.1–3.45 GHz) and the 7/8 GHz (7.275–8.4 GHz), industry stakeholders have further identified the 4 GHz (4.4–4.94 GHz) and the upper portion of the 7/8 GHz (8.4–8.5), and the Federal Communications Commission has identified the upper C-band (3.98–4.2 GHz). In addition, the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024 and the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025 anticipate the allocation of no less than 1,250 MHz for full-power commercial licensed use.

In this white paper, Director Hector Lopez explains this is a lot of spectrum—roughly double the existing spectrum supply for wireless services (excluding the mmWave spectrum that has limited propagation). Dr. Lopez discusses the need to consider the bands that could be studied to realize the 1,250 MHz target and the potential revenues auctioning this spectrum could generate.