[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS:
  S. 2075. A bill to facilitate the availability of electromagnetic 
spectrum for the deployment of wireless based services in rural areas, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Rural 
Spectrum Access Act, RESA, of 2002. Wireless communications is 
revolutionizing the way we communicate. It allows us to place calls 
from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world. We can check our 
favorite websites, and even stay in touch with family and friends 
through email, all without a phone line. It's empowering to know that 
we can do all this and more while sitting on top of a mountain in 
Montana.
  However, these services require spectrum, the wireless waves that 
give us this freedom. Due to the way the FCC distributes spectrum, 
rural America is finding it more and more difficult to get quality 
wireless service. The current system distributes spectrum on very large 
geographic areas, which in effect, inhibits certain carriers from 
participating in wireless auctions. Since the geographic licensing 
areas are so large and the price for the spectrum is equally as large, 
rural carriers often find it difficult bidding on the spectrum. My 
legislation will correct this inequity.
  RESA requires the Federal Communications Commission, in future 
auctions, to distribute spectrum on smaller geographic levels. It does 
not favor one type of carrier over another, or pick which carrier can 
serve which areas. Rather, it simply allows carriers to bid on spectrum 
that they find difficult under today's system.
  It is my hope that this bill will allow more of our rural 
telecommunication carriers to participate in future auctions. The RESA 
Act will bring more choices, better service and lower prices for those 
of us living in rural America.
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