Sens. Fischer, Rounds: Setting the record straight on how we protected defense spectrum in the 5G era

As Congress undertook the budget reconciliation process in recent months, a flashpoint emerged around authorizing new auctions of wireless spectrum frequencies currently allocated for exclusive federal use.

Some telecommunications advocates painted the Department of Defense as a roadblock to progress in America’s race toward technology innovation and next-generation wireless networks. Some media commentary claimed that federal agencies weren’t putting their spectrum to good use.

That portrayal is inaccurate and misleading. The Department of Defense is not only utilizing its spectrum bands, it requires these bands to keep Americans safe.

Key portions of the 3, 7, and 8 GHz bands — specifically 3.10-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz — enable our missile defense radars and sensors to shield the homeland and track incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles. Importantly, these bands are essential to keeping our troops safe and supporting satellite surveillance that underpins our military’s operational planning, targeting, and force protection missions.

Simply put, these are not optional functions. Furthermore, the portions of spectrum these systems use cannot be replicated in other bands of electromagnetic spectrum.

The unique nature of the physics of those bands is what enables them to protect our homeland from devastating strategic weapons, and our forward-deployed troops from attacks like the missiles Iran fired at Al Udeid Air Base last month.

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As members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, we are acutely aware of what’s at stake. This is why we worked to secure – for the first time in history – a carve-out for these specific spectrum bands from general Federal Communications Commission auction authority. We are proud this responsible solution was written into the final version of the reconciliation bill, which the president signed into law on July 4.

Previous reconciliation drafts addressed national security spectrum risks in name only, without real guardrails. And the bill that cleared the House did not clearly and consistently protect sensitive military frequencies. That gap left room for confusion and risk, which is why we raised the alarm and continued working with our colleagues until those protections were ironclad.

The text we voted on, now law, reflects and honors our hard-fought agreement. It will renew the FCC’s authority until 2034 and make 800 megahertz of new spectrum auctionable, while preventing certain frequencies under Pentagon control from being shared with commercial users during this period.

This framework will supercharge America’s next-generation connectivity while preserving the integrity of our defense systems. In addition, we’ve laid the groundwork for long-term defense innovation, including critical projects like President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield.

As US senators who represent predominantly rural states, we want to see communications networks expanded, new jobs created, and American wireless ingenuity unleashed for mobile networks, Wi-Fi, and beyond. But it’s entirely possible to pursue economic and technological leadership without compromising the systems that keep our military lethal and Americans safe.

The issue is settled for the next decade. Down the road, we will revisit these issues. And when that time comes, while we recognize that technology will evolve and our security challenges will change, one thing must remain constant: national security is not negotiable.

This time, we’re proud to say we struck the right balance: unleashing American innovation without sacrificing our national defense.

Sen. Deb Fischer represents the state of Nebraska. She serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. She also serves on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media.

Sen. Mike Rounds represents the state of South Dakota and serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee — where he chairs the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity — and the Select Committee on Intelligence.