[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 3995. A bill to direct the Administrator of the General Services 
Administration to install Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless neutral host 
systems in all Federal buildings in order to improve in-building 
wireless communications coverage and commercial network capacity by 
offloading wireless traffic onto wireless broadband networks; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Warner, to 
introduce pro-consumer wireless legislation, which will improve 
wireless coverage and go a long way toward preventing the annoying 
dropped phone calls that many of us frequently experience indoors and 
in rural areas.
  Specifically, the Federal Wi-Net Act would require the installation 
of small wireless base stations, such as femtocells or similar 
technologies, and Wi-Fi hot-spots in Federal buildings to improve 
wireless coverage and network capacity. In addition, the bill would 
streamline Federal rights-of-way and wireless transmitter sitings on 
Federal buildings, which will simplify and expedite the placement of 
wireless and broadband network infrastructure, resulting in the 
expansion of coverage and more reliable service to consumers and 
businesses.
  Over the past year, there has been growing concern about a looming 
radio spectrum crisis given the significant growth in the wireless 
industry. Currently, there are more than 276 million wireless 
subscribers in the U.S., and American consumers use more than 6.4 
billion minutes of air time per day. While the foundation for wireless 
services has been voice communication, more subscribers are utilizing 
it for broadband. According to the Pew Research Center, 56 percent of 
adult Americans have accessed the Internet via a wireless device. And 
ABI Research forecasts there will be 150 million mobile broadband 
subscribers by 2014--a 2,900 percent increase from 2007.
  To meet this growing demand, a multi-faceted solution is required 
that includes fostering technological advancement and more robust 
spectrum management. Such technologies as femtocells and Wi-Fi hotspots 
will help alleviate growing wireless demand by offloading that traffic 
onto wireline broadband networks.
  To that point, approximately 40 percent of cell phone calls are made 
indoors and more than 25 percent of U.S. households have ``cut-the-
cord,'' relying solely on cell phones to make voice calls. On the data 
side, Cisco's Virtual Network Index reports that approximately 60 
percent of mobile Internet use is done inside--either at home or at 
work.
  As the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan 
highlights, most smartphones sold today have Wi-Fi capabilities to take 
advantage of the growing ubiquity of wireless networks. According to a 
November 2008 report from AdMob, 42 percent of all iPhone traffic was 
transported over Wi-Fi networks rather than AT&T's cellular network. So 
installing more mini-base stations, such as femtocells, and Wi-Fi 
hotspots will improve indoor coverage and wireless network capacity.
  But in addition to improving indoor coverage and network capacity, we 
must take steps to expand wireless coverage--primarily in rural areas. 
The General Services Administration, GSA, manages approximately 8,600 
buildings across the country that can be used to house wireless and 
broadband infrastructure.
  As the National Broadband Plan acknowledges, ``to effectively deploy 
broadband, providers often need to be able to place equipment on this 
federally controlled property, or to use the rights-of-way that pass 
through the property.'' So we must make it a priority to streamline the 
processes, zoning, and permitting to ensure that carriers have 
reasonable, timely, and appropriate access to Federal buildings. Doing 
so will, without question, dramatically improve the service 
availability on which more than 276 million wireless subscribers rely 
daily.
  The increasing importance of wireless communications and broadband 
has a direct correlation to our Nation's competitiveness, economy, and 
national security and therefore demands that we make the appropriate 
changes to current spectrum policy and management to avert a spectrum 
crisis and continue to realize the boundless benefits of spectrum-based 
services. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator 
Warner and me in supporting this important legislation.

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