H.R. 651 — Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025

This section directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information (NTIA), in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to identify at least 2,500 megahertz of spectrum in the covered band (i.e., 1.3-13.2 gigahertz frequencies allocated for Federal use or shared Federal and non-Federal use) for reallocation for non-Federal use, shared Federal and non-Federal use, or a combination thereof, including at least 1,250 megahertz for full-power commercial licensed use cases (i.e., flexible use wireless broadband services with base station power levels sufficient for high-power, high-density, and wide-area commercial mobile services); NTIA must complete the initial 1,250 megahertz identification within two years of enactment and the remainder within five years. The section further requires the FCC (1) to auction at least 1,250 megahertz of identified spectrum for full-power commercial licensed use cases, completing auctions for at least 600 megahertz within three years of enactment and the remainder within six years; (2) to make at least 125 megahertz available on an unlicensed basis within two years; and (3) to make any remaining identified spectrum available for licensed or unlicensed use within eight years. (Thus, auction proceeds must cover 110 percent of Federal relocation or sharing costs pursuant to existing law.) In addition, the section (1) amends FCC spectrum auction authority under section 309(j)(11) of the Communications Act of 1934 to expire on September 30, 2027 (from March 9, 2023), and on the date eight years after enactment for spectrum in the covered band; and (2) requires NTIA and FCC reports to congressional committees on spectrum identification progress, including analyses of identified spectrum, coordination with Federal entities, and operations assessments.

This section revises congressional notification timelines applicable to the Spectrum Relocation Fund (47 U.S.C. 928)—which reimburses federal agencies for costs incurred when vacating spectrum reallocated for nonfederal use—by reducing them to 15 days (from 30 days in three instances and from 60 days in one instance). The section further expands the definition of comparable capability for such relocation reimbursements (47 U.S.C. 923(g)(3)) by (1) authorizing costs for state-of-the-art systems and equipment with additional functions if they enable reallocation of significantly more valuable spectrum from federal to exclusive nonfederal or shared use (provided the costs do not jeopardize reallocation), and (2) striking the requirement that any increased functionality be incidental.