McMorris Rodgers leads bipartisan letter calling on FCC to clear auctioned spectrum on time

A bipartisan letter led by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on Monday called for the 600 MHz spectrum recently offered through the Federal Communications Commission’s broadcast incentive auction to be cleared by the scheduled date of July 3, 2020.

The FCC auctioned the spectrum to allow for the repurposing of broadcast airwaves for nationwide wireless mobile use given the huge demand for connected mobile devices.

McMorris Rodgers and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that the buildout resulting from the FCC’s spectrum auction would help bridge the digital divide that leaves many Americans in rural areas without access to broadband internet.

A bipartisan group of 54 lawmakers signed the letter.

“Reliable broadband internet provides significant employment, educational, health and economic opportunities to those who have access. However, too many Americans remain unserved or underserved,” the letter said.

“One out of every 10 Americans lacks broadband internet access with most of these 35 million individuals residing in rural communities. Deploying a robust broadband infrastructure across the country is not just a matter of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth here at home. Ultimately, it’s a matter of economic necessity in today’s globally-connected world,” the lawmakers wrote.

Quickly clearing the 600 MHz spectrum is a critical component of delivering high-speed internet to rural areas, the letter states. The lawmakers expressed concerns that any delays to the FCC’s 39-month repacking timeline could hold up billions of dollars in private sector investments needed to build out the infrastructure needed to close this digital divide. According to the FCC, repacking involves reorganizing and assigning channels to the remaining broadcast television stations in order to create blocks of cleared spectrum suitable for other uses.

“Deployment of the infrastructure and technology as a result of the auction will support millions of jobs and generate billions in economic development, much of which will benefit rural America,” the letter states. “Additionally, rapid deployment of this spectrum is critical for the U.S. to continue its leadership in technology investment and innovation by providing an on-ramp for 5G network deployment.”