Five House Commerce Democrats Back Pallone's Spectrum Bill
The spectrum bill from House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., got support from five committee Democrats, Pallone said in a news release Tuesday. Pallone introduced the Small Business Access to Spectrum Act (HR-1506) last month, initially with no…
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co-sponsors. New backers are Reps. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina; Yvette Clarke of New York; Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico; Doris Matsui of California; and Bobby Rush of Illinois. Clarke is the only one of the four not formally listed as a co-sponsor yet. Spectrum’s finite nature compels the FCC to “update its spectrum auction rules to ensure a competitive bidding process and that small businesses are able to compete for spectrum,” said Matsui, co-chairwoman of the Congressional Spectrum Caucus, in a statement. Butterfield heads the Congressional Black Caucus and said the bill “reminds us of the importance of the DE [designated entity] program and the timely reform of its rules” and underscored the importance of making sure “small businesses, and those owned by women and minorities have the chance to secure ownership opportunities in the burgeoning wireless marketplace.” Butterfield wants to “preserve and strengthen this program ahead of the spectrum incentive auction,” he said.