FCC Sets April 2027 Start for C-Band Auction

The Federal Communications Commission has set a timetable for Auction 115 of upper C-band spectrum, beginning April 27, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Telecommunications

FCC Sets April 2027 Start for C-Band Auction

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The FCC's Public Notice lays out a series of deadlines leading to the kickoff of Auction 115 on April 27, 2027, offering 160MHz of upper C-band spectrum. The agency declined requests from CTIA, T-Mobile and AT&T to push back the short-form application deadline.

Why it matters

The auction is tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which requires at least 100MHz to 180MHz of upper C-band spectrum to be auctioned by July 4, 2027. The FCC says starting in April keeps the sale on track to meet that statutory deadline.

The Public Notice offers 160MHz of upper C-band spectrum in eight 20MHz-wide blocks by partial economic areas across the contiguous U.S. and Washington, DC, against a legal minimum of 100MHz to 180MHz to be auctioned by July 4, 2027. Final bid totals and the full roster of bidders remain unknown until the auction runs.

The players

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC is the U.S. independent agency that regulates interstate and international communications and manages the nation's radio spectrum allocations.

AT&T

AT&T is one of the largest U.S. wireless carriers and is projected to bid in the upper C-band auction.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is a major U.S. wireless carrier that, with CTIA and AT&T, asked the FCC to delay the short-form application deadline.

Verizon

Verizon is a major U.S. wireless carrier that is expected to be among the bidders in Auction 115.

CTIA

CTIA is the trade association representing the U.S. wireless communications industry, which lobbied the FCC to push back the application deadline.

The details

Licenses will be issued for 15-year renewable terms, and winners who fail to meet buildout and performance benchmarks will lose their licenses automatically without further Commission action. Upfront payments are due March 19, 2027, after the short-form application window closes January 20, and a mock auction is scheduled for April 21.

January 6, 2027: Short-form application filing window opens.
January 20, 2027: Short-form application filing window closes.
March 19, 2027: Upfront payments due.
April 21, 2027: Mock auction scheduled.
April 27, 2027: Auction 115 kickoff.

Legislative Deadline

The auction is the FCC's implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which requires 100MHz to 180MHz of upper C-band spectrum to be auctioned by July 4, 2027. The April 27 kickoff leaves the agency time to finish within that statutory window.

Consumers may see the effects of this auction in future wireless network coverage and capacity, since carriers that win spectrum will need to meet buildout benchmarks. The auction itself does not change current service or prices.

The takeaway

The auction's timeline is fixed by a 2027 statutory deadline, so the spectrum's eventual use will depend on which carriers win licenses and how quickly they build networks. Watch the January and March filing dates if you want to follow how bidders commit.

What happens next

Short-form applications open January 6, 2027, and close January 20, 2027, with upfront payments due March 19, 2027. A mock auction is set for April 21, 2027, ahead of the April 27, 2027 kickoff.