Goal of wireless legislation is to reallocate federal spectrum for commercial uses
WASHINGTON – On June 18, a group of Republican senators reintroduced the Wireless Innovation Act, which is meant to reallocate federally held wireless spectrum to push innovation.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) renewed the push to get the Wireless Innovation Act passed. The goal of the legislation, according to the document, is: “To reallocate federal government-held spectrum for commercial use, to promote wireless innovation and enhance wireless communications, and for other purposes.”
The bill mandates that the Federal Communications Commission free up more spectrum than what is currently available. Among its tenents is a mandate that would require the National Telecommunications Information Administration to identify and reallocate 200 megahertz of spectrum below 5 GHz, which is currently allocated primarily to the federal government for commercial mobile use (140 megahertz for licensed use; 40 megahertz for shared; 20 megahertz for unlicensed use).
Opening up more of the 5 GHz band to commercial use is something the FCC is already considering in the form of LTE-Unlicensed small cells and other technology, which operates in the 5 GHz band. LTE-U is facing some backlash because it uses the same spectrum as Wi-Fi.
Upon reintroducing the bill, Rubio said, “As wireless broadband and Internet-connected devices continue to grow, the U.S. must continue to lead the world in wireless innovation and technology by making sure the federal government is using its spectrum in an efficient and responsible manner and freeing up additional spectrum for commercial use.”
Rubio initially introduced the bill last year, with requests for the same amount of spectrum to be opened up for telecom services.
The support of lawmakers, especially important players like Rubio, who is a potential presidential or vice presidential candidate, has elated the telecom industry, which has a well-demonstrated and insatiable appetite for spectrum.
“With this legislation, Sens. Rubio, Wicker, Ayotte, Gardner and Johnson make clear their commitment to continued innovation and American leadership in mobile broadband,” noted CTIA. “By creating a spectrum pipeline and encouraging more transparency and efficiency among federal spectrum users, this forward-looking legislation sets the stage for bringing additional – and much-needed – spectrum to market and spurring investment and economic growth.”
Steven Berry, president of CCA, a CTIA counter-part comprised of smaller and regional carriers said, “I thank Sens. Rubio, Wicker, Ayotte, Gardner and Johnson for their focus on these important issues and for understanding the need to ensure wireless carriers have access to as much spectrum as possible,” said Steve Berry, president and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association. “Wireless provides countless opportunities and benefits to consumers, public safety and the economy, and CCA fully supports working with federal users to free up as much spectrum as possible and maximize the use of this limited resource. Wireless is an important part of our daily lives and the “Internet of Things” is here – connecting consumers and things on a scale that was once unimaginable. To keep this excitement and innovation driving ahead, spectrum access and other policies to expand mobile broadband services are critical to support wireless competition. I thank the Senators for reintroducing the bill, and we look forward to working with Congress as this legislation moves forward.”
