FCC Finalizes Expansion of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a final rule on March 31, 2026, realigning the 896–901/935–940 MHz band to enable full ten-megahertz broadband deployment, which officially goes into effect on April 30, 2026.
This action provides increased spectrum capacity and lower latency for private wireless networks operated by utilities, railroads, and other critical infrastructure sectors.
The expanded bandwidth facilitates mission-critical applications such as smart-grid modernization, industrial Internet of Things (IoT) actuators, and secure push-to-talk voice services.
On the ground, it enables enterprise entities to consolidate disparate narrowband systems into robust, high-speed LTE or 5G private networks without mandatory relocation of current narrowband incumbents.
The rule establishes a voluntary, negotiation-based framework allowing 900 MHz licensees to transition from legacy narrowband or 3/3 MHz configurations to a paired 5/5 MHz broadband license.
This realignment creates three distinct licensing options on a county-by-county basis: legacy narrowband interleaved channels, a six-megahertz broadband segment with reserved narrowband channels, or a full ten-megahertz broadband block.
To prevent unearned benefits, the FCC adopted mandatory "anti-windfall" provisions requiring applicants to return existing spectrum holdings or provide monetary compensation to the U.S. Treasury based on updated 2020 Census valuations.
The regulation applies to all 900 MHz Business and Industrial/Land Transportation (B/ILT) and Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) licensees across the United States.
Transition to 5/5 MHz broadband is governed by county legal boundaries as of January 1, 2017, and remains strictly optional based on private agreements between prospective broadband licensees and incumbents.
While the rule permits mandatory relocation in the 3/3 MHz segment under certain conditions, relocation from the narrowband segments remains entirely voluntary to protect complex systems and long-standing safety operations.
