The United States needs to lead in 6G, the next generation of wireless technology that will evolve how we connect to and use networks, by closing the coverage and capacity gaps in today’s 5G networks. Just as 5G enabled today’s smartphones and mobile networks, 6G will power the technologies expected to define the coming decades, including artificial intelligence systems, advanced manufacturing, robotics, driverless vehicles, and next-generation national defense systems.
The Trump administration has recognized the importance of American leadership in 6G development and directed federal agencies to make more spectrum, the invisible airwaves that wireless networks require to function, available for commercial use. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act specifically identifies the 2.7 GHz spectrum band as a priority for reallocation, as it is one of the strongest candidates to support 6G. Moving quickly to make this spectrum available for commercial use is critical if the United States stands a shot at winning the 6G race and securing nationwide connectivity. The importance of 6G cannot be understated. When we designed 5G, we did not realize how quickly people would adopt AI into their daily lives, and AI is already causing our 5G networks to exceed their designed capacity.
Unfortunately, there is some bureaucratic red tape that the government needs to cut through first. Before spectrum can be auctioned for commercial use, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must give the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at least 18 months’ notice. After receiving that notice, NTIA sets a deadline for federal agencies that use the spectrum to submit transition plans explaining how they would relocate or share the spectrum. Those transition plans are generally due another eight months before the auction begins.
If the United States is to meet this moment, the government must actively leverage — not merely abide by — the funding mechanisms that underpin these processes. Before specific frequencies are identified for auction, federal agencies can access research and development funding through the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) to study how to relocate or share spectrum without disrupting operations. As soon as spectrum bands are identified for auction, agencies lose access to that R&D funding and instead become eligible for a much larger pool of transition funding, which is designed to support the actual relocation or sharing process.
The issue our nation faces is this: prior administrations have often considered both the “notification” and “identification” requirements satisfied once the FCC provides notice of the auction, while also acknowledging NTIA’s role in identifying spectrum to be reallocated from federal to non-federal use. This previous approach reconciled the underlying statutory provisions in a way that allowed the government to proceed expeditiously to auction. But taking a bundled approach now could have the opposite effect, as speeding up the identification process would cut off agencies’ access to R&D funding. The good news is that the Trump administration, specifically the FCC, NTIA, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has another option to move forward with a timely 2.7 GHz auction and avoid delay, without cutting access to funding.
THE KEY REALITY BEING IGNORED IN SPECTRUM POLICY DEBATE
First, the FCC can begin the 18-month waiting period now by notifying NTIA of its plans to auction spectrum in the 2.7 GHz band. Then, the specific frequencies can be identified at a later date, such as when NTIA identifies them for reallocation as required under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This approach would ensure that federal agencies can seamlessly receive funding from both the R&D and transition channels and conduct all requisite engineering studies to ensure a successful auction. It’s worth noting that nothing in the law prohibits taking these two steps separately. In fact, that’s exactly what the government did when the FCC provided notification for the 1755-1780 MHz spectrum in the AWS-3 auction. In short, the choice is a procedural issue for the NTIA and FCC, not a statutory issue for Congress.
This simple distinction offers a tangible solution to deliver on a core priority of the current administration and ensure Americans benefit economically and technologically from these next-generation wireless services. Leadership in 6G is essential to support leadership in AI. It is critical that the U.S. government, particularly Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth, leverage the options available to them to ensure effective procedures and move this auction forward without delay. Otherwise, under NTIA’s current plans, not only would the auction of 2.7 GHz spectrum be delayed by two years, but it’s also unclear whether any other auction could proceed in this administration either, putting the administration’s entire auction and spectrum strategy at risk.
David Witkowski is Executive Director of the Civic Technologies Program at Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a multi-sector nonprofit organization serving Northern California since 1993. David is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and co-chair of the Deployment Working Group in the IEEE Future Networks Technical Community. He is the Founder & CEO of Oku Solutions LLC, an award-winning engineering consultancy that advises a number of companies, including those in the telecom industry.