US 28 GHz auction is scheduled to start on November 14, 2018.
The FCC is about to auction 28 and 24 GHz spectrum. The auction is scheduled to start on November 14, 2018. On August 2nd, 2018, the FCC released a PR, a public notice and a number of statements establishing the application and bidding procedures for the auction (download everything here).
24 and 28 GHz spectrum will be offered through two separate auctions. The auction for 28 GHz (Auction 101) spectrum will be first to start on November 14. When it will end, the auction for 24 GHz (Auction 102) spectrum will start. Formats will differ slightly to accommodate discrepancies in spectrum characteristics:
- 28 GHz auction (27.5-28.35 GHz): The auction will employ the standard simultaneous multiple round auction format. The 28 GHz licenses will be offered in two blocks of 425 MHz each by county.
- 24 GHz auction (24.25-24.45, 24.75-25.25 GHz): The auction will employ a clock auction format, beginning with a clock phase that will allow bidding on generic blocks in each Partial Economic Area in successive bidding rounds. There will then be an assignment phase to allow winners of the generic blocks to bid for frequency-specific license assignments. The 24 GHz licenses will be offered in seven blocks of 100 MHz.
The Public Notice adopts bidding credit caps for these auctions of 25 million USD for small businesses and 10 million USD for rural service providers.
In addition, Ajit Pai, Chairman of the FCC indicated in a statement it plans additional auctions in the coming months: 37, 39 and 47 GHz spectrum will be auctioned in the second half 2019.
