Key Takeaways
- •The subcommittee established that the U.S. must finalize unified spectrum positions immediately to prevent China from using its WRC-27 host status to undermine American economic and national security.
- •James Lewis (Senior Vice President, Center for Strategic and International Studies) stated that China is using satellite filings to challenge U.S. dominance in space and "Starlink envy" to restrict operations.
- •Sen. Fischer (R-NE) asked Grace Koh (Vice President of Government Affairs, Ciena) about internal divisions, and Koh warned that unaligned domestic positions undermine U.S. credibility during international negotiations.
- •Sen. Lujan (D-NM) criticized the administration's global strategy as "reckless," while Sen. Fischer (R-NE) focused on the necessity of interagency coordination to protect Department of Defense spectrum assets.
- •Congress will oversee the State Department and NTIA to ensure the U.S. builds early international coalitions and maintains leadership in the critical satellite and 6G wireless sectors.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media convened on March 17, 2026, to examine United States preparations for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27). Chaired by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), the hearing focused on the strategic necessity of securing American leadership in global spectrum policy, particularly as the upcoming conference will be hosted in Shanghai, China. The subcommittee explored the technical, geopolitical, and security challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party’s influence over the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the critical need for a unified U.S. interagency position to protect national security and economic interests.
Key Testimony
The witness testimony emphasized that WRC-27 will be a pivotal battleground for the future of wireless technology, including 6G and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. Ambassador Grace Koh, Vice President of Government Affairs at Ciena, stressed that the U.S. must begin preparations immediately to overcome the "home-field advantage" China will enjoy as host. She highlighted the operational risks in Shanghai, including cybersecurity threats to delegation devices and potential constraints on connectivity. Ambassador Stephen Lang, Senior Advisor at Crest Hill Advisors, argued that the U.S. must accelerate its preparation process and appoint a Head of Delegation at least 12 to 18 months in advance to build international coalitions. Dr. James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warned that China is using the ITU to challenge U.S. dominance in space, noting that China has filed for thousands of satellite slots to rival systems like SpaceX’s Starlink. Michael Calabrese, Director of the Wireless Future Project at New America, focused on the "superband" for Wi-Fi, urging the U.S. to protect the 6 GHz and 7 GHz bands from being repurposed for licensed cellular use (IMT), which would benefit Chinese equipment manufacturers like Huawei.
Policy Proposals
A central policy discussion involved the 7.4 to 8.4 GHz spectrum band. Chair Fischer and Mr. Calabrese noted that this band was specifically protected from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction authority by the "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed the previous year to safeguard Department of Defense (DOD) radar and satellite operations. Witnesses agreed that the U.S. delegation must not advocate for international positions that contradict this domestic law. Furthermore, the subcommittee discussed the "Rip and Replace" program, which provided $4.8 billion to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from U.S. networks, as a model for protecting domestic infrastructure from foreign interference.
Overview
The hearing revealed a bipartisan consensus on the threat posed by China, though partisan differences emerged regarding broader foreign policy. Ranking Member Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) criticized the Trump administration’s "America First" agenda, arguing that withdrawing from international treaties and organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) risks self-imposed isolation that could weaken the U.S. position at the ITU. Sen. Lujan also noted that China secured the WRC-27 hosting rights during the previous Trump term after a narrow vote where the Republic of Rwanda withdrew its bid. Conversely, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) focused on the immediate surveillance threats in Shanghai, with Sen. Moreno drawing parallels to the automotive industry, warning that Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) serve as mobile collection devices for the Chinese state.
Industry Impact
The impact of WRC-27 extends across multiple sectors. The satellite industry, represented by mentions of SpaceX and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, faces regulatory hurdles as China seeks to impose national approval requirements for satellite operations—a move Dr. Lewis characterized as an attempt to "shut off Starlink." The telecommunications sector is caught in a struggle over the 6 GHz band, where the U.S. leads in Wi-Fi equipment but faces pressure from China to shift toward cellular standards that favor Huawei. Additionally, federal agencies including NASA, NOAA, and the FAA rely on these spectrum negotiations to protect weather monitoring, climate observation, and aviation safety systems.
The primary organizations discussed included the People's Republic of China, which was characterized as a predatory competitor and a surveillance threat. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was described as the essential but flawed venue for these negotiations, currently led by American Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) were identified as the core domestic agencies that must reconcile competing private and federal spectrum needs. The Department of State was tasked with leading the diplomatic outreach to regional groups like the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) to build a voting bloc against Chinese proposals.
Overview
The hearing concluded with a call for the administration to name a Head of Delegation immediately. Witnesses recommended that the U.S. host a "spectrum summit" to train allied delegations and solidify a "Region 2" (Americas) consensus before arriving in Shanghai. Chair Fischer emphasized that the U.S. cannot afford to arrive divided, as the rules set at WRC-27 will govern the global digital economy for decades.
Transcript
The hearing to order. Welcome everyone and thank you for being here today to discuss the United States preparation for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference. The World Radiocommunication Conference convened by the International Telecommunication Union every four years is one of the most consequential global forays into spectrum policy. The decisions made at these conferences shape the international rules governing how radio frequency spectrum is allocated and shared around the world. Those decisions have far-reaching implications for United States economic competitiveness, national security, scientific research, and the continued leadership of the United States in wireless and satellite technologies. Next year's conference will be hosted in Shanghai and the Chinese Communist Party will certainly be prepared to advance positions meant to undermine the United States leadership. The United States must enter these negotiations with a strong position. This requires a tightly coordinated interagency process. This process, which is led by NTIA, begins with federal agencies providing technical input and operational perspectives on each agenda item under consideration for WRC-27. The United States final position should reflect the full range of national spectrum interest. Among agencies, the Department of Defense plays a particularly significant role. DOD is the largest federal user of radio frequency spectrum within the federal government and many of its most critical capabilities, including satellite communication, radars, radars, I had a dog named Radar, radars and missile warning systems depend on reliable and interference-free spectrum assets. As the work agenda looks to address space-related services and satellite operations, the intersection between international spectrum policy and national security becomes even more pronounced. National security missions cannot simply be engineered around certain commercial spectrum priorities. This is exactly why Congress exempted 7.4 to 8.4 gigahertz band from FCC auction authority last year in addition to the lower three band. Other federal agencies also contribute essential expertise to the interagency process. NASA and NOAA depend on spectrum for scientific satellites and weather monitoring systems that are crucial for forecasting and climate observation. The FAA relies on spectrum for aviation safety and navigation systems that support the integrity of the global aviation network. Each of these missions must be carefully considered as the United States evaluates proposed regulatory changes at the international level where they will inevitably impact the domestic use of America's airways. The challenge and the responsibility of the interagency process is to reconcile these diverse needs and translate them into a cohesive position that advances American innovation and resilience. This unified position will allow the United States to engage effectively with regional partners, build coalitions with allied nations, and advocate confidently for outcomes that protect United States interest. Those interests are substantial. The regulatory frameworks adopted at the conference will influence how the next generation of satellite constellations operate, influence the coexistence of emerging communication services, and influence how spectrum policy supports both economic growth and national security. That is why preparation for WRC-27 is not a short-term exercise. Today's committee hearing examines how best to support the interagency in the coming months. We all share the goal of advancing U.S. leadership in spectrum and in space. Thank you and I look forward to your testimonies and now I recognize my friend Ranking Member Lujan for your opening statement.
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