Title: C-BAND Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Clearing Broad Airwaves for New Deployment Act or the C-BAND Act
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make between 200 and 300 megahertz of C-Band spectrum available for reallocation and the assignment of licenses through a system of competitive bidding.
C-Band spectrum is electromagnetic spectrum between the frequencies of 3700 and 4200 megahertz. Such spectrum shall be for the provision of broadband internet access service, and the clearing and reallocation shall take place in a manner that ensures C-Band-dependent users (1) receive equal or better service than was previously available, and (2) receive such service continuously throughout the transition process.
In addition, specified proceeds from such spectrum auctions shall be made available to the FCC for the build out and maintenance of rural broadband infrastructure in unserved rural communities.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2921 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2921

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for an auction of C-
                 Band spectrum, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2019

  Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for an auction of C-
                 Band spectrum, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clearing Broad Airwaves for New 
Deployment Act'' or the ``C-BAND Act''.

SEC. 2. AUCTION OF C-BAND SPECTRUM.

    Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

                       ``PART V--C-BAND SPECTRUM

``SEC. 399L. AUCTION OF C-BAND SPECTRUM.

    ``Not later than September 30, 2022, the Commission shall--
            ``(1) clear and reallocate no less than 200 megahertz and 
        no more than 300 megahertz of contiguous C-Band spectrum 
        (reserving 20 megahertz as guard band)--
                    ``(A) for the provision of broadband internet 
                access service; and
                    ``(B) in such a way that ensures that C-Band-
                dependent users--
                            ``(i) receive equal or better service as 
                        before the implementation of this section; and
                            ``(ii) receive such service continuously 
                        throughout the transition process; and
            ``(2) through a system of competitive bidding under section 
        309(j), assign licenses for the use of the spectrum reallocated 
        under paragraph (1), except for the spectrum reserved as guard 
        band.

``SEC. 399M. TREATMENT OF REVENUES.

    ``(a) Deposit in the Treasury.--Notwithstanding section 309(j)(8), 
the Commission shall deposit the total amount of proceeds from the 
auction conducted under section 399L in the Treasury in accordance with 
chapter 33 of title 31, United States Code.
    ``(b) Rural Broadband Infrastructure.--Of the total amount 
deposited in the Treasury under subsection (a), $10,000,000,000 shall 
be made available to the Commission for the build out and maintenance 
of rural broadband infrastructure in unserved rural communities.

``SEC. 399N. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) C-band-dependent user.--The term `C-Band-dependent 
        user' means a person who--
                    ``(A) is a licensee or registrant of an earth 
                station receiving signals over C-Band spectrum; or
                    ``(B) receives or distributes programming or 
                services using C-Band spectrum.
            ``(2) C-band spectrum.--The term `C-Band spectrum' means 
        electromagnetic spectrum between the frequencies of 3700 
        megahertz and 4200 megahertz, inclusive.
            ``(3) Clear.--The term `clear' means, with respect to C-
        Band spectrum, to make such spectrum available for reallocation 
        and the assignment of licenses through a system of competitive 
        bidding (or reservation as guard band) under section 399L.''.
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