The FCC has initiated the selection process for a 4.9 GHz band manager, with a committee expected to be formed by December 28, 2026. This manager will oversee spectrum coordination and sharing agreements with the FirstNet Authority, impacting future public-safety broadband operations.
The appointment of a manager for this 50 MHz block is a critical step in optimizing spectrum for mission-critical video and data services. By establishing a central authority to coordinate with the FirstNet Authority and AT&T, the FCC aims to reduce interference for incumbent public-safety users while accelerating 5G adoption. This move signals a shift toward more structured spectrum sharing models that could influence how other mid-band frequencies are managed for specialized enterprise and government use cases. Watch for the committee's first meeting in January 2027 to signal the specific technical criteria required for the manager role.
The FCC's move to begin the 4.9 GHz band manager selection process follows the resolution of a legal challenge that had stalled the effort. Law360 reported on September 28, 2026 that the FCC took strides toward choosing a band manager after a court challenge was resolved, clearing the path for the commission to establish the selection committee by the end of December 2026.
The regulatory framework governing this selection traces back to the FCC's Seventh Report and Order (FCC 23-3), which established the nationwide Band Manager model. The Federal Register published the FCC's November 2024 rules specifying that the band manager would be eligible for a nationwide overlay license and authorized to enter a sharing agreement with FirstNet, permitting FirstNet to use unassigned 4.9 GHz spectrum for its nationwide public safety broadband network while protecting incumbent operations. The 4.9 GHz band has been persistently underutilized. A U.S. Court of Appeals opinion from July 2026 noted that as of October 2024, the FCC had issued just 3,676 licenses in the band, representing a small fraction of eligible organizations, with the FCC reporting in March 2018 that only 3.5 percent of potential licensees were actively using the spectrum.
The band manager model draws a direct parallel to the FirstNet Authority's structure, where Congress enabled non-public-safety secondary use of Band 14 spectrum and selected AT&T as the network contractor. IWCE's Urgent Communications reported that the FCC's 2023 Seventh Report and Order established three primary band manager responsibilities: frequency coordination, incentivizing 5G adoption, and facilitating secondary non-public-safety use. Industry sources cited APCO as the largest existing public-safety spectrum coordinator and noted the FirstNet Authority's experience in facilitating commercial technology adoption as relevant qualifications for the role.
The FCC has officially initiated the selection process for a 4.9 GHz band manager to oversee 50 MHz of public-safety spectrum. This appointment is critical for coordinating sharing agreements with the FirstNet Authority, reducing interference for incumbent users, and accelerating the adoption of 5G mission-critical video and data services.
The manager will hold the overlay license for the 4940 MHz to 4990 MHz band, coordinate sharing agreements with the FirstNet Authority, mediate interference disputes between incumbent licensees and FirstNet, and incentivize 5G adoption.
Nominations for the selection committee must be submitted to the FCC by October 28, 2026.
No, committee members are strictly prohibited from serving as the eventual band manager.
The 4.9 GHz band has been historically underutilized. The manager will help optimize the spectrum for mission-critical public-safety services and facilitate structured sharing with FirstNet to support 5G broadband.
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