STEPHEN MOORE: Spectrum Sale Enhances Economic And National Security

One of the best, but unheralded features of the Big Beautiful Tax Cut passed in July was an authorization for the FCC to raise $88 to $100 billion through electronic spectrum auctions.

Selling this added 600 to 800 megahertz of band width to the private sector will enable the U.S. to expand 5G and even 6G technology and assure American dominance in internet, AI, and satellite technologies.

Donald Trump gets this and earlier this year posted on his Truth Social account that he supports “freeing up plenty of spectrum for auction” to assure America’s “status as the worldwide leader in WIFI, 5G and 6G.”

Every penny of the revenues from these spectrum sales will be allocated to reducing the federal deficit/debt.

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had proposed a spectrum deal twice as large raising as much as $200 billion and creating a wireless “pipeline” that would provide 5G reception and services to nearly all households and businesses.

Some of the opposition to the spectrum auction comes from the cable industry. They worry that wireless will replace cable hookups. And they are right. But this is because wireless is a superior 21st century technology.

The phone companies weren’t too happy when cell phones took over the market. We didn’t stop Apple’s quest to put a wireless phone in every customer’s palm.

AT&T believes the spectrum auction plus the immediate expensing for capital purchases in the Trump tax bill will increase wireless and fiber services to an additional 1 million customer locations annually starting in 2026 to meet “soaring consumer demand.”

What a great way to close the “digital divide” facing lower income families.