[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6798-H6799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
5G SPECTRUM AUTHORITY LICENSING ENFORCEMENT ACT
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 2787) to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to process
applications for spectrum licenses from applicants who were successful
bidders in an auction before the authority of the Commission to conduct
auctions expired on March 9, 2023.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2787
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``5G Spectrum Authority
Licensing Enforcement Act'' or the ``5G SALE Act''.
SEC. 2. FCC PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR SPECTRUM LICENSES
AWARDED BY AUCTION.
In the case of any applicant for a license or permit for
the use of spectrum in the band of frequencies between 2496
megahertz and 2690 megahertz, inclusive, that the Federal
Communications Commission selected through a system of
competitive bidding conducted under section 309(j) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)) on or before
March 9, 2023, and to whom the Commission has not granted the
license or permit as of the date of enactment of this Act,
the Commission may process the application of the applicant
during the 90-day period beginning on the date of enactment
of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2787, the 5G SALE Act, which
will help restore trust in our Nation's wireless technology ecosystem
and enable faster mobile broadband service for millions of Americans
nearly overnight.
The 5G SALE Act would deliver on our promise to provide access to our
airways for those who successfully won a license at auction before
March 9, 2023. These licenses have been locked up since the expiration
of the Federal Communications Commission's auction authority earlier
this year.
While I will continue to work with my colleagues on a long-term
solution to reauthorize auction authority, today's legislation is a
positive step to ensuring that the FCC can finalize the review and
award licenses to companies whose checks have already cleared the
Treasury.
The 5G SALE Act will ensure that those relying on advanced mobile
broadband services, especially our veterans who access VA telehealth
services, will benefit from American investment in these technologies.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2787, the 5G Spectrum Authority
Licensing Enforcement Act, or the 5G SALE Act.
Spectrum is one of our country's most important natural resources.
These radio waves are a critical component in building next-generation
wireless networks and delivering connectivity to Americans across the
country. Without spectrum, our wireless networks would not be able to
help millions of Americans study for school, meet with their health
provider, connect with family and friends, and place a call to 911
during a time of need. In order to have this kind of connectivity that
we have all come to expect, we must ensure that consumers have access
to the spectrum that has been made available for commercial wireless
use.
S. 2787 achieves these objectives. This legislation gives the FCC the
authority for 90 days to process spectrum license applications that are
currently pending at the agency from its auction last year of the 2.2
gigahertz band. While I hoped Congress would have extended the SEC
spectrum auction authority by now, this legislation is an important
step forward in allowing commercial spectrum to be used by consumers,
especially those in unserved areas and rural communities.
It is important that we pass this bill today, but even with this
action, our work will still not be done. We must find a way forward on
a bipartisan, bicameral spectrum agreement that can be sent to the
President's desk for his signature. As Chair Rodgers and I have said
for months, it is critical that we reauthorize the FCC spectrum auction
authority as soon as possible. I am concerned that this lapse will
hinder us on the international stage, especially with the World
Radiocommunication Conference taking place right now in Dubai.
I commend Representatives Kuster and Joyce for their bipartisan work
on the House companion to this bill, H.R. 5677. This important bill
helps advance America's wireless leadership by ensuring that 5G
spectrum is deployed quickly so that we can further improve consumers'
wireless service all around the Nation, especially in rural
communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in a
bipartisan manner so it can be sent shortly to the President's desk,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my good friend representing the 13th
District.
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill will
grant the FCC temporary authority to issue over 7,500 licenses that
have been stalled while the spectrum auction authority has lapsed. To
address this issue, I am proud to be the sponsor of the 5G SALE Act,
which was unanimously reported out of committee.
It has now been more than a year since Auction 108 was conducted by
the FCC for these 2.5 gigahertz band licenses. During the auction, more
than $400 million was raised by 63 bidders. Releasing these licenses
will mean greater competition among providers and money funneled into
our economy.
The 5G SALE Act would cut through bureaucratic red tape and help get
more Americans connected to high-speed coverage than ever before.
Especially in rural areas, where I represent, in Pennsylvania's south
central and southwestern area, coverage can be scarce. Congress must
work to ensure that students, patients, workers, and farmers all have
access to 5G internet.
In places where seeing a medical specialist can mean a 2-hour drive,
access to reliable 5G connection can be life-changing for a patient.
These connections are invaluable also for our farmers, as they use
precision farming to plant crops and harvest.
{time} 1715
Access to the internet is vital for our students as they work to do
their homework--their homework at home, not in the parking lot outside
of a convenience store.
Recently, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology heard
from Chair Rosenworcel that the FCC would devote the necessary
resources and time to ensure that these licenses would be issued as
quickly as possible once this legislation is enacted.
I am grateful for all the work that went into advancing this
commonsense legislation to help connect more Americans than ever
before.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this
bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation. Obviously,
we would like to see spectrum authority in general be authorized, but
this is important on its own.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of the bill on a bipartisan basis, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, as the minority has said, we need more
spectrum, not less, and we have to win the race for 5G.
We have seen, over time, as I have spoken with people across the
country for years, it was like the United States was way ahead in 5G,
but as time went by, then all of a sudden, we were just a little bit
ahead or maybe we were even. If we are going to win this race, we have
to have 5G out there. It is absolutely essential.
[[Page H6799]]
During COVID, some of the things that happened have already been
mentioned--telehealth services, the business side, education.
For families to stay connected, it is absolutely essential that we
have more broadband out there, not less.
We need to keep our promise to those that won these auctions that
these airways will be available to them.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 2787.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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