House Communications Subcommittee Members Hold Robust Bipartisan Discussion of US Spectrum Policy

The House Communications Subcommittee discussed the future of US spectrum policy. With ever increasing demand for this finite resource, members explored how the federal government can help meet America’s spectrum needs. “There’s no question that mobile technology is one of the key components of the economy of both today and of the future,” said Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “Time and again, as the country that pioneered spectrum auctions once, and is in the process of doing it again, the world looks to the United States to lead spectrum policy and answer the challenge of meeting spectrum demand. We must continue to rise to that challenge.”

Members reviewed the Federal Communication Commission’s progress toward the first-of-its-kind Incentive Auction. Members raised a number of questions about the auction including what is being done to ensure broadcasters choosing not to participate are not adversely affected, cross border coordination of spectrum use, and ensuring that small businesses, including those owned by women and minority groups, have the ability to compete in the auction. Reps Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) discussed their work to increase the efficiency of federal spectrum use, and reintroduced the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act. The bipartisan legislation, HR 1641, aims to incentivize federal agencies to free up additional spectrum for commercial use by relocating and consolidating spectrum holdings in return for a portion of the auction revenues as compensation. “By encouraging federal agencies to make additional spectrum available, we can invest in innovation and ensure spectrum is available to meet the demands of our critical emergency needs and commercial uses,” said Rep Guthrie.