• April 30, 2025

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At its April Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission agreed to codify new sharing rules that the Carr Commission believes will bolster innovative commercial uses in the lower 37 GHz spectrum band. The FCC says the new framework is expected to support IoT systems, wireless broadband, internet backhaul connections, and greater capacity for mobile systems.

Today, the band between 37 – 37.6 GHz is currently shared by the government and commercial entities. However, there are no clear sharing rules for this spectrum. This ultimately restrains companies from moving forward with deployments.

Now, the Commission seeks to promote access to this spectrum by a wide variety of entities, support innovative uses of the band, and help ensure that spectrum is widely utilized.

This is done so by voting to create a new licensing framework for the lower 37 GHz band, effectively opening up 600 megahertz of spectrum for new commercial services.

“The new rules establish a licensing framework to require users to obtain a nationwide, non-exclusive license, coordinate sites on an individual basis, and then register those sites,” the FCC stated.

Specifically, the order prioritizes military uses in the 37 – 37.2 GHz portion of the band, establishes coordination processes, and requires licensees start operations within a year of registering a site.

All five voting members of the FCC approved the proposal. In voting yes, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr noted how the FCC has been focused on freeing up more spectrum for more intensive use. “At our January meeting, we kickstarted the process for auctioning AWS-3 spectrum licenses, which have sat in inventory for years,” Carr said. “We also started the process of opening up additional portions of the C-band. This month, we’re bringing a spectrum focus as well. Earlier today, we advanced a new spectrum sharing regime that could enable faster satellite broadband services.”

For Carr, there’s a good reason for prioritizing spectrum early on. “Freeing up spectrum for commercial use drives down prices for consumers, brings families across the digital divide, and promotes America’s national security,” he said.

With this proceeding, Carr believes the new licensing framework could unlock 600 MHz of spectrum for new and more intensive commercial services, laying the foundation for massive innovation and growth.

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Sources:

lightreading.com/regulatory-politics/fcc-adopts-framework-for-lower-37ghz-band