FCC clears spectrum for AWS in 1710-1755 MHz band

October 15, 2004

The Federal Communications Commission allocated spectrum to allow Federal operations to be cleared from spectrum that has been allocated for advanced wireless services (AWS), including 3G wireless systems. This action is an important step towards the future auction of 90 MHz of spectrum for AWS.

The Commission previously allocated the 1710-1755 MHz (1.7 GHz) and 2110-2155 MHz (2.1 GHz) bands for AWS. The 1.7 GHz band was transferred from the Federal Government for private sector use, but Federal operations at certain locations were to remain in this spectrum indefinitely. The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), working with the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies, developed a set of proposals to clear this spectrum so that it could be made available for AWS throughout the United States.

Today's action implements NTIA's plan by making certain non-Federal Government bands available for relocating Federal operations. Specifically, the Commission allocated spectrum to allow for the relocation of critical military and other operations into the 2025-2110 MHz (2 GHz) and 2360-2395 MHz (2.3 GHz) bands.