T-Mobile US is asking the federal government to provide it temporary access to $300 million in spectrum licenses it won during a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction last year.  The government body is now not able to unleash the spectrum access due to a lapse in its regulatory authority.

Neville Ray, president of technology at T-Mobile US, asked in a blog post late last week for the FCC to grant Special Temporary Authority (STA) for the carrier to gain access to 2.5 GHz spectrum assets to further bolster its 5G network.

“T-Mobile has built out the towers and radios needed to make use of this spectrum in many areas of the country,” Ray wrote. “If we were given STAs today, we could light up many of these markets in a matter of days. That’s right – those radios are deployed and ready to be turned up. The only thing separating nearly 50 million Americans from enhanced capacity, a huge speed boost and world-class 5G is the FCC issuing STAs. With the extra spectrum lit up, we’ll even have enough capacity to offer home internet to millions of families, many of whom never have had a choice in broadband providers.”

The FCC lost the capability to release access to those licenses on March 1, when Congress failed to extend that government entity’s authority to use the auction process to grant license rights. The FCC has maintained that authority since 1993, and has conducted spectrum license auctions that have generated more than $233 billion for the U.S. Treasury.

Ray argues that the FCC should be able to release the licenses since the auction itself and T-Mobile US’ accepted payment both occurred before the FCC lost its oversight.

Wireless industry trade association CTIA also called for action, noting the situation could risk the country’s 5G competitive standing.

“Without this authority and a pipeline of spectrum to meet accelerating demand for wireless broadband, the U.S. risks falling behind China and other nations to lead globally in new 5G innovations and the industries of the future,” CTIA President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker, wrote. “We call on Congress to act quickly to restore the FCC’s authority and schedule the necessary future spectrum auctions so that we can secure our 5G leadership and our nation’s economic and national security.”

T-Mobile US’ spectrum depth

T-Mobile US won access to 7,156 spectrum licenses in the 2.5 GHz band at the conclusion of the FCC’s Auction 108 proceedings. The carrier was far-and-away the biggest winner in the auction, picking up more than 89% of the total licenses up for bid.

That result was not unexpected as T-Mobile US currently controls a significant swath of 2.5 GHz licenses it received when it acquired Sprint. Those licenses provide significant capacity for the carrier’s 5G network, which it’s looking to expand to cover 300 million potential customers by the end of this year.

The new licenses are focused in rural areas, with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel noting at the conclusion of the auction that they provide a “unique opportunity to fill” in current broadband coverage gaps. That opportunity will fall most heavily on T-Mobile US, which is the only nationwide operator currently using the 2.5 GHz band for its 5G network.

Nationwide rivals Verizon and AT&T did qualify for Auction 108 but did not end up as significant players. AT&T did not win any licenses, and Verizon spent $1.5 million for 12 licenses.

Those two carriers are more heavily invested in the C-band spectrum residing between 3.7 GHz and 3.98 GHz, which the two carriers spent a combined $69 billion in acquiring. The carriers, along with T-Mobile US and regional operator U.S. Cellular, recently filed plans with the FCC that will allow them to tap more fully into those licenses.

Future FCC spectrum auction authority

The FCC’s lack of auction authority also impacts its ability to hold future auctions. This includes plans to auction spectrum in the 3.1-3.45 GHz band targeted to bolster private 5G networks.

That spectrum is currently held by the Department of Defense but is being considered for a shared usage model similar to one being used for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum band.

CBRS spectrum is a swath of around 150 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz band that the federal government has set aside for licensed use. Access to that spectrum is through a multi-tiered access program that includes tier-one incumbents with “protected status,” including the Department of Defense for use by Navy ship radars and registered fixed satellite receiving stations; a tier two for “priority access licenses” (PAL); and tier three for “general authorized” (GAA) channels.