HR 651 — Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025

Summary

Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025This bill renews the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction licenses for the use of radio frequency spectrum, and requires some frequencies currently used by the federal government to be reallocated to permit use by private entities.Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the FCC’s use of competitive bidding (i.e., auctions) to grant licenses for the use of specific frequencies. (The FCC’s auction authority must be renewed by Congress periodically. It expired on March 9, 2023, and has not been renewed.)Further, the bill directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to identify frequencies currently designated for use by the federal government that may be reallocated to permit use by private entities either exclusively or on a shared basis. At least half of the spectrum identified for reallocation must be allocated to commercial use (including commercial wireless use), and licenses in this category must be auctioned by the FCC within a specified time frame. A separate portion of the spectrum must be allocated to unlicensed use. (Unlicensed frequencies are commonly used to support Wi-Fi, connected appliances, wearable consumer devices, and other electronics.) The bill also makes certain changes to the process for compensating federal entities that relocate to new frequencies under a spectrum reallocation plan. The bill shortens the time frame for congressional review of payments to these entities, and permits such payments to be used to cover the cost of replacing existing systems and equipment with state-of-the-art upgrades.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html January 23, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to auction spectrum between 1.3 gigahertz and 13.2 gigahertz and modifies the Spectrum Relocation Fund's notification timeline.

• 47 U.S.C. 928(d)(2)(C)

  30 days → 15 days

  The notification period for fund transfers to eligible Federal entities is reduced from 30 days to 15 days.

• 47 U.S.C. 928(d)(2)

  30 days → 15 days

  The time allowed for congressional disapproval of fund transfers is shortened from 30 days to 15 days.

• 47 U.S.C. 928(f)(2)(B)(iv)

  30 days → 15 days

  The time frame for certain Federal transition plans is reduced from 30 days to 15 days.

• 47 U.S.C. 928(g)(2)(D)(ii)

  60 days → 15 days

  The notification timeline for potential reversion of unused funds is cut from 60 days to 15 days.

• 47 U.S.C. 923(g)(3)(A)(iv)

  ; and → ;

  The existing clause is modified to facilitate the addition of further requirements for the relocation process.

• 47 U.S.C. 923(g)(3)(A)(v)

  . → ; and

  A new clause is added to allow for additional considerations in determining costs related to equipment upgrades.

• 47 U.S.C. 923(g)(3)

  ``(vi) the costs associated with replacing systems and equipment with state-of-the-art systems and equipment, including systems and equipment with additional functions, only if the state-of-the-art systems and equipment allow for the reallocation of significantly more valuable spectrum frequencies from Federal use.''

  New cost considerations related to modernizing equipment for spectrum reallocation are added.

Action History

1. January 23, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. January 23, 2025

   Introduced in House

3. January 23, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsors

• Rick W. Allen · Primary
• Russ Fulcher · Cosponsor

Subjects