FCC Chief Says Upcoming Spectrum Auctions Could Raise Over $100 Billion

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said Wednesday that a series of wireless spectrum auctions planned over the next couple of years could bring in more than $100 billion for the government.

Multiple Auctions Planned Through 2028

The FCC voted in July to hold a 2027 auction covering 160 megahertz of mid band spectrum in the Upper C-Band. Carr said the agency is now moving ahead with three additional auctions beyond that one, with formal notification already issued and a target of wrapping them up by the end of 2028. He noted growing interest in spectrum beyond the three carriers that currently dominate US mobile service, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, saying the new auctions should spark fresh competition. Carr pointed out the market response has shifted noticeably compared to just a couple of years ago.

Recent Deals and Growing Demand

The FCC has already approved several major spectrum transactions, including EchoStar’s $40 billion spectrum sale to SpaceX and a separate $1 billion deal in 2024 giving AT&T and Verizon some of US Cellular’s spectrum assets. SpaceX has used its spectrum for Starlink’s device-to-device service, and the FCC recently moved to free up more spectrum for space-based broadband. The Trump administration also announced plans last week to lay groundwork for multiple 6G auctions in 2028, as the agency pushes to free up spectrum for AI, driverless cars and connected sensors.

Carr said the auctions benefit consumers through competition and lower prices while also raising money for the Treasury, adding that a past auction helped fund the removal of Chinese equipment from US networks over national security concerns. Wireless industry group CTIA reported that Americans used 159.3 trillion megabytes of data in 2025, up 20% from the previous year, with AI traffic growing three times faster than standard wireless use and expected to make up nearly a third of broadband traffic by 2034.