U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on Monday unveiled bipartisan legislation that would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to estimate the value of the electromagnetic spectrum used by federal entities.
“This legislation will bring transparency to the federal government’s spectrum holdings by reporting on the commercial value of their spectrum,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “This is the first step towards incentivizing more responsible and efficient use by federal agencies and, in turn, lead to more spectrum being commercially available in the future.”
The congresswoman on Sept. 14 sponsored the Government Spectrum Valuation Act of 2020, H.R. 8244, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY). The legislation would require that NTIA conduct estimates for the covered bands between 225 megahertz and 33 gigahertz (GHz) not later than one year after the bill’s enactment date and every three years thereafter; 33 GHz and 66 GHz not later than two years after the enactment date and every three years thereafter; and 66 GHz and 95 GHz not later than three years after enactment and every three years thereafter, according to the text of the bill.
While the federal government has taken steps to repurpose and auction more spectrum over the years, Rep. McMorris Rodgers said it still holds more than two-thirds of the nation’s usable wireless spectrum.
“Continuing to free up wireless spectrum is essential for maintaining and expanding American leadership in next-generation wireless technologies,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers, who serves as Republican Leader on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. “It’s a critical component in beating the Chinese in the race to 5G, expanding WiFi capacity, and deploying broadband networks in rural America.”
Spectrum is “a crucial resource to promote innovation to meet consumer demand in a post-COVID America as many work and learn from home,” added Rep. Clarke. “I am proud to join my colleague, Rep. McMorris Rodgers, in taking this step to achieve more transparent conversations about the opportunities of federal spectrum use.”