HR651-119

What This Bill Does

The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025 creates a multi-year pipeline for reallocating federal and shared spectrum. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the FCC, must identify at least 2,500 megahertz in the 1.3 GHz to 13.2 GHz covered band for non-federal use, shared federal and non-federal use, or both, including at least 1,250 megahertz for full-power commercial licensed wireless broadband. The first 1,250 megahertz must be identified within two years, and the remaining amount within five years. For commercial licensed use, the FCC must complete auctions for at least 1,250 megahertz, including at least 600 megahertz within three years and the rest within six years. The FCC must make at least 125 megahertz available for unlicensed use within two years and make any remaining identified spectrum available for licensed or unlicensed use within eight years. The bill extends general FCC auction authority to September 30, 2027 and extends covered-band authority for eight years after enactment. NTIA must report to Congress when spectrum is identified and one year after enactment on federal and non-federal operations, candidate bands, presidential steps to withdraw or modify federal assignments, relocation or sharing cost estimates, and global harmonization. Section 3 modernizes the Spectrum Relocation Fund by shortening several review periods from 30 or 60 days to 15 days and allowing costs for state-of-the-art replacement systems when that replacement enables reallocation of significantly more valuable spectrum from federal to non-federal or shared use.

Who Benefits and How

Wireless broadband carriers benefit from a required pipeline of full-power commercial licensed spectrum and FCC auctions. Mobile broadband consumers benefit if more mid-band spectrum improves capacity, coverage, and competition. Unlicensed spectrum users benefit from at least 125 megahertz made available for unlicensed use. FCC auction staff and congressional commerce committees benefit from clearer authority, deadlines, and reporting. Federal agencies can benefit from state-of-the-art replacement systems when relocation enables more valuable reallocation.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NTIA spectrum managers and FCC auction staff must identify, coordinate, report, auction, and open spectrum on fixed deadlines. Federal spectrum users in the covered band may have to relocate, share, or modify operations. The President must begin withdrawal or modification of federal assignments as necessary for auctions. Spectrum Relocation Fund administrators must review modified timelines and replacement-system cost claims. Federal taxpayers and auction proceeds are exposed to relocation or sharing costs even though auctions may generate offsetting revenue.

Key Provisions

• Requires identification of at least 2,500 megahertz in the 1.3 to 13.2 GHz band, including 1,250 megahertz for full-power commercial licensed use.
• Requires FCC auctions for at least 1,250 megahertz, including 600 megahertz within three years and the balance within six years.
• Requires at least 125 megahertz for unlicensed use within two years and use of remaining identified spectrum within eight years.
• Extends FCC auction authority to September 30, 2027 and covered-band authority for eight years.
• Requires progress, identification, operations, relocation-cost, presidential-action, and global-harmonization reports to Congress.
• Modernizes Spectrum Relocation Fund deadlines and eligible state-of-the-art replacement-system costs.