# 2026-14674: FCC Spectrum Giveaway Comes With Airline Radio Mandate

2026-14674, Sunshine Act Meeting; Open Commission Meeting Wednesday, July 22, 2026, is a Federal Register notice from Federal Communications Commission published 2026-07-21; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14674
- As of: 2026-07-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-14674
- Title: Sunshine Act Meeting; Open Commission Meeting Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Federal Communications Commission
- Citation: 91 FR 45813
- Published: 2026-07-21
- Effective: unknown
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-28

## In one line

FCC Spectrum Giveaway Comes With Airline Radio Mandate

## Summary

On July 22, 2026, the FCC will hold a public meeting to discuss opening up 160 megahertz of the Upper C-band spectrum for new wireless services starting in December 2030. This move aims to boost U.S. wireless leadership and includes plans to help airlines update their radio altimeters safely. The meeting also covers space tech updates, affecting wireless companies, satellite operators, and travelers, with important deadlines and funding support on the horizon.

## Abstract

To maintain U.S. spectrum leadership, create a robust spectrum pipeline, and fulfill Congress' direction in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Commission will consider a Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration that makes 160 megahertz of the Upper C-band available in the contiguous United States for flexible-use, next- generation terrestrial wireless services via a system of competitive bidding. The introduction of new wireless services may begin in December 2030, following the first tranche of adjacent band radio altimeter retrofits to be required by FAA. Among other steps, the item also adopts measures designed to ensure successful co- existence with adjacent band radio altimeters, creates a transition process to fairly and expeditiously relocate incumbent satellite operations, establishes rebates to support the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit requirements, and resolves various pending petitions for reconsideration related to the 2020 Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification reconfiguring the Lower C-band. 2..................... SPACE................ TITLE: Space Modernization for the 21st Century (SB Docket No. 25-306). SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would overhaul the Commission's rules for licensing space and earth stations to increase speed, predictability, and flexibility in order to support the American space economy. The Order would replace part 25 with a new rule part-- part 100--that would create a "licensing assembly line" to process applications. The FNPRM would seek comment on and propose additional changes which build upon the new part 100. 3..................... CONSUMER & TITLE: Empowering GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. Broadband Consumers Through Transparency (CG Docket No. 22-2); Delete, Delete, Delete (GN Docket No. 25-133). SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would modify the broadband label rules to make labels easier to read and understand and more useful for consumers, while reducing compliance burdens on providers. 4..................... WIRELINE COMPETITION. TITLE: Improving the Effectiveness of the Robocall Mitigation Database (WC Docket No. 24-213); Call Authentication Trust Anchor (WC Docket No. 17- 97); Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG Docket No. 17-59). SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that aims to materially strengthen the integrity of the United States voice ecosystem and further deter illegal calls by proposing measures to ensure that only legitimate, transparent, and accountable providers gain or maintain access to the Robocall Mitigation Database. 5..................... OFFICE OF ENGINEERING TITLE: Strengthening & TECHNOLOGY. Rules Governing Dangerous Gear (ET Docket No. 21-232). SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at further strengthening national security in the equipment authorization program by closing component-level and supply-chain loopholes in the Commission's Covered List rules. The item would close the "component part loophole" by prohibiting authorization of devices that incorporate logic- bearing hardware components produced by Covered List entities; clarify that the marketing rules reach online marketplaces that list, distribute, or offer unauthorized equipment and require those marketplaces to display the FCC ID at the online point of sale; require full certification for any modification or permissive change made by a Covered List entity; and adopt a narrowed, statutorily- grounded definition of "critical infrastructure" in response to the D.C. Circuit's partial remand. The accompanying Further Notice would seek comment on bifurcating the Covered List into producer/ provider-based and production location- based categories, enhancing supply-chain transparency through hardware and software bills of materials, and strengthening enforcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

## Effects PRIA read

- 160 MHz of Upper C‑band Opening: benefit, medium. The FCC will make 160 megahertz of the Upper C‑band (3.98–4.2 GHz) available in the contiguous United States for flexible‑use, next‑generation terrestrial wireless services, with introduction of new wireless services that may begin in December 2030 and use a system of competitive bidding.
- Rebates for Radio Altimeter Retrofits: benefit, medium. The FCC item creates rebates to support the Federal Aviation Administration's radio altimeter retrofit requirements intended to address adjacent‑band coexistence as the Upper C‑band is repurposed.
- Easier Broadband Labels for Consumers: benefit, low. The FCC will modify broadband label rules to make labels easier to read and more useful for consumers while reducing compliance burdens on providers, so you should see clearer broadband pricing and performance labels when shopping for service.
- Stronger Robocall Database Rules: benefit, medium. The FCC will consider rules to strengthen the Robocall Mitigation Database and restrict access so that only legitimate, transparent, and accountable providers can gain or maintain access, with the goal of deterring illegal calls to consumers.
- Tighter Equipment Rules and FCC ID Display: benefit, medium. The FCC will close component‑level and supply‑chain loopholes for equipment authorization, expand marketing rules to reach online marketplaces, and require online marketplaces to display the FCC ID at the point of sale so consumers can see device authorization information when buying products onlin…

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- [2026-20676](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20676): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 2026-10-08
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- [2026-20486](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20486): Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-10-06

## Sources
- [2026-14674 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/21/2026-14674/sunshine-act-meeting-open-commission-meeting-wednesday-july-22-2026)
- [2026-14674 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-21/pdf/2026-14674.pdf)

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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14674 (as of 2026-07-28).