FCC Staff Extends Tribal 2.5 GHz Priority Window by a Month

FCC staff extended by a month an opportunity for tribes to file 2.5 GHz applications, until Sept. 2. That's less than the three additional months some sought.

The Wireless Bureau action on the filing window that opened Feb. 3 "strikes an appropriate balance between providing more time for additional Tribal entities to apply and not unduly delaying the grant of licenses to those that have already applied," said a late morning announcement Friday. "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that it is appropriate to extend the application deadline by 30 days,” said Chairman Ajit Pai. “Much longer extension would substantially delay our award of licenses to Tribal entities." With "the simplified application process as well as the extensive outreach done by Commission staff, a lengthy extension of the deadline is unnecessary, as evidenced by the large number of applications," he added.

More than 200 tribal entities filed applications, the bureau said. The announcement materials are here.