President expected to sign Joyce-sponsored 5G SALE Act into law

Legislation led by U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) to expand 5G broadband to America’s rural communities is set to be signed into law soon by President Joe Biden.

“I’m proud to see this legislation pass unanimously and I look forward to seeing it signed into law,” Rep. Joyce said on Dec. 13.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 11 approved the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement (5G SALE) Act, S. 2787, which the U.S. Senate previously approved on Sept. 21. The Senate on Wednesday presented the bill to the president for his signature to enact it.

S. 2787, introduced on Sept. 13 by U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), is the identical bill to H.R. 5677, which Rep. Joyce sponsored on Sept. 22. 

The measure will require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release previously auctioned bands of the electromagnetic spectrum to expand access to 5G broadband to rural communities, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“Government red tape should never stand in the way of bringing high-speed internet to our rural communities,” said Rep. Joyce. “As we look to provide resources for remote work, remote learning, and telehealth care for patients, the 5G SALE Act will be a vital tool for deploying fast and reliable internet access.”

Previously, the FCC sold about 8,000 licenses to grant internet providers access to America’s broadband spectrum, providing companies the only legal path to use the radio waves that bring 5G internet to customers, the summary says. But despite internet providers having fully purchased the frequencies necessary to deliver 5G internet, the FCC has stated it is unable to issue the licenses.

The 5G Sale Act will grant the FCC a one-time, temporary authority to issue licenses purchased in auctions in order to speed the delivery of 5G technology to rural communities, states the summary.