R Street Institute

Policy Studies Broadband Regulation

The FCC’S 3.7–4.2 GHz Spectrum Band Proceeding: Key Facts and Analysis

by Joe Kane
Sept 5, 2018
Download PDF Print

Key Points

The 3.7-4.2 GHz band is very likely not being used as productively as possible, and some of it should be reallocated to wireless broadband services.
The current rules by which this band is allocated make reallocating it especially difficult. 
The FCC should seek to facilitate a market in the band so that consumers benefit from its more productive use.

We all want our TVs and radios to work, but we also want faster, more reliable Internet that works at home and on the move. The 3.7–4.2 GHz band is an ideal candidate to provide all these services but tradeoffs are omnipresent.

Image credit: Aha-Soft

Featured Publications