House Panel Approves Spectrum Bills

The Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet approved, by voice vote, H.R. 3125, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act, and H.R. 3019, Spectrum Relocation Improvement Act of 2009. The bills were forwarded to full House Commerce Committee.

The only amendment to either bill was a substitute amendment to H.R. 3125 authored by Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA). Among the changes in the amendment, which was adopted by voice vote, were provisions strengthening protections for spectrum users who fear disclosure of their usage information could harm national security. The bill previously would have only allowed Federal agencies to object to disclosure of their spectrum use. Boucher's amendment also added language that would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Federal Communications Commission to update and maintain the national spectrum inventory on a regular basis, including making note of spectrum auctions and any manner of frequency license transfers or reassignments.

The Spectrum Relocation Improvement Act would hasten the process by which spectrum users clear bands when directed so new licensees could take possession of spectrum that had previously been won at auction. The bill seeks to address delays by Federal agencies in clearing bands of spectrum purchased by T-Mobile to build out the carrier's 3G network. The carrier has reported numerous delays by Federal agencies which cite national security concerns in refusing to release the spectrum.