Washington, D.C. — [May 15, 2025] — The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) C-Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse today announced the planned conclusion of its operations by the end of June 2025, marking a significant milestone in the FCC’s efforts to expand C-band spectrum use for 5G. The announcement confirms the C-Band Payment Clearinghouse Work Completion, as the entity declares it has “completed all substantive functions required” under the FCC’s 2020 order.
In coordination with this development, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued a public request for comment on the clearinghouse’s proposed wind-down plan. The Bureau confirmed that nearly all reimbursement claims have been fully processed, with only one remaining under appeal — a claim filed by Anuvu Licensing Holding. This final matter, the Bureau notes, can be resolved directly by the Commission.
Comments on the proposed wind-down plan are due by May 29, 2025.
Established in February 2020, the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse (RPC) was tasked with overseeing the disbursement of $9.7 billion in accelerated relocation payments and processing reimbursement claims for satellite service operators transitioning out of the 3.7–4.2 GHz C-band spectrum. The move followed the FCC’s decision to auction 280 MHz of this spectrum for “flexible use,” including 5G deployments.
To date, the RPC has approved and invoiced 4,417 claims totaling more than $3.3 billion, and has fully distributed the $9.7 billion in accelerated relocation payments funded by overlay license auction proceeds. In its May 13 filing, the RPC stated that it will finalize all payments, cover administrative costs, refund any remaining account balances, and submit a final quarterly report before officially concluding operations.
Of the total claims submitted, the RPC denied 165 claims amounting to more than $136.9 million. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau upheld the denial of Anuvu’s claim, which is now under review by the full Commission. The RPC clarified that it has no further role in resolving the appeal.
In 2023, the Bureau established a February 2024 deadline for final claim submissions to the RPC.
As the FCC looks ahead to a potential future auction of spectrum in the upper C-band (3.98–4.2 GHz), restoring congressional authority for general spectrum auctions remains a priority.
For more information and to submit comments on the wind-down plan, please visit FCC.gov.
