Wireless Groups Laud Stearns, Matsui Spectrum Bill to Auction 1755-1780 MHz Band
Reps. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., and Doris Matsui, D-Calif., introduced a bill Thursday to require the FCC to pair for commercial auction the 1755-1780 MHz band with the 2155-2180 MHz band. Stearns said the Efficient Use of Government Spectrum Act would bring more spectrum to the commercial market and raise $12 billion for the U.S. Treasury while offering the Defense Department protections for reallocation. Wireless groups hailed the bill, which they called an important step towards alleviating the spectrum crunch and bolstering the economy. The 1755 MHz band has long been a top target of carriers.
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The bill provides the Department of Defense and other federal agencies a five-year window to leave the band and offers reimbursements for planning costs and the acquisition of replacement systems. Defense is a large user of the band and the federal demand for spectrum is increasing due to the prevalence of advanced systems like drones. The bill offers provisions to allow for spectrum sharing in areas where the president determines it is “necessary to protect essential military capability."
The cost of relocating Defense spectrum would be covered by the Spectrum Relocation Fund, which would be funded by the proceeds from the future commercial auction of the 1755-1780 MHz band, according to the bill. The government already plans to auction the 2155-2180 MHz band for mobile broadband by February 2015. Matsui called the legislation a “win-win for consumers” that brings additional federal spectrum to auction for commercial wireless services and increases federal funds that could be used to build out the nation’s public safety interoperability network.
The bill “seeks to provide the necessary and responsible safeguards for [Defense] and other federal agencies to relocate, if necessary, by following the recommendations set forth in the March 2012 NTIA report.” NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling has said reallocating the 1755-1850 MHz band for wireless broadband would cost “too much” and take “too long.” A March NTIA report estimated that repurposing all 95 MHz of the 1755-1850 MHz band would cost $18 billion and take 10 years to clear.
NTIA is “taking a comprehensive look at the full 1755-1850 MHz band for industry use,” said an agency spokeswoman. “This approach still allows us to prioritize the lower 25 MHz and take a phased approach to making the spectrum available to wireless providers. We remain committed to maximizing the efficient use of this valuable resource and look forward to working with Congress and all stakeholders on this shared goal.”
CTIA welcomed the legislation and advocated for the expeditious reallocation of additional underutilized federal spectrum. “Freeing spectrum like the 1755 to 1780 MHz band is key to helping ensure that the U.S. remains the world’s leader in the deployment of wireless broadband services,” said Vice President Jot Carpenter. The Rural Carrier Association called the bill an important step that will “benefit our economy and consumers while promoting competition and innovation throughout the wireless industry.” 4G Americas said the bill is an “ideal solution” to alleviating the “spectrum crisis” and a “necessary step” to bring more spectrum online and boost the economy.
T-Mobile said the bill is a “benefit for taxpayers” that maximizes revenue to the Treasury and frees much-needed spectrum for broadband services. CEA President Gary Shapiro hailed the legislation as “an important effort in reallocating our nation’s valuable spectrum for wireless broadband, while raising much-needed funds for the U.S. Treasury.” The 1755-1780 MHz band “represents key spectrum that our nation’s innovators need to deploy robust mobile broadband networks for the benefit of all Americans,” he said.