Washington — Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to better account for the resource fueling internet access — broadband spectrum. The bill requires that every year the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, along with the FCC and Office of Management and Budget, would have to determine the commercial value of spectrum allocated to each federal agency. Then, each agency would also report the market value of the spectrum they have been allocated in the President’s budget and their financial statements.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association supports the bill because it will help assess the value of government-held spectrum and advance the process of reallocating spectrum for more productive, commercial uses.
CCIA represents both Internet services companies and Internet Service Providers. The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“Spectrum is critical in the race to 5G. Next generation 5G broadband networks will require additional spectrum for uses that will power innovation and U.S. competitiveness. Yet much of it is held by the public sector — the federal government. It is important that federal agencies properly account for their holdings of large swaths of public airwaves. We commend Senators Lee and Markey for attempting to clear the air and promote higher-value uses of spectrum.”