Brendan Carr by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A coalition of free-market organizations led by ATR has sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr applauding the successful return of spectrum auctions and urging continued progress on this critical pro-growth policy.

In the July 9, 2026 letter, Americans for Tax Reform and 15 other groups praised the recently concluded Auction 113 (AWS-3), which generated $3.57 billion in revenue. This marked the first spectrum auction since the Commission’s authority expired in March 2023.

“Spectrum auctions have generated over $230 billion in non-tax revenue while unlocking several times that number in private sector investment since they replaced ‘beauty contests’ in 1994.”

The letter notes that the Working Families Tax Cut is projected to raise at least $86 billion — and potentially as much as $100 billion — in additional revenue, while delivering more than $400 billion in consumer benefits through expanded wireless capacity and innovation.

The groups contrasted the previous administration’s five-year drought — during which not a single auction was held — with the rapid progress under President Trump and Chairman Carr. They specifically commended the speed with which Auction 113 moved from NPRM to Order, calling it one of the fastest in the 5G era.

The letter emphasizes that market-oriented spectrum allocation through auctions has proven far superior to the old “beauty contest” system of government picking winners. Making more government-held spectrum available to the private sector will drive competition, lower prices, and accelerate deployment of next-generation wireless services for American consumers.

The signatories — including the National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, American Commitment, Digital Liberty, and others — expressed strong support for Chairman Carr’s leadership and look forward to continued success with upcoming auctions, including the upper C-Band auction.

This letter underscores a key principle: when the government steps back and allows market mechanisms like spectrum auctions to work, consumers, taxpayers, and the broader economy all benefit.

To read the full coalition letter to Chairman Carr, visit here.