[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 118 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER:
  S. 3756. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide 
public safety providers an additional 10 megahertz of spectrum to 
support a national, interoperable wireless broadband network and 
authorize the Federal Communications Commission to hold incentive 
auctions to provide funding to support such a network, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Public 
Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act.
  Radio spectrum is a very valuable resource. It can grow our economy 
and put new and innovative wireless services in the hands of consumers 
and businesses. It can enhance our public safety by fostering 
communications between first responders when the unthinkable occurs. 
But it is also scarce. That is why we need a forward-thinking spectrum 
policy that promotes smart use of our airwaves--and provides public 
safety officials with the wireless resources they need to keep us safe.
  The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act will do just 
that.
  First, this legislation will provide the Federal Communications 
Commission with the authority to hold incentive auctions. This will 
help put valuable spectrum resources into the hands of companies that 
can create innovative new services for American consumers and 
businesses. This proposal will not require the return of spectrum from 
existing commercial users, but will instead provide them with a 
voluntary opportunity to realize a portion of auction revenues if they 
wish to facilitate putting spectrum to new and productive uses.
  Second, this legislation will provide public safety officials with an 
additional 10 megahertz of spectrum known as the ``D-block.'' This 
spectrum will support a national, interoperable wireless broadband 
network that will help first responders protect us and keep us from 
harm. I believe this is the right thing to do, because we owe those 
courageous individuals who wear the shield the resources they need to 
do their job. But more than that, by providing authority for incentive 
auctions, this legislation will offer a revenue stream to assist public 
safety with construction and maintenance of their network.
  The American people deserve to have the best and most innovative uses 
of wireless networks anywhere. They deserve to know our first 
responders have access to the airwaves they need when tragedy strikes. 
So I urge my colleagues to join me and support this important 
legislation.
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