Lawmaker Will Soon Introduce Spectrum Legislation

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), former chairman of the Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee and current senior member of the Subcommittee, today hailed the Administration’s spectrum plan after President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum to commit the Federal government to make available 500 MHz of Federal and commercial spectrum over the next 10 years. The Memorandum is intended to promote investment and innovation and create jobs by meeting the growing demand for mobile and fixed broadband.

“Spectrum is the oxygen of the broadband ecosystem,” said Markey. “Today the Obama Administration took an important step toward creating thousands of jobs, unleashing a tidal wave of investment and keeping America at the forefront of the telecommunications revolution.”

“I will soon introduce a bill in Congress to free up 500 MHz of spectrum and look forward to working with the Administration on this issue, which is so vital to the future of our country."

 
Markey is the author of the mandate in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a National Broadband Plan. The Plan, which was released in March, included a recommendation to make 500 megahertz of spectrum newly available for broadband within 10 years.  To accomplish this goal, the Plan also recommended incentives and mechanisms to repurpose spectrum to more flexible uses so that proceeds can be shared in an equitable manner with current licensees, benefiting both spectrum holders and the American public.

Rep. Markey will soon introduce a bill to make available 500 MHz of spectrum to foster competitiveness in wireless broadband and spur economic growth and innovation. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, Rep. Markey was a leading advocate in the 1990s of re-purposing 200 MHz of spectrum to create the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th wireless provider, launching the revolution in wireless services. 

#  #  #