Reps Form Congressional Spectrum Caucus

Already co-chairs of the House Commerce Committee's Federal Spectrum Working Group, Reps Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) have taken their spectrum policy advocacy to a new level, forming the Congressional Spectrum Caucus.

"Spectrum, a key component of innovation, is facing an increasingly high demand while in limited supply," said Rep Guthrie. "The caucus will attempt to educate our colleagues on the importance of spectrum policy and identify ways to increase access to and better utilize spectrum." The pair have already teamed up on two bills to promote and incentivize sharing of federal agency spectrum. The National Telecommunications & Information Administration has identified more than 400 MHZ of federal spectrum that could be shared or reclaimed. The White House has directed both the FCC and NTIA to hunt up spectrum for wireless broadband as a way to speed deployment and increase capacity. Chip Pickering, CEO of Comptel (competitive telecommunications carriers) and a former member of the Commerce Committee welcomed the spotlight.