An unheralded feature of the Big Beautiful Tax Cut bill was authorizing the FCC to raise $88 billion through electromagnetic spectrum auctions. The money is to be used to reduce the deficit. We’ve been advocating for this for a long time.

Selling the 800 megahertz of spectrum will enable the U.S. to expand 5G and even 6G technology and assure American continued dominance in internet, AI, and satellite technologies.

Trump gets this and supports “freeing up plenty of spectrum for auction” to assure America’s “status as the worldwide leader in WIFI, 5G and 6G.”

This will also bring 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.

But now Republican Deb Fischer of Nebraska has inserted language into the National Defense Authorization Act that would effectively give the Pentagon a veto to block spectrum auctions – which they are likely to use to stop or delay the sales.

Selling sections of the spectrum would likely enhance Americans’ safety by improving the capabilities of first responders. Meanwhile, China is intent on winning the next tech race and has allocated substantially more of their spectrum to the tech sector than we have.

Fischer’s amendment is bad for our security and our prosperity.