[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1141-S1142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 455. A bill to promote development and opportunity with regards to 
spectrum occupancy and use, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Kerry, to 
re-introduce comprehensive spectrum reform legislation to modernize our 
nation's radio spectrum planning, management, and coordination 
activities. Taking this corrective action will allow us to meet the 
future telecommunications needs of all spectrum users. For consumers, 
these fixes will lead to additional choices, greater innovation, lower 
prices, and more reliable services.
  Over the past year, there has been growing concern about a looming 
radio spectrum crisis. It is not without reason--growth and innovation 
within spectrum-based services have exploded over the past decade. In 
particular, the cellular industry has been a prominent driver of this 
expansion. Currently, there are more than 290 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 through 
the use of smartphones and netbooks--smartphones actually outsold 
personal computers in the last quarter of 2010. According to the Pew 
Research Center, 56 percent of adult Americans have accessed the 
Internet via a wireless device. ABI Research forecasts there will be 
150 million mobile broadband subscribers by 2014--a 2,900 percent 
increase from 2007. Spectrum is so important that both the Federal 
Communications Commission and the President have made it a priority to 
find additional spectrum for wireless broadband so providers have the 
necessary capacity to meet the growing demand of consumers and 
businesses alike.
  There are constraints however, spectrum is a finite resource, and we 
cannot manufacture new spectrum. Making matters worse, the government's 
current spectrum management framework is inefficient and has not kept 
up with technological advancements. As evidence, the Government 
Accountability Office, in a series of reports, concluded ``the current 
structure and management of spectrum use in the U.S. does not encourage 
the development and use of some spectrum efficient technologies.''
  The legislation we are re-introducing today fixes the fundamental 
deficiencies that exist in spectrum management and promotes efforts to 
improve spectrum efficiency. Specifically, the Reforming Airwaves by 
Developing Incentives and Opportunistic Sharing, RADIOS, Act tasks the 
FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
NTIA, to conduct the fundamental first step of a comprehensive 
inventory of radio spectrum and to perform much-needed spectrum 
measurements to determine actual usage and occupancy rates. This data 
would provide decision makers at the FCC, NTIA, and Congress a clearer, 
more detailed, and up-to-date understanding of how spectrum is 
currently being used and by whom--data essential to sound policy 
decisions and spectrum management.
  The bill also requires a cost-benefit analysis of spectrum relocation 
opportunities to move certain incumbent users and services to more 
efficient spectrum bands. Many legacy wireless services could employ 
newer technologies to provide more efficient use of spectrum. The 
legislation would also establish Wi-Fi hot-spots and allow the 
installation of wireless antenna systems and base stations, such as 
femtocells, in all publicly accessible Federal buildings as well as 
streamline Federal rights-of-way and wireless tower sitings on Federal 
buildings. Such efforts would improve wireless and broadband coverage 
for Americans and also result in lower costs to taxpayers since 
spectrum would be utilized more effectively by Federal agencies.
  In addition, my bill requires greater collaboration between the FCC 
and NTIA on spectrum policy and management related issues, 
implementation of spectrum sharing and reuse programs, as well as more 
market-based incentives to promote efficient spectrum use. It also sets 
a deadline for the creation of the National Strategic Spectrum Plan, 
which will provide a long-term vision for domestic spectrum use and 
strategies to meet those needs. While the National Broadband Plan 
touches on several of these areas, this legislation will provide 
greater assistance in developing the 21st Century comprehensive 
spectrum policy necessary to meet the future spectrum needs of all 
users.
  It should be noted the RADIOS Act is intended to complement the 
National Broadband Plan and the recently announced Presidential 
Wireless Initiative in promoting more efficient use of spectrum and 
ensuring that the proper framework is in place to meet America's future 
telecommunications needs. But it also encourages greater focus on other 
areas outside the Plan and the Initiative by promoting technological 
innovation and more robust spectrum management.

[[Page S1142]]

  Senator Kerry and I envision this legislation to be a supplement to 
other legislative efforts related to spectrum. And we look forward to 
working with our colleagues in the Senate and with all stakeholders to 
advance comprehensive 21st Century spectrum policy necessary to meet 
the future spectrum needs of all users.
  Our Nation's competitiveness, economy, and national security demand 
that we allocate the necessary attention to this policy shortcoming--it 
is the only way we will be able to avert a looming spectrum crisis and 
continue to realize the boundless benefits of spectrum-based services. 
That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join Senator Kerry 
and me in supporting this critical legislation.
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