The Federal Communications Commission has informed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that it plans to hold an auction for wireless spectrum in September 2014. By law, the FCC must give the NTIA 18 months notice of such auctions.
The auction will be for two spectrum bands, 1695-1710MHz and 1755-1780MHz. The NTIA had already indicated that it would reassign the 1695-1710MHz block from government to commercial use. The FCC has to auction off and license that spectrum for use by February 2015.
Similarly, the FCC needs to reallocate and license the 2155-2180 MHz band by 2015. The CTIA and wireless industry in general would like to see the 2155-2180MHz block paired with the 1755-1780MHz block for commercial use.
The 1755-1780MHz block is currently being used by the government, though the government is researching the possibility of sharing that spectrum with commercial entities.
