Panel Backs Spectrum Bill
Legislation designed to avert a looming communications spectrum crisis that could derail the FCC's ambitious plan for nationwide broadband connectivity received swift approval Thursday by the House Energy and Commerce Communications, the Internet and Technology Subcommittee. The measure, approved by voice vote, would require the FCC and the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to make a thorough inventory of the nation's communications spectrum.
The agencies would report their findings to Congress and recommend which, if any, of the least-used blocks of spectrum can be reallocated for commercial use. "As more and more Americans use data-intensive smart phones and as services like mobile video emerge, the demand for spectrum to support these applications and devices will grow dramatically," Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., said.
The panel adopted a manager's amendment from Boucher that made several technical changes but also gave both agencies one year, instead of the bill's original six-month deadline, to conduct their spectrum review. To read more, click here (Subscription required).
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