[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 259 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 259

Expressing the sense of the Senate that United States leadership in 5G 
              wireless technology is a national priority.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2019

 Mr. Johnson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
         the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that United States leadership in 5G 
              wireless technology is a national priority.

Whereas the United States led the world in the development and deployment of 
        fourth-generation (commonly known as ``4G'') wireless technology, such 
        as Long Term Evolution (commonly known as ``LTE'');
Whereas United States leadership in 4G technology created a mobile broadband 
        economy that generated hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions of 
        dollars of investment and economic growth, and tremendous consumer 
        benefits;
Whereas the fifth generation of wireless connectivity, known as ``5G'', promises 
        to be even more transformative, with speeds 100 times faster than 4G and 
        even greater capacity to carry wireless traffic than 4G;
Whereas the benefits of 5G technology to the people of the United States will be 
        substantial, including better access to high-quality health care through 
        telemedicine, better and cheaper food production through precision 
        agriculture, more efficient manufacturing and transportation systems, 
        more advanced educational opportunities, more avenues for 
        entrepreneurship, more sophisticated and secure military applications 
        and devices, and other benefits that cannot yet be conceived;
Whereas the Federal Communications Commission has introduced a comprehensive 
        strategy to promote United States leadership in 5G technology, entitled 
        ``Facilitating America's Superiority in 5G Technology'' (or the ``5G 
        FAST Plan'');
Whereas a core component of the 5G FAST Plan for the development and deployment 
        of 5G technology in the United States is making substantially more 
        spectrum available, including low-band, mid-band, and high-band 
        airwaves;
Whereas the Federal Communications Commission is vested with authority to make 
        spectrum available for the commercial marketplace; and
Whereas the failure of the United States Government to present a unified 
        position on the appropriate policies for critical 5G spectrum bands, 
        including the 24 gigahertz band, at the World Radiocommunication 
        Conference 2019 (commonly referred to as ``WRC-19'') and to persuade 
        allies to support that position could lead to a decision that would make 
        those bands unusable for purposes of 5G technology development, impeding 
        United States leadership and empowering global rivals: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) deems it a national priority for the United States to 
        lead the world in the development and deployment of fifth-
        generation (commonly known as ``5G'') wireless technology;
            (2) supports the efforts of the Federal Communications 
        Commission to make spectrum available for the commercial 
        marketplace; and
            (3) strongly urges all entities, including Federal 
        agencies, to work cooperatively with the Federal Communications 
        Commission to advance the goal of United States leadership in 
        5G technology, including at the upcoming World 
        Radiocommunication Conference 2019.
                                 <all>