Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

AWS-3 Transition

Advanced Wireless Services in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz Bands

On January 29, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) completed an auction of Advanced Wireless Service licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands (collectively, the “AWS-3” bands). This auction, designated as Auction 97, raised in net bids a total of $41,329,673,325, with 31 bidders winning a total of 1,611 licenses. With the reallocation of the 1695-1710 MHz and 1755-1780 MHz bands, most of the federal systems will relocate out of the bands. A limited number of federal systems will remain indefinitely in the bands, sharing with non-federal users (see U. S. Table of Frequency Allocations, Footnotes US88 and US91).

The Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), as amended, governs the transition planning process through which eligible federal agencies recover their relocation or sharing costs from a portion of the proceeds from the AWS-3 auction, which were transferred to the Spectrum Relocation Fund. On May 13, 2014, as required by the CSEA, NTIA notified the FCC of the initial estimated relocation and sharing costs and timelines for the 1695-1710 MHz and the 1755-1780 MHz bands. These estimates were based on the transition plans submitted by the eligible federal entities and available at the following links:

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) determined the transfers were appropriate and that the resources protect key federal missions and capabilities while making additional spectrum available for commercial use, consistent with the President’s goals. On June 23, 2015, OMB notified Congress of the forthcoming transfer of $5,030,428,878 to federal agencies with systems affected by the AWS-3 transition. Following the conclusion of the 30-day statutory waiting period, OMB transferred the funds to the federal agencies.

In accordance with an FCC-NTIA Joint Public Notice – Coordination Procedures in the 1695–1710 MHz and 1755–1780 MHz Bands (GN Docket No. 13–185, DA 14–1023, released on July 18, 2014), the formal coordination process began on October 30, 2015.

Visit the FCC Auction 97 website for information from the FCC on the AWS-3 auction.

Related content


Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act Annual Progress Report for 2016

July 27, 2017

NTIA submits this report pursuant to Section 207 of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), Title II of Pub. L. 108-494, which requires annual reporting on federal agencies’ progress to relocate radio communications systems from spectrum or share spectrum that has been reallocated to commercial use. This report provides details on two separate spectrum auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that included: 1) the 1710 to 1755 megahertz (MHz) band, and 2) the 1695-1710 MHz and 1755-1780 MHz bands.

Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) Annual Progress Report for 2015

April 26, 2016

NTIA submits this report pursuant to Section 207 of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), Title II of Pub. L. 108-494, which requires annual reporting on federal agencies’ progress to relocate wireless communications systems from spectrum or share spectrum that has been reallocated to commercial use. This report provides details on two separate spectrum auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that included: 1) the 1710 to 1755 megahertz (MHz) band, and 2) the 1695-1710 MHz and 1755-1780 MHz bands.

Implementing Certain Provisions of the Spectrum Pipeline Act With Respect to the Duties of the Technical Panel

January 21, 2016
Docket Number
Docket No. 160108022–6022–01

NTIA amends its regulations with respect to the duties of the Technical Panel to include the new responsibility for review and approval of plans submitted by federal entities that request funding from the Spectrum Relocation Fund for the purposes set forth in Section 1005(a)(2) of the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015. The final rule becomes effective on January 21, 2016.

Subscribe to AWS-3 Transition RSS feed