Auction of Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) Licenses; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 113
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) announces an auction of 200 licenses in the 1695- 1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands (collectively, the "AWS-3" bands). The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), jointly with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), also seeks comment in this document on the procedures to be used for this auction, which is designated as Auction 113.
What this rule actually says
The FCC is auctioning off wireless spectrum licenses in three frequency bands (1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz) and asking for public feedback on how the auction should work. This is about who gets to use specific radio frequencies—think of it like the government dividing up beachfront property and deciding the bidding rules. The proposed auction is called "Auction 113" and affects wireless infrastructure, not software or AI applications directly.
Who it applies to
This regulation does NOT apply to most indie AI founders. Here's the breakdown:
- If you're building AI software (medical scribes, hiring assistants, chatbots, content tools): this doesn't affect you.
- If you're running a wireless network or telecom service: this might apply. You'd need spectrum licenses to legally operate radio transmitters.
- If you're a hardware company needing to transmit data over these specific frequencies: check if your use case falls in the 1695-1780 MHz or 2155-2180 MHz bands (unlikely for most consumer AI products).
- Jurisdiction: US-only regulation. If you operate exclusively outside the US, irrelevant.
- User data: This rule has nothing to do with collecting, storing, or processing user data—no GDPR/CCPA overlap.
The only relevant scenario: you've built an AI system that requires its own wireless network infrastructure to function (extremely rare for indie founders).
What founders need to do
Action items: essentially none. If you somehow do need spectrum:
- Check if you're affected (2 hours): Does your product require operating radio transmitters in these bands? If no, stop here.
- Monitor the FCC auction schedule (ongoing, 15 min/month): If you're bidding for spectrum, the FCC website will publish auction dates and rules. Set a calendar reminder for Auction 113.
- Budget for legal/telecom expertise (1-2 weeks): Spectrum auctions require specialized knowledge. Hire a telecom consultant before attempting to bid.
- Submit comments if you have concerns (2-3 days): The FCC is accepting public feedback on bidding procedures until the deadline listed in the notice. Only do this if the auction rules would directly impact your business model.
Bottom line
Ignore this unless you're building infrastructure or wireless hardware—if you're shipping an AI app, this regulation is completely irrelevant to you.