FCC Chair Defends Spectrum Auctions, Deregulation and Broadband Push
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Summary
Chairman Brendan Carr told the Energy and Commerce subcommittee the FCC is pursuing an 800‑MHz spectrum pipeline, faster auctions and deregulation to lower prices and accelerate broadband buildout.
Chairman Brendan Carr told the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Jan. 17 that restoring and unlocking spectrum is central to U.S. leadership in next‑generation wireless and to lowering consumer prices.
Carr pointed to the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which he said restored the FCC’s auction authority and created a pipeline to identify 800 megahertz for commercial use. "We now have a real concrete spectrum pipeline, 800 megahertz," Carr said, adding that the agency is coordinating with NTIA and Commerce on band selection and preparations for auctions. He said the FCC has identified at least 100 megahertz for an upper C‑band auction and is finalizing rules for AWS‑3 and other bands.
On consumer impact, Carr cited industry data he said show wireless plans down about 4% since January 2025 and described secondary‑market transactions and carriers lighting new cell sites. He also described FCC work to "supercharge Wi‑Fi" by allowing higher‑power unlicensed devices and to speed satellite licensing and approvals for low Earth orbit services.
Carr described robocall mitigation and fraud controls — including kicking non‑cooperative providers out of mitigation databases — and said the FCC is strengthening fraud controls in USF programs to reduce waste, fraud and abuse.
Democrats and some members challenged Carr on program rollbacks affecting affordability, including the Affordable Connectivity Program and E‑Rate changes. Commissioner Gomez argued the agency has "retreated from core responsibilities" such as affordability and multilingual emergency alerts, raising concerns about digital equity.
The hearing produced no immediate regulatory changes; committee members signaled continued oversight and follow‑up questions.
