One of the positive provisions of the Reconciliation legislation passed Congress in July of this year involved the reauthorization of wireless spectrum auctions for internet connectivity.

Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies that wireless devices use to transmit information via the internet.  In recent times, spectrum has become a critical pillar for both personal internet access for millions of Americans, as for a broad range of economic activity. 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has typically been in charge of administering auctions of licenses for various spectrum bands for use by non-federal users.  The FCC’s authority expired in 2023 but was reauthorized in the 2025 legislation.  Unlike other provisions of the megabill, spectrum reauthorization has enjoyed a history of strong bipartisan support.  

HLF has consistently supported the reauthorization of Spectrum auctions, for example in an opinion piece earlier this year outlining the background and benefits.

Despite the revival of FCC spectrum auction authority now signed into law, the current version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the U.S. Senate includes a provision that would interfere with that process, allowing the Pentagon to block the sale of any spectrum.

The national security rationale might sound reasonable, except that it ignores that the spectrum provisions in the reconciliation bill were the result of extensive debate and negotiations that were part of that process and were done to achieve a balance between security concerns and realizing the economic benefits that would result from spectrum availability for private sector economic activity.

Those economic benefits are significant.  Research by economic consulting firm National Economic Research Associates (NERA) research summarized a report on this issue thusly: “We estimate each additional 100 MHz of mid-band spectrum to mobile will generate $264 billion of GDP, about 1.5 million new jobs, and about $388 billion in consumer surplus.”  

 The language on spectrum in the current NDAA should be removed and wireless spectrum auctions should proceed as planned.