Senate Commerce Committee Passes Kerry's Spectrum Inventory Bill; Companion Bill in House

The Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday passed Senator John Kerry's spectrum inventory bill, which now goes on to the full Senate. The Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (S.649), introduced in March, would require the Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications & Information Administration to report back to Congress with an inventory of the spectrum they manage and how it is being used. In the House, Commerce Committee Chairmen Waxman and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Boucher, and Ranking Members Barton and Stearns introduced H.R. 3125, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act. This House bill requires the NTIA and the FCC to create a detailed inventory of radio spectrum bands, as well as a centralized portal or website to make the inventory available to the public. The NTIA and the FCC are also required to 1) submit an annual report to Congress updating the status of the inventory; 2) identify the least utilized blocks of spectrum inventoried; and 3) recommend whether any such spectrum should be reallocated. The bill was introduced with 14 original cosponsors, including Representatives Dingell, Markey, Doyle, Gordon, Space, McNerney, Inslee, Eshoo, Matsui, Stupak, Castor, Buyer, Welch and Upton.