FCC Fixes Radio Rules: No Static, Just Boring
Published Date: 4/30/2026
Rule
Summary
The FCC fixed some small mistakes in its rules about the 896-901/935-940 MHz radio bands, which affect companies holding or applying for 900 MHz broadband licenses. These corrections clarify who qualifies for licenses and the coverage they must provide, with clear deadlines to meet service goals. The updated rules take effect April 30, 2026, helping license holders avoid confusion and stay on track without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
900 MHz coverage performance benchmarks
A 900 MHz broadband licensee must offer broadband service and meet either a population or geographic coverage benchmark by set deadlines: interim within 6 years of grant (at least 45% population or 25% geographic coverage) and final within 12 years of grant (at least 80% population or 50% geographic coverage). These numeric benchmarks apply to 3/3 broadband licenses and to 5/5 licenses not issued in exchange for a 3/3 license.
Penalties for missing deployment benchmarks
If a 3/3 broadband licensee misses its interim benchmark, it must meet the final benchmark two years earlier (i.e., at 10 years) and its license term is reduced to 13 years. A 5/5 licensee (not issued in exchange) that misses interim faces the same acceleration and 13-year term; a 5/5 issued in exchange that misses interim will have its final deadline accelerated by two years and its license term reduced by two years. If any licensee fails to meet the final performance benchmark, its authorization for that license area terminates automatically without Commission action.
Who qualifies for 900 MHz licenses
For the 897.5-900.5 MHz and 936.5-939.5 MHz bands, an applicant either must hold a 3/3 900 MHz broadband license in the relevant county or meet a threshold of at least 90% of combined licensed channels. That 90% can be met by holding spectrum in the 3/3 segment, by clearing or acquiring incumbent licenses (including credit for applications filed on or after March 14, 2019), or by demonstrating interference protection to covered incumbents' site-channels in the county and within 70 miles of the county boundary.
Special timing for 5/5 licenses obtained in exchange
A 5/5 900 MHz broadband license issued in exchange for a 3/3 license follows special timing: if issued before the 3/3 interim deadline, the 5/5 interim deadline is two years from the 3/3 interim date and the final deadline is two years from the 3/3 final date; if issued after the 3/3 interim but before the 3/3 final, the 5/5 has only a final requirement due within two years of the 3/3 final date; if issued after the 3/3 final is met, the 5/5 final requirement is due within two years from the 5/5 grant date. In the latter two cases, the 5/5 licensee is not subject to an interim performance requirement.
Ongoing coverage requirement after buildout
After a licensee satisfies its final performance benchmark, it must continue to provide coverage and offer broadband service at or above that same level for the remaining license term and thereafter, consistent with 47 CFR 1.949. The obligation to maintain the final coverage level continues beyond the benchmark date.
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