FCC Faces Tough Call on Airwaves Crucial to 5G

The Federal Communications Commission faces some tough decisions as it considers how to open crucial airwaves to next-generation mobile networks while shielding TV programs from signal interference.

The agency is facing pressure from the wireless industry to make mid-band airwaves in the 3.7-4.2 gigahertz (GHz) band—also known as the C-band—available for 5G service, amid concerns that the U.S. is falling behind China and other countries in rolling out next-generation wireless networks.

But buffeted by competing interests among the wireless industry, satellite companies, pay-TV providers, and broadcasters, the FCC has yet to settle on a timeline—or an approach—for transitioning C-band airwaves ...