[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H6876-H6877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY SEEKS TO THREATEN MILITARY ACCESS TO RADIO 
               FREQUENCIES AND THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, even as I speak today, the Armed Forces of 
the United States are engaged in combat operations to ensure the 
security of our people. However, the continued viability of some of the 
very weapons systems being used now is threatened by a concerted effort 
to reallocate portions of the radio frequency spectrum from the 
military to the commercial sector.
  This effort is being led by the telecommunications industry, which is 
seeking access to additional frequencies to support development of 
advanced wireless services. They have vigorously argued that unless the 
Federal Government provides access to the 1755 through 1850 megahertz 
frequency band, the United States will forfeit its leadership of the 
worldwide telecommunications market.
  Now, I do not pretend to know whether this claim is true or not, but 
I do know that forcing the military to give up this particular part of 
the frequency spectrum will have a significant negative effect on 
national security and will put our service members at greater risk.
  The importance of this frequency band to the military cannot be 
understated. The DOD systems that operate on these frequencies are the 
very core

[[Page H6877]]

of our war-fighting capability. They include battlefield 
communications, precision weapons guidance, satellite control of over 
120 military satellites, air combat training, and many other vital 
functions. The simple truth is that military access to the 1755 through 
1850 megahertz frequency band is a matter of life and death.
  Now, some have argued that the military should just move to another 
part of the frequency spectrum to carry on its functions. But let me be 
clear about this. The military did not just randomly decide to use 
these frequencies. The military uses this part of the frequency 
spectrum because the physical properties of these frequencies meet 
their unique operational requirements which cannot be compromised for 
any reason, but certainly not for something as trivial as advanced cell 
phones.
  So, it is not just a simple matter of moving to another part of the 
frequency spectrum. We have to find frequencies that have comparable 
characteristics, which is something we have thus far failed to do.
  But even if alternative frequencies are identified, the cost of 
modifying or replacing more than $100 billion in equipment, not to 
mention the cost of retaining developing new tactics, is beyond 
comprehension. I therefore applaud the Secretary of Commerce's decision 
last week to no longer consider the majority of the 1755 through 1850 
megahertz bands for reallocation. This was the right decision, but it 
could have gone further by permanently removing from consideration the 
entire 1755 through 1850 megahertz band. I remain very concerned that 
when we move beyond the current crisis the military will once again 
come under assault to relinquish these and other vital frequencies to 
the commercial sector.
  So let the word go out to all concerned that we cannot and will not 
tolerate any attempt to restrict the military's access to the 
frequencies they need to carry on their missions. We have a solemn 
obligation to protect the people of the United States, and no argument 
from any special interest group will change that. So do not even think 
about asking for access to military frequencies. The answer is no and 
will stay no. Some of these huge giants should realize that.

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