[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 106 (Monday, June 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4459-S4460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 259--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT UNITED 
   STATES LEADERSHIP IN 5G WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY IS A NATIONAL PRIORITY

  Mr. JOHNSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 259

       Whereas the United States led the world in the development 
     and deployment of fourth-generation (commonly known as 
     ``4G'') wireless technology, such as Long Term Evolution 
     (commonly known as ``LTE'');
       Whereas United States leadership in 4G technology created a 
     mobile broadband economy that generated hundreds of thousands 
     of jobs, billions of dollars of investment and economic 
     growth, and tremendous consumer benefits;
       Whereas the fifth generation of wireless connectivity, 
     known as ``5G'', promises to be even more transformative, 
     with speeds 100 times faster than 4G and even greater 
     capacity to carry wireless traffic than 4G;
       Whereas the benefits of 5G technology to the people of the 
     United States will be substantial, including better access to 
     high-quality health care through telemedicine, better and 
     cheaper food production through precision agriculture, more 
     efficient manufacturing and transportation systems, more 
     advanced educational opportunities, more avenues for 
     entrepreneurship, more sophisticated and secure military 
     applications and devices, and other benefits that cannot yet 
     be conceived;
       Whereas the Federal Communications Commission has 
     introduced a comprehensive strategy to promote United States 
     leadership in 5G technology, entitled ``Facilitating 
     America's Superiority in 5G Technology'' (or the ``5G FAST 
     Plan'');
       Whereas a core component of the 5G FAST Plan for the 
     development and deployment of 5G technology in the United 
     States is making substantially more spectrum available, 
     including low-band, mid-band, and high-band airwaves;
       Whereas the Federal Communications Commission is vested 
     with authority to make spectrum available for the commercial 
     marketplace; and
       Whereas the failure of the United States Government to 
     present a unified position on the appropriate policies for 
     critical 5G spectrum bands, including the 24 gigahertz band, 
     at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (commonly 
     referred to as ``WRC-19'') and to persuade allies to support 
     that position could lead to a decision that would make those 
     bands unusable for purposes of 5G technology development, 
     impeding United States leadership and empowering global 
     rivals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) deems it a national priority for the United States to 
     lead the world in the development and deployment of fifth-
     generation (commonly known as ``5G'') wireless technology;
       (2) supports the efforts of the Federal Communications 
     Commission to make spectrum available for the commercial 
     marketplace; and
       (3) strongly urges all entities, including Federal 
     agencies, to work cooperatively with

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     the Federal Communications Commission to advance the goal of 
     United States leadership in 5G technology, including at the 
     upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2019.

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