- Trump calls for 600 MHz spectrum to support 5G and 6G development.
- Spectrum auction could generate up to $88B, according to Congressional estimates.
What happened: Trump pushes for 600 MHz spectrum in budget
President Donald Trump recently took to Truth Social to urge Congress to include 600 MHz of spectrum in his administration’s central budget proposal. He believes this spectrum will keep the US at the forefront of wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, 5G, and 6G.
Trump promised to “free up plenty of spectrum for auction” and called for Congress to include 600 MHz in the budget bill. The spectrum auction could raise to $88B in revenue, helping fund federal priorities. However, lawmakers have yet to agree on the budget, with debates focusing on healthcare and tax issues.
Trump is working to rally support for the proposal, aiming to secure enough votes in Congress to pass the bill.
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Why it’s important
Trump promised to “free up plenty of spectrum for auction” and called for Congress to include 600 MHz in the budget bill. The spectrum auction could raise up to $88B in revenue, helping fund federal priorities. However, lawmakers have yet to agree on the budget, with debates focusing on healthcare and tax issues.
The 600 MHz spectrum is crucial to maintaining US leadership in the wireless market. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr supports the push, emphasising that additional spectrum will foster economic growth, reduce consumer prices, and bolster national security.
Carr has been an outspoken advocate for freeing up spectrum, particularly criticizing the Biden administration’s delays in spectrum sales. Under his leadership, the FCC is also exploring additional C-band and millimetre-wave spectrum, which would further boost the US’s data transmission capabilities.
